Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Racing thoughts

Racing thoughts refer to a subjective experience in which thoughts occur at an abnormally rapid rate, often feeling uncontrollable and overwhelming to the individual.^[1] This phenomenon involves an accelerated stream of ideas that may jump quickly between topics or focus repetitively on concerns, leading to mental restlessness and difficulty concentrating.^[2] Commonly observed as a symptom across various mental health conditions, racing thoughts are particularly prominent in mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, where they characterize manic or hypomanic episodes alongside elevated energy, rapid speech, and decreased need for sleep.^[3] In depressive or mixed states, they may present as "crowded thoughts"—a distressing overload of simultaneous ideas that feel inhibited and hard to process, contributing to emotional turmoil and poor inhibition of mental activity.^[2] They are also integral to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults, manifesting as persistent mental restlessness that worsens in the evening and correlates with insomnia severity and anxiety traits.^[4] Beyond mood and neurodevelopmental disorders, racing thoughts frequently accompany anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, where they fuel cycles of worry, rumination, and hyperarousal that impair daily functioning.^[5] Associations extend to conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)^[6] and insomnia, highlighting racing thoughts as a transdiagnostic feature that bridges affective dysregulation, attentional deficits, and sleep disturbances.^[7] While distinct from intrusive thoughts (which are unwanted and ego-dystonic), racing thoughts emphasize speed and volume over content specificity, often exacerbating overall symptom severity in affected individuals.^[8]

Definition and Characteristics

Definition

Racing thoughts refer to the subjective experience of a rapid, uncontrollable succession of thoughts that feel accelerated and difficult to interrupt or control.^[1] This phenomenon is characterized by an inner sense of thoughts moving abnormally fast, creating a sense of mental overload where ideas proliferate quickly and typically follow a linear progression and logic, distinguishing them from flight of ideas, which involve more tangential or loose associations.^[1]^[9] As an internal cognitive process, racing thoughts are not necessarily observable externally, distinguishing them from overt behavioral manifestations, though they can sometimes correlate with pressured speech or other signs.^[10] The term "racing thoughts" emerged in 20th-century psychiatric literature, primarily in descriptions of manic states, where it captured the accelerated mental activity observed in such episodes.^[11] Its etymology draws from the metaphor of "racing," evoking speed, urgency, and a lack of restraint, akin to a mind operating in overdrive without brakes. The concept was first formalized in diagnostic criteria around the 1980s, notably in the DSM-III, as a key feature of elevated mood episodes.^[11] Historical roots of racing thoughts trace back to ancient Greek understandings of manic states, where Hippocrates described individuals exhibiting excessive agitation and disordered cognition in mania.^[12] These early observations laid foundational ideas for later psychiatric conceptualizations of accelerated thinking in heightened emotional states.^[13]

Characteristics and Symptoms

Racing thoughts are characterized by a rapid, often uncontrollable succession of ideas that jump quickly between unrelated topics, creating a sense of mental acceleration and fragmentation. Individuals may experience thoughts as fragmented or overlapping, making it difficult to focus on a single idea or complete tasks, with the mind feeling pressured or overwhelmed by the constant influx.^[14]^[9] This can manifest internally as a "train of thoughts" moving at high speed or externally through pressured speech and frequent shifts in conversation topics.^[15]^[14] The symptoms often include heightened mental fatigue from the effort to keep up with the thoughts, irritability due to frustration with the lack of control, and interference with concentration that disrupts daily functioning. For instance, the mind might cycle through worries, future plans, past memories, or random associations in mere seconds without reaching resolution, leading to a persistent sense of unease.^[5]^[15] Additionally, racing thoughts commonly contribute to cognitive pre-sleep arousal, where the inability to quiet the mind delays sleep onset and exacerbates insomnia.^[15] In terms of duration and intensity, racing thoughts can be episodic, triggered by acute stress and lasting from minutes to hours, or more persistent, occurring over days or longer in certain states. The intensity varies from mildly distracting, where individuals can still manage routines, to severely debilitating, overwhelming consciousness and impairing basic decision-making.^[14]^[9] They are frequently observed in high-energy states such as mania, where the rapid ideation aligns with elevated mood and activity.^[14]

Causes and Associated Conditions

Mental Health Disorders

Racing thoughts manifest as a prominent symptom in various anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder, where they are closely tied to states of hyperarousal and persistent worry cycles that intensify fear responses.^[16] In GAD, individuals often experience an uncontrollable stream of anxious thoughts that contribute to chronic tension and difficulty concentrating, amplifying the overall sense of impending doom.^[17] Similarly, during panic attacks in panic disorder, racing thoughts may focus on catastrophic interpretations of bodily sensations, such as fearing loss of control or impending death, thereby perpetuating the acute fear response.^[18] Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also features racing thoughts as part of hyperarousal symptoms, often involving rapid, intrusive recollections of trauma that contribute to heightened vigilance, irritability, and sleep disturbances.^[19] In bipolar disorder, racing thoughts are a hallmark feature of manic and hypomanic episodes, characterized by rapid shifts between ideas accompanied by elevated mood, grandiosity, and increased energy.^[20] These thoughts often feel accelerated and fragmented, leading to pressured speech and impulsivity, as the mind jumps from one topic to another without completion.^[21] Racing thoughts can also emerge in depressive episodes, particularly those with mixed features or psychotic elements, where they contrast with typical slowed cognition and may heighten agitation or distress.^[22] Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) involves racing thoughts as part of a broader pattern of distractible and hyperactive cognition, frequently intertwined with inattention and contributing to executive dysfunction.^[9] In adults with ADHD, these rapid thought shifts can mimic mind wandering but are distinguished by their intrusive, overactive quality, impairing focus and task completion.^[23] This cognitive overdrive exacerbates challenges in planning, organization, and emotional regulation, as the brain struggles to filter or prioritize information effectively.^[24] In obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), racing thoughts often revolve around persistent obsessions—intrusive, unwanted ideas or images that trigger anxiety and compel ritualistic behaviors—creating a cycle of mental urgency.^[25] These thoughts race in a repetitive, fear-laden manner, differing from the more diffuse rapidity seen in mania, as they center on specific themes like contamination or harm. In major depressive disorder, racing thoughts are less prevalent than in manic states but can appear in agitated forms of depression, manifesting as negative, self-critical loops that reinforce feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.^[15] Underlying these manifestations across disorders is the dysregulation of key neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine and serotonin, which contribute to cognitive overactivation. Elevated dopamine activity is implicated in the heightened arousal and rapid idea generation during manic or hyperactive states, while serotonin imbalances may exacerbate worry and obsessive patterns in anxiety and depressive contexts.^[26] This neurochemical disruption leads to impaired inhibition of thought processes, fostering the subjective experience of mental acceleration.^[27] Lack of sleep, particularly chronic sleep deprivation or insomnia, disrupts normal cognitive processes, leading to heightened cognitive arousal and fragmented thinking that manifests as racing thoughts. This occurs because insufficient rest impairs the brain's ability to regulate attention and emotion, exacerbating intrusive or accelerated ideation, especially at night when attempting to relax. Insomnia affects approximately 10-30% of adults with symptoms or disorder.^[28] Hyperthyroidism, characterized by excess production of thyroid hormones such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), accelerates metabolic rate and stimulates the central nervous system, often resulting in symptoms like nervousness, irritability, and racing thoughts. These hormones influence neurotransmitter activity, including increased sensitivity to catecholamines, which can overstimulate neural pathways and produce anxious, rapid cognition. Clinical cases, such as those involving Graves' disease, have documented racing thoughts as a prominent feature alongside tachycardia and tremors.^[29]^[30] Substance use, particularly stimulants like amphetamines, cocaine, and excessive caffeine, triggers racing thoughts by inducing surges in dopamine and norepinephrine, which heighten alertness and thought speed to pathological levels. For instance, cocaine rapidly blocks dopamine reuptake, leading to euphoria followed by disorganized, accelerated thinking. Similarly, withdrawal from depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines can provoke rebound hyperactivity in the brain, manifesting as anxious racing thoughts due to compensatory neural overexcitation.^[31] Chronic stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in sustained elevation of cortisol, which promotes thought acceleration by altering prefrontal cortex function and amplifying amygdala responses to perceived threats. Prolonged cortisol exposure disrupts sleep and cognitive regulation, fostering a cycle of rumination and rapid ideation. This physiological response is adaptive in acute scenarios but detrimental when chronic, contributing to fragmented attention and persistent mental hyperactivity.^[32]^[33] Acute physiological triggers, such as psychological trauma, can also precipitate racing thoughts by overwhelming the brain's stress response systems, leading to hyperarousal and intrusive, speeding cognition as part of the fight-or-flight activation. High fever, often associated with delirium, may induce disorganized thinking resembling racing thoughts through fever-induced neuroinflammation and altered cerebral metabolism.^[34]

Diagnosis and Assessment

Clinical Evaluation

Clinical evaluation of racing thoughts begins with a detailed history-taking process, where clinicians elicit patient reports on the speed, duration, and functional impact of their thoughts. Patients are typically asked open-ended questions such as "Do your thoughts ever feel like they are racing or moving too quickly?" to explore subjective experiences, followed by probes into onset, triggers, and interference with daily activities like sleep or concentration.^[35]^[36] This approach helps quantify the symptom's severity, with self-report scales like the Racing and Crowded Thoughts Questionnaire (RCTQ) providing a structured 34-item assessment of racing and crowded thought dimensions, demonstrating good reliability and validity in mood disorder contexts.^[37] For manic presentations, the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) includes an item on language-thought disorder (item 7), which rates manifestations from mild distractibility and quick thoughts (score 1), to racing thoughts and frequent topic changes (score 2), flight of ideas (score 3), and gross disorganization (score 4), based on interview observations.^[38] During the clinical encounter, observation plays a key role in identifying external manifestations of internal racing thoughts, as patients may exhibit restlessness, fidgeting, or pressured speech characterized by rapid, hard-to-interrupt talking that reflects underlying cognitive acceleration.^[39] Clinicians note these behaviors to corroborate self-reports, particularly since racing thoughts are often subjective and not always outwardly visible.^[40] Integration of DSM-5 criteria is essential, where racing thoughts serve as a specifier for manic, hypomanic, or mixed episodes in bipolar disorder, defined as a "subjective experience that thoughts are racing" alongside symptoms like elevated mood and increased energy.^[41] In anxiety contexts, it aligns with excessive worry in generalized anxiety disorder, while in ADHD, it overlaps with inattention patterns.^[42] Screening tools facilitate initial identification, such as the GAD-7 questionnaire for anxiety-related racing thoughts, which assesses worry severity and restlessness that may manifest as cognitive overdrive, with scores ≥10 indicating moderate anxiety warranting further evaluation.^[43] For ADHD associations, the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) screens core symptoms like inattention and hyperactivity, where racing thoughts are reported as integral to the disorder's phenomenology.^[44]^[45] During interviews, clinicians may briefly differentiate racing thoughts—internal and rapid but coherent—from flight of ideas, which involves observable, tangential shifts in speech.^[40]

Differential Diagnosis

Racing thoughts must be differentiated from conditions presenting with similar rapid or intrusive cognitive patterns, such as psychosis, neurological disorders, and delirium, through a comprehensive clinical evaluation that includes history, physical examination, and targeted investigations. In psychosis, particularly schizophrenia, thought processes often exhibit disorganization, including tangentiality, loose associations, or derailment, whereas racing thoughts in mood disorders like bipolar mania remain relatively coherent and goal-directed despite their speed.^[46]^[47] To rule out neurological issues, such as partial seizures (e.g., temporal lobe epilepsy) that may mimic racing thoughts with episodic rapid ideation or automatisms, electroencephalography (EEG) is recommended if there is suspicion of ictal activity or focal neurological signs. Medication side effects, including those from stimulants, antidepressants, or corticosteroids, can induce racing thoughts; a detailed medication history and urine toxicology screen help exclude substance-induced causes. Hyperthyroidism may present with anxiety-like racing thoughts and agitation, necessitating laboratory assessment of thyroid function tests, such as TSH and free T4 levels.^[46]^[48] Delirium, often hyperactive in medical emergencies like infection or electrolyte imbalance, features fluctuating attention and confusion alongside rapid thoughts, differing from the sustained, non-fluctuating nature of racing thoughts in primary psychiatric conditions; cognitive screening tools like the CAM (Confusion Assessment Method) aid in this distinction. Racing thoughts frequently co-occur with insomnia, where they perpetuate sleep onset difficulties, or PTSD, manifesting as trauma-related hyperarousal; multimodal assessment, including sleep diaries and trauma history, is essential to identify these comorbidities without misattributing them as standalone entities.^[49]^[50] Diagnostic challenges arise from the subjective nature of racing thoughts, relying heavily on patient self-report, which can be influenced by cultural factors affecting symptom expression or stigma around mental health disclosure. In such cases, collateral information from family or longitudinal observation helps clarify the context, ensuring accurate differentiation from primary anxiety or bipolar presentations.^[46]

Management and Treatment

Professional Interventions

Professional interventions for racing thoughts primarily involve evidence-based pharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches tailored to the underlying condition, such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or physiological factors like hyperthyroidism. These treatments aim to stabilize mood, reduce cognitive hyperactivity, and address root causes under clinical supervision. Selection depends on the patient's diagnosis, symptom severity, and potential comorbidities, with regular monitoring to adjust regimens and minimize side effects. Medications form the cornerstone of treatment, targeting neurochemical imbalances associated with racing thoughts. For bipolar disorder, mood stabilizers like lithium are first-line options, demonstrating high efficacy in acute mania where racing thoughts are prominent; lithium reduces manic symptoms with a relative risk of 0.5 compared to placebo, achieving response rates of 50-70% in clinical trials.^[51] Anxiolytics such as benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam) provide short-term relief for anxiety-driven racing thoughts by enhancing GABA activity, though their use is limited to 2-4 weeks due to dependency risks.^[52] For anxiety or OCD, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline are effective, reducing intrusive and racing thoughts by modulating serotonin levels, with response after 8-12 weeks.^[53] In ADHD, stimulants such as methylphenidate improve focus and curb disorganized thinking when titrated appropriately.^[54] Psychotherapeutic modalities complement pharmacotherapy by equipping patients with skills to manage thought patterns. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps reframe racing or catastrophic thoughts through structured techniques like cognitive restructuring, reducing relapse rates in bipolar disorder by up to 40% when added to medication.^[55] Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotional regulation and distress tolerance, using mindfulness exercises to interrupt rumination cycles, particularly beneficial in borderline personality disorder or bipolar contexts with affective instability.^[56] Mindfulness-based therapies, such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), promote present-moment awareness to slow cognitive racing, with studies showing moderate efficacy in reducing anxiety-related thought acceleration as an adjunct to SSRIs.^[51] For specific etiologies, targeted interventions address physiological drivers. In severe manic episodes refractory to medications, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) rapidly alleviates symptoms including racing thoughts, with response rates exceeding 70% in treatment-resistant mania and faster onset than pharmacotherapy alone.^[57] Hyperthyroidism-induced racing thoughts, often mimicking anxiety or mania, respond to antithyroid medications like methimazole, which normalize thyroid hormone levels and resolve neuropsychiatric symptoms within weeks to months.^[58] Combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy yields superior outcomes, with studies reporting diminished racing thoughts in bipolar disorder compared to medication alone; this integration enhances adherence and long-term stability.^[59] Brief incorporation of self-help techniques under professional guidance can further optimize results.

Self-Help and Coping Strategies

Individuals experiencing racing thoughts can employ breathing exercises to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and promote relaxation. The 4-7-8 technique, which involves inhaling for 4 seconds, holding for 7 seconds, and exhaling for 8 seconds, helps interrupt rapid thought patterns by focusing attention on breath control.^[60] Progressive muscle relaxation, where one systematically tenses and releases muscle groups, similarly reduces physiological arousal associated with racing thoughts and has been shown to alleviate anxiety symptoms.^[61] Distraction and grounding strategies offer immediate ways to externalize and redirect racing thoughts. Journaling allows individuals to document thoughts on paper, providing a structured outlet that can decrease emotional intensity and rumination.^[62] The 5-4-3-2-1 sensory grounding method—naming 5 things one sees, 4 one can touch, 3 one hears, 2 one smells, and 1 one tastes—anchors attention to the present environment, effectively reducing anxiety-driven mental overwhelm.^[63] Physical activities such as walking serve as a form of distraction, promoting endorphin release and clearing mental fog to slow thought acceleration.^[64] Lifestyle adjustments support ongoing management of racing thoughts by addressing contributing factors. Maintaining sleep hygiene through a consistent bedtime schedule and a relaxing pre-sleep routine enhances overall mental regulation and reduces nighttime thought escalation.^[65] Limiting caffeine intake, particularly in the afternoon and evening, prevents overstimulation that exacerbates racing thoughts, as caffeine blocks adenosine receptors and prolongs alertness.^[66] Mindfulness practice via apps, such as guided sessions focusing on present-moment awareness, fosters habituated calm and has been linked to stress reduction in meta-analyses of over 200 studies.^[67] Over the long term, establishing daily routines to minimize stress triggers—such as scheduled worry time or regular physical activity—can lead to sustained improvements. Studies on mindfulness-based self-help interventions indicate reductions in anxiety symptoms, highlighting the value of consistent application.^[68] These strategies complement professional therapy for underlying conditions but can be implemented independently for daily coping.^[5]

Epidemiology

Prevalence and Demographics

Racing thoughts are not tracked as an independent condition but are frequently reported as a symptom within various mental health disorders, particularly anxiety, bipolar disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In anxiety disorders, which affect approximately 4.4% of the global population as of 2025, racing thoughts are a common manifestation, such as in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), where the global lifetime prevalence is 3.7%. In bipolar disorder, racing thoughts are frequently reported during manic or mixed episodes, contributing to the subjective experience of accelerated cognition during these states. Similarly, in adult ADHD, which has a U.S. prevalence of 4.4%, racing thoughts represent an integral aspect of mental restlessness, commonly experienced by affected individuals. Demographically, racing thoughts are more prevalent among adults, with peak occurrences in the 20-40 age range, aligning with the higher incidence of associated conditions like anxiety and ADHD during early to mid-adulthood. Women report higher rates in anxiety-linked cases, where GAD and depression—exhibiting racing thoughts as a symptom—show gender disparities; for instance, global depression prevalence is 5.5% in women compared to 3.2% in men, with women twice as likely to experience these disorders. Geographically, rates are elevated in urban and high-stress populations, where anxiety disorders are often more common than in rural areas due to environmental factors like noise and social density. U.S.-specific data on ADHD adults further indicate racing thoughts as a common feature in this demographic. Post-2020 trends reflect increasing recognition of racing thoughts, driven by pandemic-related stress, which triggered a 25% global rise in anxiety and depression prevalence. This surge has heightened awareness, particularly in association with insomnia affecting 9-20% of adults.

Associated Risk Factors

Racing thoughts, a common symptom in various mental health conditions, are influenced by several non-modifiable genetic risk factors. Individuals with a family history of bipolar disorder or anxiety disorders face an elevated susceptibility, as these conditions often feature racing thoughts during manic or anxious episodes. Heritability estimates for bipolar disorder, where racing thoughts are prominent in manic phases, range from 60% to 85%, indicating a strong genetic component. Similarly, anxiety disorders, which can manifest with racing thoughts, show heritability of approximately 30% to 50%.^[69]^[70]^[71]^[72] Environmental factors also play a key role in increasing vulnerability to racing thoughts. Chronic stress from ongoing life pressures can heighten the risk by amplifying cognitive overactivity associated with anxiety and mood instability. A history of trauma, such as childhood adversity or adverse life events, is linked to heightened susceptibility, often through its impact on stress response systems that contribute to intrusive or rapid thinking patterns. Additionally, shift work that disrupts sleep cycles elevates the risk, as irregular sleep patterns exacerbate cognitive arousal and mimic symptoms seen in insomnia-related racing thoughts.^[73]^[74]^[75]^[76] Modifiable lifestyle factors further contribute to the susceptibility of racing thoughts. High consumption of caffeine or other stimulants can directly provoke episodes by stimulating the central nervous system and inducing rapid thought processes. Poor dietary habits, such as those low in essential nutrients, and sedentary behavior are associated with increased anxiety risk, potentially worsening cognitive rumination. These lifestyle elements often co-occur with obesity and smoking, both of which correlate with higher rates of anxiety symptoms including racing thoughts, through mechanisms like inflammation and altered brain chemistry.^[77]^[78]^[79]^[80] Comorbid conditions represent additional risk factors for racing thoughts. Insomnia significantly heightens vulnerability, as racing thoughts are a core feature maintaining sleep difficulties in affected individuals. Chronic pain conditions also increase the risk, often via bidirectional links with insomnia and heightened stress that amplify mental restlessness. In women, age-related hormonal shifts during perimenopause elevate susceptibility, with fluctuating estrogen levels contributing to intensified anxiety and racing thoughts. These factors are particularly relevant in young adults, where prevalence of racing thoughts aligns with higher exposure to stress and lifestyle disruptions.^[81]^[82]^[83]

References

[1]
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/medgen/640668
[2]
Phenomenology of racing and crowded thoughts in mood disorders
Racing thoughts is a frequent symptom in mood disorders, particularly mixed depressive states. This paper aims to summarize our current knowledge about its ...
[3]
Bipolar disorder - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Aug 14, 2024 · Being unusually talkative and talking fast. Having racing thoughts or jumping quickly from one topic to another. Being easy to distract. Making ...Diagnosis and treatment · Are they related? · Bipolar medications
[4]
Racing thoughts are an integral symptom of adult attention deficit ...
May 9, 2021 · Our study aims at investigating self-reported racing thoughts in adults with ADHD, and its relationship with affective dysregulation and insomnia.
[5]
Slowing down racing thoughts - Harvard Health
Mar 13, 2023 · "People who struggle with racing thoughts are constantly worried about what needs to be done, what hasn't been done, and what is next," says ...
[6]
Racing and crowded thoughts in mood disorders: A data-oriented ...
Mar 6, 2020 · Racing/crowded thoughts appear to be associated to anxiety as well as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and insomnia.
[7]
Disentangling racing thoughts from mind wandering in adult ... - NIH
Sep 4, 2023 · Racing thoughts are defined as the subjective feeling of rapid and numerous thoughts (Piguet et al., 2010; Weiner et al., 2018). Racing thoughts ...
[8]
Mood Disorder - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
... disorder from a mood disorder, as anxious ruminations can be misunderstood as racing thoughts. Actions to decrease anxiety may be comprehended as aggressive ...Missing: etymology | Show results with:etymology
[9]
Historical Underpinnings of Bipolar Disorder Diagnostic Criteria - PMC
Jul 15, 2016 · ... racing thoughts, increase in goal-directed activity, increased risky behaviors, decreased need for sleep), and it was noted that mixed ...
[10]
Phenomenology of racing and crowded thoughts in mood disorders
In the context of a hypomanic state, “racing thoughts” may appear as a result from an excessive production of thoughts, moving quickly from one to the other, ...Review · Abstract · Introduction<|control11|><|separator|>
[11]
History of Bipolar Disorder: It Dates Back to Antiquity - HealthCentral
Jul 5, 2023 · Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, was the first to describe these two extremes of mood. How was bipolar disorder viewed in the past?
[12]
A Short History of Bipolar Disorder - Psychology Today
Jun 23, 2024 · The idea of a relationship between melancholy and mania can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks, and in particular to Aretæus of Cappadocia, a ...
[13]
Racing Thoughts and Bipolar Disorder - Verywell Mind
Racing thoughts refer to relentless, rapid thinking that often signals hypomania or mania in people with bipolar disorder. Learn the signs, causes, ...
[14]
Racing Thoughts: Tips for Coping - Healthline
Feb 8, 2023 · Racing thoughts are fast-moving, often repetitive thought patterns. They can be overwhelming. These thoughts may focus on a single topic or ...
[15]
Anxiety disorders - PMC - NIH
... panic disorder and agoraphobia (occurring primarily in adulthood; from the ... generalized anxiety disorder” published in English between Jan 1, 2015 ...
[16]
Specific Associations between Anxiety Sensitivity Dimensions and ...
The AS cognitive concerns dimension reflects fears of mental incapacitation, such as fearing that “racing thoughts” are indicative of “going crazy”.
[17]
Panic Disorder: What You Need to Know
People with panic disorder have frequent and unexpected panic attacks. These attacks are characterized by a sudden wave of fear or discomfort or a sense of ...
[18]
When Thoughts Are in a Race: Area 10 and Bipolar Disorders - NIH
Oct 16, 2019 · ... racing thoughts and no other associated symptoms of BD to a great extent, it is not expected to affect the YMRS greatly. Hence, this finding ...Missing: definition | Show results with:definition
[19]
Racing thoughts revisited: A key dimension of activation in bipolar ...
Aug 1, 2019 · Racing thoughts refer to a subjective acceleration and overproduction of thoughts which have been essentially associated with manic/hypomanic ...<|separator|>
[20]
Hyperactive ADHD symptoms are associated with increased ...
Mar 21, 2025 · Beyond motor hyperactivity: racing thoughts are an integral symptom of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Psychiatry Res.301 ...
[21]
Psychopathological Dissection of Bipolar Disorder and ADHD - NIH
May 11, 2023 · Our works suggest that racing thoughts are enhanced in ADHD and in hypomanic phase of BD, whereas in euthymic patients with BD racing thoughts are similar to ...
[22]
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: When Unwanted Thoughts or ...
People with OCD may have obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that are intrusive, unwanted, and make most ...
[23]
The Role of Neurotransmitters in Bipolar Disorder: A Professional ...
Feb 20, 2025 · Dopamine's influence on reward pathways and energy regulation makes it a central player in the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
[24]
Role of Serotonin and Dopamine System Interactions in the ...
Specifically, serotonin hypofunction may represent a biochemical trait that predisposes individuals to impulsive aggression, with dopamine hyperfunction ...Serotonin And Aggression · Dopamine And Aggression · Serotonin And Dopamine...Missing: thoughts | Show results with:thoughts
[25]
Hyperthyroidism - American Thyroid Association
Hyperthyroidism · increased sweating and feeling hot · feeling like your heart is racing or is beating irregularly · hand tremors · anxiety, nervousness, and ...
[26]
Is it Worsening ADHD or Graves' Disease? A Case Report of ... - NIH
The patient reported a history of unstable mood, irritability, difficulty sleeping, impulsivity, high energy, difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts, anxiety ...
[27]
Stimulant Symptoms and Warning Signs - Addiction Center
Apr 9, 2025 · Flight of ideas; Racing thoughts; Anxiety; Increased ... cocaine and meth are similar, albeit amplified, to those of prescription stimulants.
[28]
Understanding the stress response - Harvard Health
Apr 3, 2024 · Chronic low-level stress keeps the HPA axis activated, much like a motor that is idling too high for too long. After a while, this has an effect ...Missing: racing thoughts
[29]
Chronic stress puts your health at risk - Mayo Clinic
Too much exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones can disrupt almost all the body's processes. This puts you at higher risk of many health problems.Missing: racing | Show results with:racing
[30]
Racing thoughts: 7 ways to stop or slow them - MedicalNewsToday
Racing thoughts are thoughts that come quickly, one after the other. They may relate to one subject or many different ones. Racing thoughts can affect a ...Causes · Deep breaths · Other options · Exercise
[31]
Fever Hallucinations: A Harmless Side Effect - Healthline
Dec 15, 2020 · Hallucinations sometimes happen when people have high fevers. Most of the time, fever hallucinations resolve on their own as the fever comes down.
[32]
The Psychiatric Interview - PsychDB
Feb 1, 2024 · Flight of Ideas. “Racing thoughts in your head?” (more of the patient's subjective experience). Activity. “Have you been doing a lot more at ...
[33]
[PDF] Diagnostic Interview for Anxiety, Mood, and OCD and Related ...
Did it feel like your thoughts were racing, like you couldn't keep up with them? [Flight of ideas or racing thoughts]. Were you easily distracted ...
[34]
The Racing and Crowded Thoughts Questionnaire (RCTQ) - PubMed
Jan 31, 2018 · A 34-item self-rating scale, the Racing and Crowded Thoughts Questionnaire (RCTQ), and evaluated its reliability, factor structure, and concurrent validity.Missing: tool | Show results with:tool
[35]
https://www.psychdb.com/teaching/1-psych-interview
[36]
What Is Pressured Speech? - WebMD
Aug 28, 2024 · Pressured speech is often a sign of mania or hypomania. That's when your energy level or mood is very high. It's linked to bipolar disorder.
[37]
Depression with racing thoughts - ScienceDirect.com
Symptoms of racing thoughts/flight of ideas have been reported to be common in mania (71–92%), mixed states (43–96%) and bipolar spectrum disorders (70%) ( ...<|separator|>
[38]
What Are Bipolar Disorders? - American Psychiatric Association
Uncontrollable racing thoughts or quickly changing ideas or topics when speaking. Distractibility. Increased activity (e.g., restlessness, working on ...
[39]
Bipolar Disorders: Evaluation and Treatment | AAFP
Feb 15, 2021 · More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking. Flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing. Distractibility (i.e., ...<|separator|>
[40]
GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7) - MDCalc
GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7) · Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge · Not being able to stop or control worrying · Worrying too much about different things.
[41]
Racing thoughts are an integral symptom of adult attention deficit ...
Our study aims at investigating self-reported racing thoughts in adults with ADHD, and its relationship with affective dysregulation and insomnia.<|separator|>
[42]
[PDF] Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist ...
It has been found that the six questions in Part A are the most predictive of the disorder and are best for use as a screening instrument. Impairments. 1.Missing: racing | Show results with:racing
[43]
Bipolar disorder in adults: Assessment and diagnosis - UpToDate
Jun 23, 2025 · Differential diagnosis – The differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder includes unipolar major depression, schizoaffective disorder ...
[44]
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178121002857
[45]
Differential Diagnosis of Psychotic Symptoms: Medical “Mimics”
Thyroid disease in the form of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism (myxedema madness) can be associated with psychosis. ... Schizophrenia-like psychosis and ...
[46]
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/bipolar-disorder-in-adults-assessment-and-diagnosis
[47]
Treatment of Sleep Comorbidities in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Sleep disturbances, insomnia and recurrent nightmares in particular, are among the most frequently endorsed symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
[48]
Evidence-based guidelines for treating bipolar disorder
The guidelines cover the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, clinical management, and strategies for the use of medicines: in short-term treatment of episodes, ...
[49]
Anxiety Medication - HelpGuide.org
Oct 7, 2025 · The three main types of anti-anxiety medication prescribed are benzodiazepines, SSRIs, and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
[50]
Medications for OCD: What They Do (and What They Don't)
Sep 8, 2025 · Most commonly, psychiatrists start with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), or ...Missing: racing | Show results with:racing
[51]
Best ADHD Medication for Adults With Anxiety - Charlie Health
Aug 21, 2024 · Stimulant medications, like Adderall or Ritalin, are typically the first-line pharmaceutical treatment for ADHD symptoms.
[52]
Combining cognitive therapy with medication in bipolar disorder
Jan 2, 2018 · Recent randomised controlled trials suggest that combined medication and cognitive therapy significantly reduce bipolar relapse compared with medication alone.Relapse And Recurrence Of... · Relapse Prevention · Bipolar Prodromes
[53]
How DBT Mindfulness and Distress Tolerance skills can help with ...
Sep 6, 2025 · DBT uses mindfulness to identify rumination and redirect thoughts. Distress tolerance skills help accept unhelpful thoughts, using distraction ...
[54]
Association of Clinical and Demographic Characteristics With ...
Jun 23, 2022 · This study found that ECT was associated with improvement for mania in clinical settings, with especially high response rates in patients with severe illness.Missing: racing thoughts
[55]
Hyperthyroidism - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic
Nov 30, 2022 · Anti-thyroid medications include methimazole and propylthiouracil. Symptoms usually begin to improve within several weeks to months.
[56]
Therapy plus medication better than medication alone in bipolar ...
Oct 14, 2020 · Combining the use medication with psychoeducational therapy is more effective at preventing a recurrence of illness in people with bipolar disorder than ...
[57]
Breath control helps quell errant stress response - Harvard Health
Jul 24, 2024 · Relaxation techniques - such as deep breathing - can help control stress and the "fight or flight" response that can interfere with everyday ...
[58]
Efficacy of Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Adults for Stress ...
Feb 1, 2024 · The results show that PMR are effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression in adults. When PMR is combined with other interventions, the combined ...
[59]
Efficacy of journaling in the management of mental illness - NIH
Mar 18, 2022 · The results of this work revealed that a journaling intervention resulted in an average statistically significant 5% reduction in patient scores ...
[60]
5-4-3-2-1 Coping Technique for Anxiety
Apr 10, 2018 · This five-step exercise can be very helpful during periods of anxiety or panic by helping to ground you in the present when your mind is bouncing around.
[61]
Mastering Sleep Hygiene: Your Path to Quality Sleep
Jul 7, 2025 · Cut Down on Caffeine in the Afternoon and Evening: Because it's a stimulant, caffeine can keep you wired even when you want to rest, so try to ...Missing: thoughts | Show results with:thoughts
[62]
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8935176/
[63]
Mindfulness meditation: A research-proven way to reduce stress
Oct 30, 2019 · Researchers reviewed more than 200 studies of mindfulness among healthy people and found mindfulness-based therapy was especially effective for reducing stress ...
[64]
A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Meditation ...
Most studies (11 out of 14; 79%) found support for improvements in observable outcomes following meditation as compared to the control intervention.
[65]
The Genetics of Bipolar Disorder - PMC - PubMed Central - NIH
A range of genetic methods have confirmed that BPD is highly heritable, with genetic influences explaining 60–85% of risk.
[66]
Can You Inherit Bipolar Disorder From Your Parents? - Verywell Mind
May 30, 2025 · Bipolar disorder is considered one of the most heritable mental health conditions. Research suggests that genetics accounts for between 60% to 80% of the cause ...Is Bipolar Disorder Hereditary? · Family History · Other Risk Factors
[67]
Is Anxiety Hereditary? - Cerebral
Apr 21, 2024 · Yes, anxiety-related conditions can run in families. Studies on family history and twin data have consistently pointed to the possibility of a genetic ...
[68]
Clinical features and genetic mechanisms of anxiety, fear ... - Nature
Aug 19, 2025 · Family studies indicate that GAD shares genetic factors with depression and other anxiety disorders. PD shows a heritability estimate of ...
[69]
Anxiety Disorders - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) - NIH
Anxiety disorders involve more than occasional worry or fear. For people with these disorders, anxiety does not go away, is felt in many situations, and can ...Missing: racing | Show results with:racing
[70]
What causes anxiety? Environmental factors, genetics, and more
Anxiety can arise from various environmental factors, including family dynamics, cultural influences, childhood experiences, and traumatic events.Missing: racing | Show results with:racing<|control11|><|separator|>
[71]
Emotional and Psychological Trauma - HelpGuide.org
Aug 19, 2025 · Emotional and psychological trauma occurs when extraordinarily stressful events shatter your sense of security.
[72]
Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD): Symptoms & Treatment
It causes issues with falling asleep, staying asleep and sleepiness at unwanted times. It's treatable with lifestyle changes, light therapy and/or medication.Missing: racing | Show results with:racing
[73]
Caffeine and Anxiety: Effects, Remedies, Triggers | FOMAT Medical
Oct 23, 2023 · Racing Thoughts: Caffeine can increase thought activity, leading to racing thoughts, which are also common in anxiety.
[74]
Sedentary Lifestyle and Anxiety: What's The Link? - Psych Central
Feb 8, 2023 · What causes the link between anxiety and sedentary lifestyles isn't clear, but evidence suggests it may be connected to poor sleep, stress ...
[75]
How Does a Sedentary Lifestyle Affect Your Health?
Oct 30, 2025 · A 2023 review in BMC Public Health reported that sedentary behavior, physical inactivity, and poor diet may lead to an increased risk of anxiety ...
[76]
Anxiety is more related to inadequate eating habits in inactive than ...
Aug 12, 2022 · Table 3 shows the relationship between unhealthy eating habits and anxiety according to physical activity level. ... risk of poor eating and ...
[77]
Investigating racing thoughts in insomnia: A neglected piece of the ...
Racing thoughts is a transdiagnostic symptom in mood and sleep disorders. Racing thoughts, not only rumination and worry, might contribute to the maintenance ...
[78]
The association of sleep and pain: An update and a path forward
However, several longitudinal studies convincingly demonstrate that insomnia symptoms significantly increase the risk of developing future chronic pain ...
[79]
How Menopause Triggers Anxiety and Depression in Some Women
Sep 24, 2025 · The most frequently reported mood changes with menopause include: Anxiety symptoms: Racing thoughts or constant worry; Physical symptoms like ...