How To Get Back On Track When I Get Too Deep Into My Thoughts?

Sometimes I do some really deep thinking, way too deep. Some times I start to feel depressed from this, mostly when I think of old memories and times that in no way shape or form will ever be back, days that are gone forever. Jobs I have had, friends I have made at those jobs, old girlfriends, family stuff, you name it.

This field gives you a lot of time to think and that can be a bad thing for me sometimes. It seems time is going faster and faster the older I get and its almost like the clock is spinning out of control. How can I slow down sometimes?

Surely I am not the only one to ever feel this way, Any tips on getting my mind right when I get too deep into it?

I try listening to podcasts, watching you tube videos, listening to talk radio, going on the forums, things like that.

Any other tips?

Sometimes I do some really deep thinking, way too deep. Some times I start to feel depressed from this, mostly when I think of old memories and times that in no way shape or form will ever be back, days that are gone forever. Jobs I have had, friends I have made at those jobs, old girlfriends, family stuff, you name it.

This field gives you a lot of time to think and that can be a bad thing for me sometimes. It seems time is going faster and faster the older I get and its almost like the clock is spinning out of control. How can I slow down sometimes?

Surely I am not the only one to ever feel this way, Any tips on getting my mind right when I get too deep into it?

I try listening to podcasts, watching you tube videos, listening to talk radio, going on the forums, things like that.

Any other tips?

Out of curiosity, are you fairly new to trucking? I had a really tough time with thinking too much when I'd been out here for a couple months or so. After the initial excitement wore off and I started to get a tad bored on long trips, I just couldn't stop thinking. I'm not much of a crybaby, but I remember calling my wife crying because I was so depressed and thought I was losing my mind. It's been eight months since I finished training and I'm doing a lot better now.

The thing that helps me the most when I start getting depressed is SLEEP. It's amazing what a good night or two of solid, uninterrupted sleep will do for your body and your mind. I try to listen to audiobooks alot when I drive, too. Check out Lisa Gardner and David Baldacci--you can usually find their audiobooks at truck stops. I talk on the phone sometimes too (using a Bluetooth headset), but I find it kinda distracting sometimes so I don't do that very much.

Also, learn to pace yourself. Don't run yourself ragged. If you run too hard you get tired and can't control your mind properly. But if you sit around alot, you might find yourseld with way too much time on your hands and nothing to do with your mind. Find that balance.

I haven't been out on the road trucking yet, but I do deal with a lot of "thinking time" right here from home..... so, three things I'm wondering:

1- Is it possible that the youtube videos, talk shoes, audio books, etc, actually encourages your brain to be more active and to think more, with the fact that everything spoken has to be processed..... rather than mellow out?

2- following above question, how about using music instead to kind of "switch off" the brain so that it's not constantly stimulated and processing. Music works for me in that way.

3- Also, this might sound a bit odd - especially for a guy- but this has worked remarkably well as a relaxation and mind-soothing technique even for my own overactive brain: a diffuser with aromatherapy (or real essential) oils. I would imagine a diffuser with calming and relaxing oils like lavender, mandarin, patouchli, or tea tree accompanied with music would really work well to settle down the brain and even cut down on anxiety. Personally, I only use real essential oils since I also make my own scented "lotion" in a carrier oil (aromatherapy oils are strictly only to fragrance the air, with the health/skin/hair benefits stripped). I like my small electric diffusers; they disperse by steamed vapor, which is also why I use real essential oils, as some of the oils I use also has the nasal decongestant or headache relief properties. An electric diffuser isn't needed, though -- there are other simple non-electronic ways (like by bamboo sticks, etc).. although I also love the additional feature of lighting ambiance (one even changes colors!) with mine, too, haha. note: The cab would smell reallllyyyyyyy good.... as a super-bonus!

My two main mixes (yes, I have two diffusers -- my brain seriously does not shut off!)

living room (daytime) for anxiety reducing: tea tree, tangerine, cinnamon

bedroom (nighttime) for better sleep: lavender, jasmine, rosemary (on occasion, for nasal decongestion)

I typically don't go into deep thought while I am driving. Too focused on the job at hand and staying out of harms way.

Please do take offense to this but, I try to save my deep, introverted thought when I am safely tucked away for the 10 hour break. That's me though.

I do it and when I get upset I call my sort of boyfirend at 4am.and cry.. Which just makes him angry until I tell him if he yells at me again I'll kill him and throw him in my trailer and drive down to FL or LA and feed him to alligators. (Actually threatened him with this Monday hahah).

I decided I'm going to start thinking about places in the US I want to stop on breaks. There are so many museum's across the country and amusement parks ...would love to zip line.

Try coming up with something to look forward to instead of back.

I write books and I have been trying to work out the end of my next novel in my head. Its better that. Getting mad at my guy lol at least for him