Many people on the autism spectrum, including myself, face challenges. One challenge is getting rid of ruminating or looping thoughts. At its worst, it can seem like there is no end to the thoughts that we are experiencing. It feels like there is no way out of getting back on track. But we have to find our own way to distract ourselves from these thoughts. We need to realize that we are more than our thoughts.

Many times in my life, I let myself run with a thought or belief. I did not even try to stop thinking about it. It had just kept perseverating in my brain over and over. No matter how hard I tried, it just would not go away. I knew I did not have the power to change my thoughts. I also knew that what I wanted to believe was no longer valid. Yet, there was a part of me that wanted to ruminate about getting what I wanted. I also wanted to reach my endgame even though I knew doing so is impossible.

The thought keeps running cycles in the brain. It can be hard to distract yourself. Focus on things that help you get away from the negative thinking. It can be hard to let go about things that your brain just can’t seem to get rid of. It can seem like there is no end to the thoughts you are thinking. They persist even though they are not relevant years after they are thought.

Finding things to distract myself helps me get away from repetitive thoughts. It gets my mind off the thoughts that are in my brain. Distraction is key. Whether that means putting on music or taking a break entirely, it’s crucial to keep active. Avoid sitting or lying around and ruminating on bothersome thoughts. You don’t have the power to change them, but changing your thoughts is a better choice.

In its worst stages, the ruminative thoughts can continually fuel themselves. They can also be triggered by the one thing that we do not feel we can control or tolerate. This can be the recipe for a meltdown. We can express the feelings we have built up over time. Releasing its fury allows us to let go of the pressure that has been held up for so long. For far too long, I let things escalate without expressing my feelings. I misunderstood what was perceived. By the time it was clear, it was too late. Others became casualties of my meltdowns and fury. In the past, I felt horrible for my actions. I felt this way especially when others valued me as the person they wanted to become. I was nowhere near the person they needed to see.

I had to start doing the work from there. I heeded the suggestions and advice I sought and received. This helped me realize I had a part to play in getting rid of the thoughts on my own. I needed to avoid letting people feel an unwanted wrath. It was not up to others to make me feel better. They gave me the advice. But, I had to take the initiative. I needed to start distracting myself during moments of rumination. This was crucial, especially for thoughts I did not control or were no longer valid.

Eventually I learned that I had to take control of my thoughts. I needed to start making better changes. It was important to handle things on my own, so they did not evolve. This way, they wouldn’t get as bad as they had gotten in the past. I wanted to avoid reaching a point that would cause a meltdown in me. If I wanted to be a better person, I had to take responsibility. Making the changes I desired depended on me.