Do unpleasant thoughts come to your mind when you're doing something constructive such as a puzzle?

Question

I have gone through a lot of emotional trauma in my life, as I grew up amongst abusive people who treated me differently and rejected me when I would stand up for myself. I want to move on with my life and forget that chapter of my life, but when my mind goes idle, or I'm working on some menial task, playing a handheld game or putting together a puzzle or any other brainy exercise, somehow all of those memories do come flowing through my mind to the point that I'm starting to associate the task with a certain unpleasant memory.

Does this happen to other people, if so what have others done to push such memories away?

Answer 1

Yes, what has happened is that you repressed or hid all those memories and the pain it has caused. You " raised a shield". When you distract your self and relax your mind during a menial task you are "lowering that shield". What ever the circumstances it might be time to find some help so you can find constructive ways to deal with the pain and stress.

Answer 2

it happens to me all the time. my trauma is always coming back. things that have helped me:

~i go back to a place where something bad happened, and i make a new memory, a good one. sounds stupid but the next time i think about that place i can much more easily tell my brain to think of a more recent memory there.

~ i have found that working in a really busy environment (ER) has helped me to keep things like that off my mind.

~ if it gets to you when you are working on a mental task, spice it up. add some music, do it outside..i'm just suggesting to add another element to the environment rather than just a quiet place where you mind can race freely ya know? have some noise in the background or have someone hang out with you...

Answer 3

This is not uncommon for people who have a history of trauma. Constructive thought takes effort and work. An idle mind is the devil's workshop, meaning that idleness can lead to destructiveness. Try to think of how people could respond to trauma or better yet, think of how far you have come. You have survived and succeeded despite this history. Try to think of those accomplishments. Replace destructive thoughts with incompatible constructive thoughts. Be good to yourself and others. Live in peace.

Answer 4

I learned Transcendental Meditation in college. Thoughts like these are like negative energy. TM was helpful for me in releasing energy and learning to relax. It used to be if you were a student there was a substantial discount for the fee.

Yoga is good and if you are religious prayer and contemplation may be helpful, friends of mine read a verse of scripture and think about it for a few minutes. they find these thoughts are replaced with high energy.

The fact that you remember these unfortunate times is good in a way because you have not buried them to have to deal with later or take them out on others as anger, this sword can have two edges. You wouldn't want to inflict the same cruelty on a child or loved one would you?

If there was alcohol or drug abuse in your family try adult children of alcoholics.

If you have insurance ask your Dr for a referral to a counselor before trying medications. I'm no doctor but I can relate to you

Answer 5

I have never been abused or anything of that sort, but maybe these thoughts come through your head because you are excersicing your brain. I'm very sorry to hear your problem, but maybe if you could talk to a phsycologist then maybe they can help you overcome your memories.

Answer 6

this has never happened to me, and I have done a lot of puzzles.


Maybe there is something seriously wrong with you? One never knows.