Sometimes worries, anxiety, and excess 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, but often unrealistic, conditions and regulations.
In various circumstances, the simple act of reasoning about any aspect of reality produces stress, anxiety, discomfort and/or disorganization. This translates into a series of symptoms that provoke the emotions, thoughts and behaviors that are carried out. Having concrete and relevant data about this topic can help you cope with these situations. Thus, in this Psychology-Online article you will find information about the Racing thinking syndrome: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment.
What is racing thinking syndrome?
Racing thinking syndrome is a anxiety disorder produced 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 calls “flight of ideas”, given that it consists of the appearance of a series of continuous ideas that may or may not have a connection with each other.
However, the most characteristic feature of accelerated thinking syndrome corresponds to the sudden topic changes that cover the area of thought.
Symptoms of racing thinking syndrome
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 allows us 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 coherence.
- Persistent anxiety.
- Stress.
- Insomnia.
- Lack of attention and concentration.
- Fatigue.
- .
- Body discomfort.
- Muscle tension.
Despite the description just made, the presence of any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you suffer from accelerated thinking syndrome. If you have doubts, it is best to go to a clinical evaluation by a mental health professional specialized.
Causes of racing thinking syndrome
The appearance of racing thoughts can be due to several factors. Each 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 accelerated thinking syndrome:
- Environmental factors: They comprise several areas, from the ingestion of toxic substances, such as drugs, to high levels of stress that result in the presence of racing thoughts. In addition, traumatic experiences also alter thinking, as well as the imitation of behaviors during imitation through observation of significant people in the environment. In other words, if a person has lived with someone diagnosed with accelerated thinking syndrome, it is possible that the same clinical picture will be adopted.
- Genetic factors: It is important to keep in mind that genetic inheritance plays an important role in the acquisition of ideas. Therefore, it is worth noting that if one of the parents has a high speed, this same trait can be transferred to the following generations.
Treatment of racing thinking syndrome
When in doubt about how to treat accelerated thinking syndrome, it is important to know in detail the most effective methods to reduce the impact of this disorder. In this way, we will talk about the main treatments for racing thinking syndrome:
- Psychological therapy: Therapy is a space that allows you to reflect on day-to-day experiences to improve quality of life. Both long-term and short-term therapies have been shown to be effective in treating racing thinking syndrome.
- Psychiatric medication: There are so-called medications that reduce the physical and mental symptoms of anxiety. However, their intake must be controlled by a specialized mental health professional.
- Physical activity: performing concentrated body movements in a physical activity interrupts the course of accelerated thinking. 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 the .
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.
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References
- American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington: Panamericana Medical Publishing.
Bibliography
- Cury, A. (2019). Anxiety 2. Buenos Aires: Ocean Argentina.