Question: I am writing to understand why the process of my thinking has changed and how I can reverse it. Actually, for some years now, when I am analyzing anything I do it in my mind like I am performing an act in front of someone. For example, when I am thinking about how to solve a problem I am not just solving a problem. Rather in my mind I am articulating to myself like I am a teacher giving lecture to some students / colleagues ie I am visualizing that I am describing a problem and then trying to unearth various aspects related to problem by asking questions in front of audience and answering them.Sometimes I am even explaining some very easy aspects about the problem again and again to my "students" and not proceeding to hard parts as fast as I should. This problem is not just limited to work. For family, self or life related questions I am performing maybe in front of my family, friends or I dont know who. Another example - when I am feeling low, I am not just feeling low. I have fabricated a situation where I am being pathetic and other people are seeing me low. !!! This is really inefficient and quite frankly stupid. I dont want to give presentation in front of anyone. I just want to be connected to myself. I want to think in first person saying "how do I do this?", 'why am I happy or sad' etc. To add to it, I am feeling that this thinking process is actually making me very dull and compromising my ability to think clearly. Even when I am reading something, there is a voice in my head pronouncing every word I see. I suspect that this is interfering with my sleep also as I am always presenting something or other to virtual people and then checking if I am doing it well. Please I want to go back to the way I used to think - very clearly and focused. Any pointers on how I can do that will be highly appreciated. Additional information - I am 29 years old. I am a well educated person with decent job in IT industry . I am a bit old fashioned ie I dont like modern lifestyle like partying every week, or boozing or pubbing with friends, or getting overly casual with other people I barely know etc. But I am quite open minded in the sense that I appreciate the freedom and convenience we have now that we could not have thought about 20 years ago. I am fairly independent and I am not under any sort of pressure from my family or friends to do anything or in a certain way etc. I dont have much work pressure either and I am quite ok in my job.

If you need any other information then please let me know. I really hope you can help me shut off this voice in my head presenting to virtual people whenever I am trying to think. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for your response. As you know, I am tired all the time for few years now and that I have somewhat lost ability to reason, concentrate and process things. I would like to know on below points -

Can I regain complete mental abilities or will I be limited in recovery ?

Is there any concentration exercise that I can practice to get better

Are there any behavioral changes /activities that I should practice. Some examples would be great.

Will it relapse if I stop doing such activities ?

THanks

Thanks doctor. I have been diagnosed with deficiency in Vitamin D and B12 also. I am planning to take these supplements for 2 months. I will also try meditation and STOP technique in parallel.

Will you still suggest to take medication specifically for OCD or can I wait for couple of months to check if I get better on my own.

Thanks again.

Thanks again for your response. I have one more situation, this time about my father. I strongly strongly urge you to please give me some pointers on below.

My father is too withdrawn and stressed for past 4-5 years. He also seems to be very forgetful and easily irritated from silliest of things. For everything he has an excuse that he is very busy at work but on seeing him it feels like he is just worrying about some random fear which does not exist or simply dwelling on the past. His behavior is erratic in the sense that he either does not say anything to anyone or just shouts out loud on making silliest of mistakes. He is always very sleepy though I doubt he ever gets a good quality sleep. He hardly talks with anyone and just keeps himself away by using work as an excuse or by being on phone. My father is always sleepy though I dont think he gets any good sleep at all when he goes to bed.

At first I thought this may be due to his hypothyroid, diabetes, lumbar spondolytis etc. Also, I thought it could be a really long mid-life crisis episode. But over the years his condition is becoming worse instead of healing and hence I think it could be depression and anxiety. But my parents will not accept this and brush it off saying it is just work stress.

1. Can you give me some pointers on how I can get my father checked for depression and anxiety against his will. Is there any test which can confirm this ?

2. I dont think my father is capable of making any behavioral changes on his own. What should I do to get him to change his attitude since he actually does not talk much with anyone

3. My father will be retiring in an year or so after which he will have even more time to indulge in imaginary fear. What can I do to avoid that?

4. Since my father is so withdrawn and has no interest in anything anymore, how will I get him to engage in something especially after he retires.

I suspect that my mother has also developed some anxiety over the years but she keeps herself occupied and manages it quite well. Hope her problem does not evolve into something as big as my father's.

Please, I strongly urge you to give me some pointers.

Thanks in advance.