Ack! Sail, that's crappy.

I am one of those who needs music when driving or running, to help keep away the bad thoughts. (Though I have to be careful with my playlists some days, because sometimes the wrong music can push the demons outwards and then I'm aggro for the next couple hours.) The nice thing, though, is that I can still process while the music's playing, the music just helps keep the crap away. Usually. (Na na na na na na na na na....)

The challenge for that particular situation is the sound system in my car is limited, so playing music for distraction would necessitate cranking up the volume to a level that is uncomfortable, to compensate for the road noise at highway speeds.

WS, how much would Best Buy charge to upgrade your sound system? It's something that might be worth looking in to, if you're willing to spend money on the car. Alternately, a boombox might be a good car accessory. I'm just glad to see your pixels.

Observe and describe work well for me on long drives, too, smonster.

I used to play New Age lyric-less music in the office to help keep me focused on task. If I'm hearing lyrics, I'm typing lyrics into the memo or letter. Doesn't work for counting cash by hand, either.

Long drives, though, audiobooks (or podfic) are a savior. Even when my car was so lacking in insulation that road noise drowned out music, I could still hear the spoken voice. If I'm writing, I'll work out dialog. And if I'm having disagreements or arguments with person or persons, I'll rehearse different confrontation scenarios.

What?

And if I'm having disagreements or arguments with person or persons, I'll rehearse different confrontation scenarios.

I LOVE this game! In those different scenarios I will cut you with my clever words. My enemiesfigments quell at my visage. Feeaaaar meeee!!

Seriously, I get so much energy from this activity that I sometimes have to ration my time with it.

Sometimes it helps when I get into obsessive thinking to just write it all down as it crosses my mind. Not journaling really, just transferring it from my mind to the paper. And then when I get over the hump a bit rip all the paper up.

Lately I've had stray anxious thoughts pop right up as I'm falling asleep - usually I'm drifting off and then bam! "Omigod I forgot to do X at work they are going to fire me!" and I'm wide awake. What I've found really good for that is recalling some of my favorite fanfic or a favorite movie or something.

I do what Barb does, a lot. Pretty much before any kind of big conversation or major deal I've played different scenarios in my head.

I don't do it as much, but for the longest time my biggest outlet to deal with stress was just imagining - like writing fanfic in my head. I used to do this a lot - just pace in my room and make up scenarios and stuff in my head.

Update in the ongoing saga of "woe-is-me":

I didn't get the temp job I interviewed for and don't have an assignment for Monday.

My injured hand is now bruised and aching.

:-(

Good ~ma coming your way, amych. I hope things turn out the best for you.

edited to add hugs for {{{quester}}}

Thanks, hon. No denying I've dug my own way into this hole, but right now I'm kinda beyond even knowing which way I want out of it. Sigh.

{{{quester}}}

{{{amych}}} May the weekend bring you clarity on your desires regardless of what happens Tuesday.

{{quester}}

{{amych}}

Heeey, can I just scrunch you guys together? {{questeramych}}