How do you turn off your brain for a while?

LegacyUser

Hi all
Im posting this as I found out Ive a review tomorrow in work, Ive no reason to be worried, theyre quite common and I was over due one, Ive been doing well in my job, but Ive been stressing all day about it, thinking of everything that can go wrong, this in turn will make me even more nervous for it.

But Im always like this, recently I was kissing a girl at a party and she started hinting about going to her room, and I avoided it by staying there drinking, as did she, the truth was its been a while and I was worried in case i wouldnt perform or something would go wrong and everyone would hear about it. Alcohol wasnt the reason for this, Id have probably been worse sober.

Another example, I was doing a job that involved careful steady hands, something ive usually no problem with, when we were being tested I got so nervous about people watching so carefully that I couldnt even do the job. People started telling me to relax which made it worse, this in turn caused me to be like that for the week , I just couldnt turn off and relax.

sometimes just talking to new people or doing new things makes me uncomfortable and I often dread them and worry about them before hand.
Im just sick to death of worrying and thinking about things that I dont have to be worried about.
Help Please!!!!

dioltas

Try visualising a giant samuel l jackson head, from pulp fiction floating behind you saying "Be Cool". Sorry if this dosnt help, im nt trying 2 take the piss.

dyl10

I know switching off is easier said than done but you need to try and realise that these smaller things are not the be all and end all of your life.
You will always bounce back if you do happen to fail now and then and at the end of the day, we all worry.

Try to be happier with yourself the way you are and know that things will always work out in the end!

Try to be at ease with yourself

LegacyUser

have you tried yoga/meditation? if not, try this technique. imagine that there are three baskets in front of you; one labelled the past, one labelled the future and one labelled the present. concentrate on the basket named the future and you'll find that you won't be able to worry.

oh you should try reading "the power of now" by echart tolle..its a fantastic book and will really benefit you.

LegacyUser

I have very similar problems but usually when I'm trying to go to sleep and sometimes get horrible insomnia. Here are a few things, I've found help

- Positive visualisation. Take a deep breath and imagine whatever it is your doing going brilliantly. This is very common technique in sports psychology for nervous players. Imagine your performance review/talking to the girl etc. not only going fine but going amazing. Imagine what the perfect scenario would be, e.g. a brilliant review leading to a promotion.

- If things are getting to hectic in the noggin another thing to do is a very simple meditation. Close your eyes and take a deep breath in and out slowly. Focus on the breathing. You don't have to take 20 minutes and yoga mat to do this. I often do this at work, while I'm waiting in the lift, or just for a few seconds when no one is around.

- It helps if you have a positive outlook on life. Have confidence in yourself and if you believe that you'll be ok no matter whats thrown at you in work, in love and in life, it will be true. When I get stressed, it only makes things worse as I get very pessimistic and negative. Sometimes you just need someone to remind you to take stock of things and that in the big picture, you're doing a lot better and that most people in the world. A positive attitude breeds postive events and actions!

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Meditation worked for me. Not easy to do on your own, but you can get some excellent guide CDs and downloads.

gerrycollins

To help me switch off I usually go for a walk and actually look at whats around me and not concern myself with things i have ye to do etc.

I work to relax, sounds silly, before a job or meeting im nervous about i lock the office door and put green day basket case or metallica on the pc and turn it up and sing along. For me its great it stops me thinkin about whats coming up so I cant get worried about it and when its over and I go do the job i find myself thinking clearer

dunno if that helps

nice_guy80

watch a DVD on the laptop by yourself, with headphones on

or listen to music with headphones on while reading the paper.

works for me

LegacyUser

Try to imagine the scenario beforehand, with everything going perfectly. That way, your subconscious kicks in and you don't self-sabotage yourself

Kenno90

this is a good thread ,, i've for the past few years been unable to just switch off and it's really annoying me

the thing is i don't really find it a problem when i'm active or doing something, but when i try to sleep and just lay there my mind brings up all these stupid scenarios, things take could make you paranoid lol,

but i found that exercising before can help me relax and can switch off

poindexter

AS I THINK, I AM

get yourself a boxset of THE WIRE, shut the world out and get into this gem of a program. might seem like a strange answer, but believe me it works

Birdie086

I find having a notebook on bedside locker handy. If something pops in your head and won't go away which is what happens to me, you just write it down and forget about it.

crosstownk

I switch off in one of two ways. I listen to music really loud (headphones or speakers) and just tune out.

I also play music so I like to tune out by playing.

Both help me remove any hassles/anxieties from my head. It doesn't make them go away but it does give my brain some 'rest time'.