Sometimes worries, anxiety and excessive stimuli from society get in the way of our lives. Obligations may not leave time to be calm and rest, since the society in which we live imposes strict conditions and regulations, but often unrealistic.
In several circumstances, the simple fact of reasoning about any aspect of reality produces stress, anxiety, discomfort and/or disorganization. This translates into a series of symptoms that arouse the emotions, thoughts and behaviors that are carried out. Having specific and relevant data on this topic can help you cope with these situations. So, in this Psychology-Online article you will find information about the Racing thought syndrome: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment.
Racing thought syndrome is a anxiety disorderproduced by a repetition of thoughts that cause mental and physical exhaustion. If we take into account the characteristics of this clinical picture, it is possible to place it within what the DSM-V[1] called "flight of ideas", since it consists of the appearance of a series of continuous ideas that may or may not be connected to each other.
However, the most characteristic feature of the racing thought syndrome corresponds to the sudden topic changes that cover the area of thought.
In order to detect accelerated thinking syndrome in time, it is advisable to pay special attention to the manifestations that appear both physically and psychologically. Delimiting these qualities makes it possible to establish strategies to face the difficulties of this syndrome. Here we will distinguish the symptoms of racing thoughts:
- Difficulty focusing interest in a specific area.
- Repetitive thoughts.
- Lack of consistency.
- Persistent anxiety.
- Stress.
- Insomnia.
- Lack of attention and concentration.
- Fatigue.
- Irritability.
- Bodily discomfort.
- Muscle tension.
Despite the description just made, the presence of any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have accelerated thinking syndrome. If you have doubts, it is best to go to a clinical assessment by a mental health professional specialized.
The appearance of racing thoughts can be due to several factors. Each one of them has a vital importance that must be taken into consideration to find effective solutions. In the following items, we will describe the most frequent causes associated with racing thought syndrome:
- Environmental factors: They comprise several areas, from the intake of toxic substances, such as drugs, to high stress levels that result in the presence of racing thoughts. In addition, traumatic experiences also alter thinking, as well as imitation of behaviors during imitation through the observation of significant people in the around. In other words, if a person has lived with a referent diagnosed with racing thought syndrome, it is possible that the same clinical picture is adopted.
- Genetic factors: It is important to take into account that genetic inheritance plays an important role in the acquisition of ideas. Therefore, it should be noted if either of the parents has a speed of information processing high, this same trait can be transferred to the following generations.
When in doubt about how to treat racing thought syndrome, it is important to know in detail the most effective methods to reduce the impact of this disorder. Thus, we will talk about the main treatments for racing thought syndrome:
- psychological therapy: therapy is a space that allows one to reflect on day-to-day experiences in order to improve the quality of life. Both long-acting and short-term therapies have been shown to be effective in treating racing thinking syndrome.
- psychiatric medicationThere are medicines called anxiolytics that decrease the physical and mental symptoms of anxiety. However, taking them should be controlled by a specialized mental health professional.
- Physical activity: performing body movements concentrated in a physical activity interrupts the course of accelerated thought. Given this, it is important that the exercise interests you.
- Meditation: technique to reduce body and mental tension through breathing. In this article you will see what are the benefits of meditation for the brain.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Racing thought syndrome: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.
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Racing thought syndrome: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment
