There use to be a time when my mind was clear, like a galss of water (I know, bear with me :D), but now its a mess. Like the noise you get on TV when its not tuned - that is how my mind now, just loads of thoughts flying around without control. So yeah im probably going crazy but just on the chance that there is a cure...how do I "clear" my mind?
If I lie down in silence - my brain just goes into overdrive, i just cant stop thinking!! This keeps me up all night, i do get some great ideas tho :)
I also tried that mind exersise that helps you control and consentrate: you have to think of an object and then describe it whilest still consentrating on it. For example: "Object: TV. Description: Man made object, electronic equipment. Actions: produces light/images/sound from a signal recieved. Associations: movies, simpsons, nip/tuk. and so on".
But my thoughts just shoot of whilest doing this exercise.

So does any one know how to "brain wash" yuorself?

Some good old excercise!

I found martial arts helped a lot when this was happening to me. You have to concentrate on the job in hand when there's a foot flying towards your face! Afterwards your body is tired enough to tell your brain to 'shut up and get some sleep!'

That doesn't read as good as it really is ;)




Note to self: Read the above and take heed

My mind really cleared a few days ago when I walked up a really big hill!

Dunno if that's typical, but I was surprised how much better I felt when I got to the top!!

EXcercise will help.

Avoid stimulants.

In terms of any sort of imaging excercise, just don't worry when your mind goes off on a tangent - just start again.

Get a small candle - one of those tea-light things, dim the lights, sit in front of the candle and focus on the flame. That often stills my mind.

If all else fails, listen to what your mind is saying!

Joe

Adaline,

Try this, it's the manuscript of an old book called "The Power of Concentration":

http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext98/prcon10.txt

I had the same problem and still suffer from time to time. I bought this book "Learn to meditate by David fontana". That with exercise and music has helped me a lot.

I always found classical music pretty good. Especially sacred choral music recorded in an echoy cathedral. Or Gregorian chant...have it pretty loud and let it just envelope you.

You don't have to be religious to appreciate the effect.

Join a religion to get a really thorough brain-washing. ;)

Actually, greybeard, would agree there.

Sacred mmusic is amazing - after all, I guess it was designed for that.

Some years ago I took a retreat in a Monastery and kept went to most of the services during each day- the calming effect of the plain song and chants was amazing.

Joe

I would seriously recommend a week without TV. Far from a relaxing thing, it is a stimulant. It flashes 50 times a second, and tires your eyes and ears, while tricking your brain into a form of out of body stupour.
If you can try to get excersise in the fresh air. A walk up a hillside in the country is a good thing. If you go to bed with fresh air in your nostrils and tired legs, you will have the best sleep for ages and be refreshed in the morning.

I do suffer from a runaway thought process frequently. It's at times when I have nothing else to focus on (lying in bed for example). If I'm having trouble sleeping because of this, I usually get up and do something to focus my mind. Reading is always good. After a while I'll go back to bed and find sleeping a lot easier.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
I would seriously recommend a week without TV. Far from a relaxing thing, it is a stimulant. It flashes 50 times a second, and tires your eyes and ears, while tricking your brain into a form of out of body stupour.
If you can try to get excersise in the fresh air. A walk up a hillside in the country is a good thing. If you go to bed with fresh air in your nostrils and tired legs, you will have the best sleep for ages and be refreshed in the morning.

I also agree with that. I've banned myself from watching TV for the last three weeks and have been appreciating my free time a lot more. Even if I just spend time listening to music or reading, I feel a lot better for it.

Originally posted by t020
Join a religion to get a really thorough brain-washing. ;)

A high colonic washout serves the same purpose for some :P

Originally posted by JoePritchard
Actually, greybeard, would agree there.

Some years ago I took a retreat in a Monastery and kept went to most of the services during each day- the calming effect of the plain song and chants was amazing.

Joe

Mount St. Bernard or Ampleforth perhaps ? The singing at Ampleforth is a little different as they have boys in the choir.