Do you know about accelerated thinking syndrome?

Identified by psychiatrist Augusto Cury, Accelerated Thinking Syndrome, or APS, is characterized by the acceleration of thoughts. The individual's mind is bombarded by a lot of content at the same time, all of it in large quantities and with varied themes. The sensation is of being invaded by so much information.

It's not a question of hearing voices, as in more serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia and psychosis, for example. In SPA, these are normal thoughts that come to mind, as they do for anyone, but the contents of the syndrome are extremely fast and in significant abundance.

But as with all psychological conditions, accelerated thinking syndrome can be treated and even prevented. To find out all about the condition and how to prevent it, read on.

Understanding accelerated thinking syndrome

Everyone is subject to anxiety and stress. However, some people become easy targets for accelerated thinking syndrome, experiencing a series of compromises in everyday life. Find out more about it and understand the syndrome in the following topics.

What is accelerated thinking syndrome - APS?

Accelerated thinking syndrome, also known as APS, is characterized by the intrusion of repetitive and persistent thoughts that suddenly appear in the individual's consciousness in an accelerated manner. The thoughts are so insistent that the person cannot control them.

Due to the accelerated occurrence of these mental contents, focus and concentration are diminished, disrupting the individual's entire routine. In addition, those who suffer from this syndrome can have their quality of sleep reduced, generating a lot of tiredness. For this reason, it is important to identify the signs of the clinical condition in order to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Signs and symptoms of accelerated thinking syndrome

People with accelerated thinking syndrome have the following signs and symptoms:

- They have the feeling that their thoughts are in control of their lives;

- Thoughts come quickly, with diverse content and all at once;

- They can't focus on other activities;

- They find it very difficult to avoid thoughts;

- They experience delicate situations as a result of their thinking and can create scenarios that don't exist.

In addition to these symptoms, it is important to note that SPA can be linked to other psychological disorders, such as anxiety disorder and depression, for example.

Main causes of accelerated thinking syndrome

There are many causes of accelerated thinking syndrome, but the main ones are: stress response, high levels of stress and anxious habits. When the body recognizes a dangerous situation, it automatically releases stress hormones in response to the threat. The release of these hormones causes an increase in certain parts of the brain.

Studies claim that the presence of these stress hormones in large quantities in the bloodstream tends to speed up thoughts, contributing to the appearance of APS. In addition, anxious activities in everyday life, such as doing things quickly and in a hurry, for example, also contribute to the development of the syndrome.

How does accelerated thinking syndrome affect health and life?

With thoughts in constant rhythm, health as a whole suffers a great impact. First of all, there is sleep disturbance, where the individual takes a long time to fall asleep because they are thinking about a thousand things at the same time. With only a few hours of sleep, the person wakes up tired, but with their mind in full swing.

Accelerated thinking syndrome can lead to information overload, forcing people to move at the same fast pace as work and big cities. The fear of being without a cell phone and the excessive monitoring of the news can trigger depression, as well as the development of ASD.

Who is most at risk of developing SPA?

It's important to understand that Accelerated Thinking Syndrome is not a disease, but rather a symptom of a larger anxiety condition. Therefore, people who are subjected to constant assessments or who work at a fast pace, without the opportunity to stop for a minute, are more likely to develop APS.

Some professionals also run the risk of having their thoughts accelerated, such as teachers, journalists, executives, health professionals, among others. In these cases, it is of the utmost importance that the professional places a boundary between their work and their private life, always taking care of their emotions and mental health.

Relationship between accelerated thinking syndrome and other disorders

In some cases, Accelerated Thinking Syndrome can be linked to other disorders. Find out more about this in the topics below and discover the relationship between APS and other medical conditions.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a clinical condition characterized by a lack of attention and highly agitated behaviour. The person is unable to concentrate on anything and usually has a reputation as an irresponsible and impulsive individual. As a child, the disorder can be confused with indiscipline or rebelliousness.

Due to the impairment in attention, the person may experience accelerated thinking syndrome as a symptom of ADHD. Thoughts become too fast, which leads to a loss of focus in many activities. In view of this, drug treatment may be required to alleviate the symptoms of both conditions.

Obsessive compulsive disorder - OCD

Accelerated thinking syndrome can be linked to obsessive compulsive disorder, more commonly known by its acronym OCD. In this condition, the person has a very strong compulsion that is difficult to control. They may, for example, wash their hands frequently, without there being any need to do so.

As part of the clinical picture, SPA can manifest itself as a sign of OCD, meaning that the sufferer of the disorder has an obsession and compulsion with thoughts, with no control over what comes into their mind. The person may have accelerated thoughts about burglaries in their home and, as a result, check several times to see if they have locked the door correctly.

It's a condition that brings a lot of anguish to the individual and all those who live with them.

Bipolar personality disorder

Bipolar Personality Disorder, which is often discussed in films and in texts on behavioral issues, manifests itself in the oscillation between states of great euphoria, known as mania, and states of intense depression. The person oscillates between the two periods, experiencing serious damage to their routine and life as a whole.

Accelerated thinking syndrome usually appears in a state of mania. The individual becomes so euphoric that their thoughts don't stop. Their mind is invaded by a variety of content and, as a result, they can make serious mistakes. Accelerated thinking can lead the person to commit compulsive acts, such as buying a lot of things they don't need, for example.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder has been increasingly identified in the Brazilian population. As its name suggests, the psychological condition is marked by states of high anxiety, in which the individual may experience physical symptoms such as chest pains, tiredness, shortness of breath and others.

Accelerated thinking syndrome, in this case, is a symptom of the disorder. Most of the time, accelerated thoughts appear during an anxiety crisis, but they can appear every day, compromising the person's emotional balance. In some cases, only psychotherapy can eliminate both clinical conditions.

Agitated depression

Little known, agitated depression manifests itself in a different way to ordinary depression. People with agitated depression are more reactive than others, feel very angry, restless and agitated. As a result, they may suffer from accelerated thinking syndrome and be unable to rest properly.

Instead of sleeping more, as in the more well-known depressive state, in the more agitated condition, the individual can't sleep properly and spends hours and hours thinking about a thousand things. Sometimes, they can even take medication to get to sleep and eliminate the insomnia. But a doctor's advice is essential for all the symptoms manifested.

Further information on accelerated thinking syndrome

Accelerated thinking syndrome can be treated and prevented. To find out more about this and other information, including how to identify the presence of the syndrome and which doctor to go to, for example, check out the topics below.

How to tell if you have accelerated thinking syndrome

To find out if you have accelerated thinking syndrome, all you have to do is pay attention to the signs. What marks the presence of the syndrome is the acceleration of thoughts. But if you already have some other type of psychological disorder, it is essential to seek the advice of your doctor in order to make a more accurate diagnosis.

If SPA is in your life, you may feel dizzy, with a spinning head sensation. Your mind speeds up so much that a new thought starts without the other one having finished. All the content arrives in large quantities in a short space of time.

In addition to all this, racing thoughts can occur every day or in specific situations. They can appear before a panic attack, an anxiety attack or before going to sleep. So, if you notice these warnings, be sure to seek professional help.

How is SPA assessed and diagnosed?

The diagnosis of Accelerated Thinking Syndrome is made by a psychologist, psychoanalyst or psychiatrist. The assessment is based on the patient's report of symptoms and an analysis of the subject's entire history. Once the syndrome has been confirmed, the professional will guide the person through the treatment method according to the severity of their condition.

A questionnaire can also be used to speed up the assessment process. It's quicker to make a diagnosis: the individual simply answers selected questions and the answers confirm whether or not the syndrome is present. But remember that only a professional can make an accurate assessment.

Which professional to go to for spa treatment?

If you notice the symptoms of Accelerated Thinking Syndrome, you should see a specialist doctor. In this case, psychologists, psychoanalysts and psychiatrists take care of the condition. Depending on the severity, therapy alone is sufficient for treatment. In other cases, the use of medication may be necessary.

In any case, both the psychologist and psychoanalyst, as well as the psychiatrist, will be able to advise you on the best course of action, but you can also ask all your questions and ask which treatment is best for you. Remember to report everything you're feeling, as the details of your symptoms are fundamental to the choice of therapeutic interventions.

Treatments for accelerated thinking syndrome

Treatments for Accelerated Thinking Syndrome basically consist of psychotherapy and medication. Medication acts to minimize symptoms and control possible effects of the syndrome, such as insomnia, for example, while psychotherapy helps to organize thinking and develop self-control.

But in addition to these two traditional methods, there are also natural treatments, which are techniques involving yoga, meditation, physical activities, among others. Changing habits is also fundamental to getting rid of SPA. Find out more about all these therapeutic interventions in the topics below and see how to adhere to the care.

Psychotherapy

The most common type of treatment for Accelerated Thinking Syndrome is psychotherapy. There are various therapeutic modalities, the most commonly used to treat APS are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, and Psychoanalysis.

In CBT, the individual learns to organize their mind, replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, so that the anxious behaviour decreases. In psychoanalysis, the person goes through a process of self-knowledge, discovering the cause of the acceleration of their thoughts.

With the psychoanalytic technique, as well as identifying the cause of the problem, the patient develops healthier methods of dealing with their own issues and, in this way, the clinical condition is extinguished.

Medicines

Therapeutic intervention to treat accelerated thinking syndrome can also involve the use of medication, which acts on the Central Nervous System, balancing brain activity to reduce the acceleration of thoughts. These medications can only be prescribed by a psychiatrist.

The most commonly used are antidepressants and anxiolytics, which are used in cases of depression and high anxiety, respectively. The psychiatrist will assess each patient's case and prescribe the exact dosage according to the situation. These are drugs that alter the functioning pattern of brain cells, so they can't be bought on their own.

Natural treatments and changing habits

You can use natural methods to treat accelerated thinking syndrome. These methods are techniques that work the mind and body in order to promote relaxation. The main ones are yoga, meditation, massage therapy, herbal medicine, among others. Physical exercise is also part of the natural treatment.

In addition, changing your habits is also very important for eliminating SPA. Your life and your mind need to be properly organised, so only worry about what matters. Try to train your mind to focus on situations that are your responsibility to resolve. Protect your emotions, try to eat healthily and have moments of leisure.

How to prevent accelerated thinking syndrome

Although some people are more prone to developing Accelerated Thinking Syndrome, there are some tips you can follow to prevent this condition from developing. These are:

- If possible, play calming music when you work and study, as relaxing songs bring a sense of peace and serenity;

- Don't spend too much time on social networks to avoid information overload. Set aside up to three moments a day to look at your networks;

- In personal conversations with friends, share your feelings, victories and defeats, as this humanizes relationships;

- Don't put too much pressure on yourself, be aware that you've done your best, but don't do anything beyond your strength;

- Always take a moment for rest and leisure, understanding that these moments are important for renewing your energy.

Watch out for accelerated thinking syndrome and see a doctor if necessary!

Accelerated Thinking Syndrome reduces creative capacity, reflection and innovation. It also affects the quality of sleep, produces more fatigue in the body and can trigger various other psychological conditions. Because it has a major impact on a person's life, be sure to seek professional help as soon as you identify the first signs of APS.

Don't forget that there is treatment for the syndrome and don't confuse this anxious symptom with productivity. An efficient professional knows their limits and produces in the right measure and with quality. Stopping to take care of yourself is also an act of professionalism and responsibility. After all, your production depends on your good health.

So don't neglect your well-being. No matter how dedicated you are and how ambitious you are financially, bear in mind that it's your health that's at stake. So calm down, take a deep breath and take one step at a time. Rely on medical help to help you and live more lightly and calmly.