>>OH! or just start stream of conciousness writing or talking to someone. get it out even if it makes no sense. <<

thats what I do too. when I just thinkin too much. i start typing out my thoughts. Doesn't matter how much sense it makes, I just start typing. Sometimes I will share it with people, sometimes its something that I only let myself see. But it does help me.

Or I play sudoku, or I knit.

"Sometimes a wank and a nap helps. "

What happened to the cookie?

ROFLMAO! I think that is called, in true geek terminology, "thrashing". The really scary part, Blair, is that I think I could complete most of those thoughts for you, or I at least know what they're all about. That's kind of freaky. Except for the tour .... who's going on a tour? Where? Can I come?? ;-)

My poor brain thrashes constantly. Shut down and reboot does help, to a point. Meditation is cool too -- the kind where you "watch" your thoughts float by on a leaf on a slow-moving river.... watch them, don't hold on to them but don't try to stop them either. Just set a timer for two minutes and watch your thoughts. Extend the time gradually and you'll find you can let things come and go more and more easily.

Now if only I could practice what I preach. I can't even remember the last time I actually took time out to meditate.

Vodka