What are your best thought stopping techniques?

[Agape93]

Need some real quick

[Aeon_Norell]

"Square breathing" works very well for me.
With practice, you become more proficient at the technique, but I found that when I started, it worked surprisingly well even without prior practice.

Breathe in while counting to 4 in your head. Hold your breath while counting to 4. Breathe out counting to 4 (still in your head). Hold your breath for 4 again and repeat.

Focus on counting and on your breathing (making sure to breathe "into your belly" and being conscious of the sensations of the air passing through your nose, throat and into your lungs).

Whenever you notice your mind wandering (which will happen a lot in the beginning), DO NOT beat yourself up about it, thinking that you failed the exercise. Simply acknowledge that it has happened and redirect your focus back to the breathing and counting.

[Toast792]

Depends how bad it is. Reading/Listening to metal/playing horror games if it's not too bad. When it's a bit worse, something that usually works: Fill a shot glass with straight lemon/lime juice and drink that, adding salt sometimes makes it work better for some people. That's all I got as far as 'healthy' thought stopping techniques.

[MrHopper]

I mentally imagine a wall around whatever it is i am trying to avoid and as the all comes up i focus on the wall building until i feel empty minded except for the wall... then i just think of something random and get on and do something... every time i start to think about that thing i just imagine the wall i built

[Agape93]

That’s a good one

[Ally247]

I ask myself if this will matter 3 days from now, 3 weeks from now, 3 months from now or 3 years from now. Usually makes me realise I’m stressing over something very minor. Or I write all of my thoughts down and then logically go through everything and construct a solution, or I demystify every through step by step.

[KingdomForAKiss]

Taking a nap, if able. Working on something thag requires physical body like mowing the lawn or chopping branches. Working out.

You ok?

[Agape93]

Not really
But I’m probably going to go outside here soon and do something

[Agape93]

Wood related to clarify

[KingdomForAKiss]

Good idea. Chop some wood. I'm going to PM you.

[ChrisMaster69]

I have a room with drawers in it and tend to shove stuff in there then lock the door.

lots of rooms.

alternatively I think of something very different but either extreme love, sadness, that’s happened, and cling to that memory and emotion.

it does mean I tend to relive some shit bit means I don’t relive some really bad shit lol

lesser of two and the other is often more controllable and easier to climb out of.

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

I put up a mental wall against whatever obsessive thought is bothering me at the moment.
Sometimes it's difficult, other times it's easier, but it works 90% of the time.

[Account]

Lately I either exercise or read comics or paint terribly.

[Jjpayne]

Distraction or exercise

Distraction being movies, video games, tv , a book, music... Talking... YouTube

Exercise, treadmill fast or running, push ups, sit ups... Etc

[sidh1]

Meditation helps they say... But you need to practice a lot for that

For an immediate relief, it's best to divert your attention to other stuff

Like games/shows etc which people have recommended here

[loveslongnails]

Sometimes, I follow the thoughts out to their possible ends, and I view them as if I were an observer. I can then realize which thoughts are real possible outcomes, which are imagined, and what I can choose to do about them.

[unkissme]

Literally tell yourself, “Nope, not today, we don’t have time for this” when a negative or intrusive thought sneaks up on you.

[420Rachel]

Absorbing myself in my shows. A good show will definitely keep your mind and attention off things. 😂

[exitseven]

I know that this sounds trite but I think about a happy place. Actually it is a happy place and a happy time.

[WesBrewer]

Whatever you find most beautiful, just think of that. Or read a phonebook.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I usually use music as my techniques to calm my mind down, watch a mysterious program such as Fear Thy Neighbor, Evil Lives Here

[Syrian_survivor]

Personally, I go to the gym and punch it out until I'm tired, then I go back home, shower, and sleep.
I'd eat noodles before sleeping if I felt a bit hungry since noodles are my comfort food.

[DaveToo]

Type in what you are wanting then choose which store you wish to buy it from. I very seldom go INTO a store these days.

[COMMODOREII]

Is it so you can sleep or something? Sometimes my mind races when i should be sleeping. 😗

[NathanDavis]

My cat, and her kittens.

[Anpu23]

River and bridge.
Breath

[Twalli]

Focus on something else

[msc545]

Sex, sleep, and weed.

[ohshee]

Cause and effect

[JosyJosy]

Youtube.

[AlexanderAnttila]

I usually just sing.

[Ironic_Method]

Food. Sex. Gaming.

[vald9inches]

Video games

[Shihab91]

I do my hobbies