Additionally, not everyone has a verbal internal monologue (see § Absence of an internal monologue) The looser flow of thoughts and experiences, verbal or not, is called a stream of consciousness, which can also refer to a related technique in literature

Your brain generates a little sensory experience for you as a reference Neurons linked to a word like “dog” stimulate connected memory neurons of your brain (times youve seen a dog), which are linked up to visual and sensory neurons usually responsible for perceiving that object (the color, shape, whatever)

Among people who do report inner monologue, they tend to perceive those voices as their own That self-talk generally has a familiar pace and tone, although the exact voice might change depending on whether the current scenario is happy, scary, or relaxed Sometimes they may use whole sentences

There are several ways to help control this inner voice, including meditation and by practising imagery Meditation can help keep our most fervent critic, ourselves, in check The default mode network (DMN), which is brain activity which occurs when we aren’t actively focused, likely drives our inner voice

Truth is, when people suffer from anxiety, they become hyper aware of their random thinking Everyone experiences automatic thoughts, however, for someone who suffers from anxiety or depression, these automatic thoughts can become very loud, negative, and very persistant

12 Ways to Shut Off Your Brain Before Bedtime

1. Realize sleep is essential
2. Have a regular sleep schedule
3. Create a pre-sleep routine
4. Write down your worries — earlier in the day
5. Use your bed for sleep and intimacy
6. Create an optimal environment
7. Busy your brain with mental exercises
8. Focus on the positive

5 Ways to Stop Spiraling Negative Thoughts from Taking Control

1. Remove “should” thoughts
2. Recognize automatic negative thinking
3. Putting your thoughts on trial
4. Acknowledge how overwhelmed you feel
5. Don’t force positive thoughts

Typically, racing thoughts focus on a particular topic, often related to a stress-inducing event; for example: “My big test is tomorrow, but I don’t know the information I could know the information if I studied more but studying also makes me feel more stressed

Racing thoughts are fast moving and often repetitive thought patterns that can be overwhelming They may focus on a single topic, or they may represent multiple different lines of thought You may have racing thoughts about a financial issue or about an embarrassing moment or a phobia These thoughts may also escalate

Racing thoughts are often one of the first symptoms to develop when someone with bipolar disorder is entering a hypomanic or manic episode 4 It can be—but is not always—a debilitating experience Some people describe it as having excessive thoughts that move quickly, but with a sense of fluidity and pleasantness

The conditions most commonly linked to racing thoughts are bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sleep deprivation, amphetamine dependence, and hyperthyroidism

An exacerbation in anxiety symptoms may mimic a hypomanic or manic episode There is an overlap in symptoms such as sleep disturbances, concentration deficits, irritability, racing thoughts, and increased speech rate

Intrusive thoughts are thoughts that seem to become stuck in your mind They can cause distress, since the nature of the thought might be upsetting They may also reoccur frequently, which can make the concern worse Intrusive thoughts may be violent or disturbing

8 Sleep Experts on What to Do When You Can’t Turn Off Your Thoughts at Night

1. Distract yourself with meaningless mental lists
2. Try to stay awake instead
3. Or just get out of bed
4. Write down whatever’s freaking you out
5. Get back in bed and do some deep breathing
6. Try not to try so hard