Dear Felix,

I am sorry you’re having these repetitive thoughts again… you might find it easier to stop the mind chatter if you get into your body and connect to the here-and-now. There’s a famous method to reduce anxiety and ground yourself in the present moment. According to this method, you should name 5 things you can see around you, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste. This will activate your senses and bring you back into your body, which is your safe place. It’s an antidote for the anxious, racing mind.

You can also do some physical exercise as a part of your morning routine (you say anxiety usually hits you in the morning). This will not only distract your mind from obsessing, but also fill you with endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, which are the brain chemicals that contribute to feeling good and reduce stress and anxiety.

Try not to hate yourself when you start obsessing. You can simply notice “oh the voice is here again”. And then proceed to do some exercise, a few pushups, or go for a jog, or any physical activity. Can be work in the garden, cutting the grass etc, although it might be boring for you (gardening usually is quite boring for young people 🙂 ). Anyway, I think exercise can help you a lot to neutralize that voice and feel better about yourself.