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Do you think a lot?

P

previous_user

Active Member
Do you ever find it difficult to focus on tasks because of constant thinking?
Do you set aside time just to reflect, without thinking about anything specific? What occupies your thoughts? How do they take shape in your mind?
 
Vesta said:
Do you ever find it difficult to focus on tasks because of constant thinking?
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Sometimes. I find it more difficult to focus when my brain is exhausted. Earlier in the day when I am fresh, I can focus better. My mind is usually a storm of activity, often thinking of 2-3 things at a time, but trying to focus upon tasks at hand. I can usually pull this off with good sleep and nutrition, but when things get stressful and overwhelming and/or my brain is exhausted, it does fall apart. If it goes on for any more than a day or two, I know I am in or will be in autistic burnout and need to put my life on hold to recover. I've learned to recognize signs and symptoms in my old age.
Vesta said:
Do you set aside time just to reflect, without thinking about anything specific? What occupies your thoughts? How do they take shape in your mind?
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1. NO
2. The future, my 1, 5, 10-year goals/plans, special interests, etc.
3. I have an internal monologue.
 
Vesta said:
Do you ever find it difficult to focus on tasks because of constant thinking?
Click to expand...
If the thoughts are related to bad experiences and trauma, very much so. If I'm focused on things that make me happy then no.

Vesta said:
Do you set aside time just to reflect, without thinking about anything specific?
Click to expand...
No. As long as I'm not exhausted my mind is incredibly busy. At any given point in time there's several different conversations going on inside my head about a wide range of topics as well as me remaining focused on tasks at hand. The only time I'm not thinking and reflecting is when I'm asleep and I think it continues even then because there's many times in my life where I've woken up in the morning knowing the answers to complex problems without understanding how I came to those answers, I just wake up in the morning with answers.
 
If I am conscious, I am thinking. Like others, multiple topics. Being a former physicist as an actual job, this picture kind of sums up my thinking.
sceintist-2.webp
 
I do tend to overthink, which slows down me focusing on matters that really matter. I mean that my task brings up some concepts and terms that I am not sure of, I need to start thinking of those things until I understand them and can judge if they are important or not. While doing this, there comes more concepts and terms that I am not sure of, repeat the thinking process. I get quickly lost to things that are irrelevant to my current task. It is an effort to just ignore minor details and focus only to ones that actually matter.

If I don't have anything to think of (quite often, actually, even thought I am that kind of person who likes to spend his time efficiently always working with something useful), I can relax. But usually something starts again occupying my mind. Usually some more fantasy like thing (what-iffism, sometimes just daydreaming how life could go, and so on...) and then I start building a story in my head which brings to mind some concepts that I am not sure of, which leads me to open Google and start studying the concept, which brings more concepts and terms... You get the picture.

However, latter one is more relaxing, because there is no purpose for these thoughts, so there is no pressure to get any work done.
 
I often immerse myself in the thought process, but my reflections are often chaotic and lacking in logic. Sometimes I make choices without properly considering them, especially when it comes to decisions related to my current reality and daily life. This keeps my mind constantly on edge, trying to avoid repeating foolish mistakes.

However, I am gradually freeing myself from this pointless habit of overthinking. By becoming less active in my thoughts, I feel a psychological relief. It feels as if time has slowed down, or perhaps I have simply become more measured.
 
I've often thought of overthinking anything and everything is one of the curses of autism.

Robbing us of a lot of mental energy often better "steered" in other directions to serve us rather than routinely wear ourselves out.
 
@Vesta,
As you explore autism and consider whether or not you are autistic, have you had any chance to look into ADHD, too? (I’m sorry if you have mentioned this before, I can’t remember.)

Some of the ways that you have described yourself sound similar to members here who also have ADHD. There seems to be a high percentage of people who have autism and ADHD. There’s even a word for it: AuDHD.
 
Rodafina said:
@Vesta,
As you explore autism and consider whether or not you are autistic, have you had any chance to look into ADHD, too? (I’m sorry if you have mentioned this before, I can’t remember.)

Some of the ways that you have described yourself sound similar to members here who also have ADHD. There seems to be a high percentage of people who have autism and ADHD. There’s even a word for it: AuDHD.
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Well Based on the fact that I find it difficult to concentrate and rarely immerse myself fully in anything, I tend to think that I don't really have classic autism. However, to be honest, I'm starting to doubt whether I have autism at all
 
I have tried not to say this, but I feel compelled to state my opinion that there is no such thing as overthinking. Most of the world's problems are caused by underthinking. Thinking can go in an unproductive direction, contributing to inaction, but it's the unproductive direction at fault - not the quantity of thought. Thorough focused thought is how advancements are made. Few would accuse Edison of overthinking the development of the light bulb.
 
I could definitely be considered an over thinker. I sometimes just sit around and think for several hours. A lot of times I think about bad things that have happened to me and different ways I could have handled it. I spend a lot of time thinking about opportunities and try to plan out the best way to take advantage of them. I found that I have more negative thoughts than positive and am trying to teach myself to forget the bad and remember the good. All these thoughts I have seem to have improved my life in some way.
 
Mostly one thing that never seems to change is my wish to be able to cut off all such thinking at bed time. Much more difficult for me than it may seem. o_O
 
Judge said:
Mostly one thing that never seems to change is my wish to be able to cut off all such thinking at bed time. Much more difficult for me than it may seem. o_O
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Same, but from early childhood I learnt to direct my thoughts towards happy things. That's not always possible of course but definitely worth the effort.
 
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