Just wondering if anyone has pondered this . . .

Lately I've realized no matter how good things are in my life, my brain wanders to something to be anxious about and to ruminate over. It's almost impossible for me not to be worrying about something to some extent.

Physically my hyperactivity has waned considerably over the years, but this mental gnawing over things has continued ad nauseum. Is anxiety just a manifestation or retooling of hyperactivity in the mind? It didn't happen quite as much when I used to take Prozac, but then I just felt numb.

I feel like worrying/anxiety is like jumper cables in my brain, sending just enough shock to keep my system started up.

Anyone else feel this way?

I don't do this, but FWIW, I've read that its pretty common amongst the ADD crowd.

I feel like worrying/anxiety is like jumper cables in my brain, sending just enough shock to keep my system started up.

Anyone else feel this way?

Yes and I tend to see the mental activity as a "replacement" of the physical hyperactive myself. Like movement anxiety over an issue brings resemblance of order to our thoughts as well as a little mental boot in alertness. I wasn't too much of a worrier until I began to be less hyperactive. When I get too into worrying I exercise and find it helps me a good deal.

Yes, I really think this is true, that we use anxiety and worry to keep ourselves alert. It makes sense, especially the older we get because we have a history of getting into trouble and not connecting that we know if we don't keep our minds alert we will end up in deep water again. Worrying and axiety keep us in the here and now. This used to be a big problem for me until I discovered tai chi and meditation. It's also very good while meditating to verbalize certain concerns. Dr. Russel A. Barkley says that ADDer's tend to internalize while people without ADD talk to themselves. The talking to one's self starts in childhood and us impulsive ADDer's do not do it, or do it as well. He discusses this in his book Taking Charge of ADHD. Good book I highly recommend!

Two resounding "yes's" from me!!

1. YES, I do this ruminating/internalizing/worrying/obsessing thing to a WRETCHED EXTENT.

2. YES, I completely agree that it is a form of mental hyperactivity.

I know I always have to have something to focus on obsessively, and unfortunately it's much easier to concentrate on the negative than it is the positive.

There was a time when I thought I would literally try and replace my negative obsessing with positive obsessing, but it really didn't come naturally to me at all. It was funny though..I would walk around trying to work myself up positively about the littlest things...like I would think to myself, "Oh boy, it's almost time for lunch, let's think about delicious food a whole lot!"

Yeah, that just didn't work out.

I'm really interested in reading that book Bryan is talking about. I'd like to learn more about this "talking to oneself" thing.

I would think to myself, "Oh boy, it's almost time for lunch, let's think about delicious food a whole lot!"


I don't think I would have been able to stick to this approach either.

Here is the way I go about it and find it helps - I have e a theory that it is much easier to modify than to completely change.


We live in a three dimensional universe the largest thing we know of - the smallest is the atom made of three particles - electrons {negative charge} they buzz about the nucleus much like negative thought tend to buzz about my mind - on the out skirt but never the less take part in my perspective on life.

At the center in the nucleus is the neutrons {neutral without charge but add to the total weight none the less} and protons {positive charges} These live at the center of the atom like the neutral {logical} and positive live at the core or my mind.

If the largest thing is made of [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimension]three dimension [url]and the tiniest one is then every thing else in between must also be made of the same three things - every situation is also three dimensional as are thoughts - I trained my self to look at every thing from all three dimensions - when it comes to negative thoughts I parelle a positive one The neutral is mere acceptance of the fact a thought or occurrence has happened without assignment of good or bad.

Even when good things happen I worry and the negative is not far behind - by making myself see all three portions of any given situation or idea my perspective on life feels more balanced. I have more than the negative to think about but I do not increase the presence of anxiety by trying to eliminate it - some how in my ADD brain looking for the positive and neutral is closer to adding to the thoughts but not the negativity I no longer ruminate - with positive out comes adding but neutral and negative portions I some how have gained some thing NTer call insight. . . a handy event no matter the name.

Any way this is how I broke the cycle of negative thinking and anxiety.
Maybe this will make sense to some one out there and be of some help :)

I think there different.

I often reminisce about stuff, but wouldn't say I'm worried about it nor anxious about it, it just wont go away. Yeah, theres alot I do worry about and get anxious about aswell.

So for me the term mental hyperactivity best describes an overactive mind when theres no reason for it. Depends how you define it though.

FWIW, after I read Jack Dreyfus's book A Remarkable Medicine (largely readable online), as well as different "Smart" and anti-aging books (e.g., Dean & Morgenthaler, and Pelton -- see, e.g., CERI Books and Literature) I have taken phenytoin daily.

I find it interrupts that ruminating, agitated, broken record in my mind that I seemed unable to avoid. I find that I am more focused, sharper, calmer and peaceful. The phenytoin does not make me feel either drugged or tense, and I don't feel any effect except whatever normal is for me.

I can't take tranquilizers or antidepressants, and my clinician told me (during qeeg treatment) that I needed to never take ritalin again, after he could see the bad effects.

Hope this helps in some way. You can do much research about this online if you are interested in exploring it. And I'll answer any questions about its effect on me.

I do think you are right.
maybe we should start a poll.... if you are not hyperactive, are you anxious? This would actually settle the whole ADD-ADHD discussion.

Yes, I agree that this hyperactivity will almost always manifest itself as anxiety.

My mind races from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed. I believe it to be 20 % a blesssing and 80 % a curse. As a blessing it allows me to be creative, think through many possibilities to a problem very quickly, and as an engineer it has helped me in my career. Engineers get paid well, I have never had to struggle financially, but i obsess about being financially independent because I have extreme anxiety about job stability.

As a curse I believe it prevents organization, prioritization, and creates unecessary mental clutter. I have anxiety about everything from job stability, job assignments, economic and global events, 20 years in the future for my children, etc. I just lost my job 11/5/07 and for the first time the docs have heavily suggested ADD, now accompanied by depression and anxiety disorder. I just started dexedrine, Cymbalta and klonopin which has got me functional again after 7 weeks, but the class 5 hurricane in my head is still causing anxiety. Need another job, but can't see how I'll get ready to do it again.

I am extremely stubborn and skeptical of counseling, coaching, shrinks, etc, but for the first time I know I will need help from an expert to stop this mental hyperactivity. I am 49, and I just can't go on like this anymore. To most friends and family they think I'm ok, but they don't know the extend of actually how unhappy I have been. Simple joy is a foreign concept to me, cause I can't just sit still and watch a hummingbird enjoy a drink from a flower. :(

meadd, I just love your analogy! That one is def. going to stick in my mind, and I predict that it helps me a lot!

Were we separated at birth?! Amiegrace have you thought about CBT? It has done wonders for me. A lot of this negative thinking can be learned obviously, but a lot of it is just part and parcel of our over-active brains (Bryan's so right), and I think CBT is effective for both. Finally, after years of worrying about absolutely everything, it got to the point where I was making myself sick and knew that I needed to do something about it. My only wish is that I had done it earlier!

Lost in Ohio,

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. It takes a lot of courage to seek treatment. I wish you all the best! Keep us posted!