ZENandTECH 07: Mental beach-ball

Like the spinning hourglass or beachball on a computer, our heads can get stuck stuck thinking the same negative thoughts over and over again. This week on ZENandTECH, Georgia and Rene discuss ways to figure out why you're perseverating and how you can deal with it.

Read on for the show notes!

What is mental clutter

  • Anything that keeps cycling in our mind and we cant seem to let go of it.
  • Sometimes triggered by a past event or perhaps it is something that has just occurred.
  • A recent even or personal encounter count trigger something from childhood.
  • Causes us distress and doesn’t leave our mind like other life events.

Why do we get mental clutter?

  • It's actually Beneficial.
  • Most things that have evolved because it helps protect us.
  • They helped the organism survive and reproduce.

If it was a detriment to us in the long run it probably wouldn’t have stayed with us. So there is probably a evolutionary benefit to this type of mental clutter occurrence.

Cognitive restructuring

Strength of feeling (%)What happenedWhy do I feel this?SolutionOutcomesUpdated feeling (%)
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
  • Every night pick one thought or feeling that is cycling through your head and causing you stress
  • Rank the level of stress it's causing you
  • Write down what happened to cause it
  • Write down why you think what happened caused you to feel the way you do
  • Write down potential solutions
  • Try the solutions!
  • Write down the outcome of your trial solution
  • Rank the level of stress after you've tried the solution

If you don't feel better, repeat the process and try a different solution, even if that solution is acceptance that there is no ideal solution.

Thought journal

  • Write down your cognitive restructuring each night.
  • Look for patterns, things that are similar in nature.

These are usually our “wounds” things that we have not dealt with or have been hurt from when we were younger.

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Tech picks

If it's too hard to write in a journal, try voice-to-text software!

  • Android has voice-to-text built in
  • There's Vlingo for Android, iPhone, (Windows Mobile, Nokia)
  • Dragon Dictation is great for Mac/PC and iPhone/iPad

You also could try a convenient place to work

Help us help you!

Please help us out by recommending ZENandTECH to your family, friends, and co-workers! They're just as stressed as you are, help them out!

And if you haven't already, please leave us a rating and review in iTunes!, it really helps us reach and help more people!

Sponsor

RENE: This episode of ZEN and TECH is brought to you by the Android Central Store, your one stop shop for everything Droid, Galaxy, EVO, Thunderbolt, and dozens of other devices. Check out the batteries, cases, cables, headsets and much, much more at [www.shopandroid.com(http://www.shopandroid.com?utm_campaign=community&utm_source=d_im&utm_medium=content). Tell 'em Lloyd sent you.

Hosts

Contact

You can reach all of us @ZENandTECH, via email at podcast@zenandtech.tv, or leave a comment below!

Thanks everyone, you're the best community on the web and we love having you with us!

Disclaimer

While Georgia is a therapist, she's not YOUR therapist. Everything said or implied on this show is for informational and entertainment purposes only. And shouldn't be taken in any way as a replacement for proper, professional care.

Credits

Music is Peace on Earth by wellman.

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