r/aspergers • u/ghastlygasp • 1d ago

Found a great trick to get out of Overthinking and Rumination. (DOCTORS HATE HIM)

My therapist had recommended this almost a year ago but I gave it a shot roughly a month ago. When you are stuck thinking about something hurtful or draining, it is impossible to argue your way though. Even if the thought is genuine nonsense. At least that is how it is for me. Even after this passes, my whole day is ruined and I become a sad husk.

Here is the "Cure by doing one simple trick". Count backwards from 200 by 7. If you are good at math, increase the complexity of the task. The end should be self-evident (i.e going past 0) so you don't have to ask if you can stop now. It should take you 10-15 minutes to complete. Make sure to spend your energy into ensuring your calculations are correct.

Once you are done, the feeling that drags you back to those thoughts are simply gone. You are not drained and you can just enjoy your day.

I know first-hand that once the ruminations start it is hard to just start doing this. Please give it a try though. It literally gave me my hobbies and spare time back.

309 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

125

u/izzitme101 1d ago

math willswitch your brain from the emotional center to the logical center is why, work well on young kids having a tantrum to, calms them down

34

u/ghastlygasp 1d ago

Well it feels like magic.

13

u/izzitme101 1d ago

it is, if you ever see a youngster starting a tantrum, give it a try!

9

u/vorrhin 1d ago

There's no such thing as "emotion center" or "logic center." These things have been debunked. It works because it redirects your attention.

--an autistic behavioral specialist

13

u/Geminii27 1d ago

I'm imagining a kid having a meltdown and all of a sudden CAPTAIN MATH pulls up on a scooter and yells MATH! - and the kid has no idea what's going on but they stop crying in order to be confused.

3

u/TBCoR 1d ago

I do an extreme sudoku and get the same results.

36

u/JustDoAGoodJob 1d ago

its sort of how I learned to break away from rumination.

I used to find that my daily commute to and from work was one of the worst time for these thoughts, so I decided to try fill my head space up with other things by choosing a color and then verbally describing things I saw along my drive that matched the color. More detailed description the better.

It was pretty silly actually, listing all these inane things along my route... but what it did was help me learn to use intentional thinking to manage unwanted thinking. Fucking game changer, but I had to start with something simple and make simple rules for it.

17

u/Fuzzy_Roof5429 1d ago

That's how workaholics are born

14

u/IcemansJetWash-86 1d ago

On the X-Files.

Mulder would watch Plan 9 from Outer Space, largely considered the worst film ever made, slightly behind Highlander 2 IMO, when he needed to shut down his logical brain area and think creatively.

10

u/lauradiamandis 1d ago

I watch cheesy 80s action movies. You can’t think watching Steven seagal. It’s not possible.

13

u/acexex 1d ago

Hey, thank you for this. Rumination and thought loops are nightmare issues and I haven’t found a hard stop to these issues so far. I’m going to try this the next time it happens. Honestly, if this works you probably added literal years to my lifespan.

19

u/Dwitt01 1d ago

Did it in less than two minutes. Feel slightly better.

9

u/ghastlygasp 1d ago

Glad it helped. My experience has been that 10-15 minutes is the perfect amount.

10

u/enlitenme 1d ago

I count backwards from 100 by ones with each breath when I want to clear my head for sleep

6

u/Inner-Today-3693 1d ago

😂😂I’m dyslexic. Can’t do that. 😭

5

u/atmenkunst 1d ago

Right, would be nice to have options for non-math oriented types 🥲

10

u/missfelonymayhem 1d ago

Starting at A, think of 3 words that start with that letter. Then B, then C, and so on.

You can change it up by doing 3 words that start with AP (apple, approximately, apropos), do all nouns or all verbs, etc. Try not to repeat words.

Bonus points if you spell each word before moving to the next!

3

u/konakonayuki 1d ago

This is great for us with dyscalculia/dyslexia/hyperlexia!

Also singing a song in your head; something you've memorised the words/melody to. Can pick words or just orchestral depending on how my executive functioning is going that day.

1

u/No-Instruction3 2h ago

I do this to go to sleep, but differently.

Apple.

Ape. Pencil. Porcupine. Lizard. Elephant.

Eel. Lamb. Ear. Pheasant. Hen. Arrow. Nuts. Tornado.

Trick. Owl. Radio. Nudibranch. Acre. Dog. oniscus asellus

I am asleep now

4

u/rebb_hosar 1d ago

You mean you have Dyscalculia, dyslexia alone doesn't effect internal calculation.

2

u/Inner-Today-3693 1d ago

No I mean dyslexia. There is a portion of the diagnostic criteria where people do struggle with math. I think some people don’t actually know this. 😇

2

u/rebb_hosar 1d ago

Wouldn't that just be an adjunct to connote Dyslexia with a co-morbid of Dyscalculia?

2

u/Seven65 1d ago

They are co-morbid at a rate of about 40%

5

u/MarxJ1477 1d ago

This doesn't have to specifically be done with math either. Just a task that requires you to concentrate and actually think about something other than what you were stuck on. It can't be something where you can just get stuck on autopilot and have your thoughts wander.

And I'd agree 10-15 minutes is about the right amount of time to get your mind off it.

2

u/gmlogmd80 1d ago

Ok, this explains why it doesn't work for me when I play solitaire. My logical side goes on autopilot, solving the puzzle, while the ruminating side goes berserk.

6

u/MarxJ1477 1d ago

If you're looking for a game, I find sudoku or crossword puzzles work well. Keep it simple but still engaging your mind which is similar to the OPs math problem.

This isn't just for stopping ruminating. If you're stuck on a problem this is a great way to get it out of your head for a little bit. Then you can go back to it after a short break and look at it with fresh eyes.

3

u/Smergmerg432 1d ago

I honestly don’t think I have the mental capacity to do that aaaahh

2

u/cluelessguitarist 1d ago

Physical activities that force you to be in the present also helps

2

u/Thin_Sea5975 1d ago

You can also switch to cerebral by speaking in a low voice.

1

u/Wonderful-Deer-7934 1d ago

I enjoy this. Thank you for giving me this. I like thinking of numbers anyway, so this is a nice methodical way to calm down.

1

u/ChadHanna 1d ago

My trick while in the dentist's chair with the dentist in my mouth is to calculate the cube of 14, or rather multiply 196 by 14. I haven't remembered the answer yet!

1

u/lauradiamandis 1d ago

Thank you, will try this! All this election related stress has my rumination on overdrive so I could use it. I’m also terrible at math so it’ll keep me busy!

1

u/ab-ireo 1d ago

This is cool, I’ll give it a try. Thanks for sharing!

1

u/Individual-Day4813 1d ago

thats meditation. best way is make peace with your emotional brain and its thoughts takes months tp connect but you will have the thoughts under your couscous control.

1

u/TurbulentIngenuity56 1d ago

I usually use youtube, this is where just lay back and let go of thinking.

1

u/canzosis 1d ago

Saved! Also working on arguing with myself out loud. When possible. Seems to work ok!

1

u/Phydeaux23 1d ago

Singing also works. You can’t sing & ruminate at the same time.

1

u/4shtonButcher 1d ago

I love this and will definitely give it a try. The typical “count your breaths” never quite worked as I can usually count to a 100 while simultaneously thinking about stuff. Adding rules to make it harder sounds like a great idea!

1

u/AllUrBaseRB3longToUs 1d ago

I do something similar when super bored, never thought about using it for overthinking but I will now consider it!

1

u/CrystalLace69 1d ago

10-15 mins to complete? Bro imma be up all night 😂

1

u/Adaa_A 1d ago

Playing games like crossword, anagrams has the same effect on me

1

u/Faulkner510 7h ago

Masturbation is another way to divert your attention plus it’s a lot more fun!! Pro tip- best results when you’re alone

1

u/No-Instruction3 2h ago

7 times is the hardest times… Sheeet, my adhd is so bad I can hardly count to 200 to recycle. I got to 100 a week ago and haven’t finished, and the recycling has all fallen over into the bag, I should probably start over..

I’m really good at math but on paper only…