I have this too @trying_again thanks for posting your experience.
I have opposing ideas about it.
When I am experiencing actual trauma, I will stare into space, it feels like no thoughts at all are in my head. I cannot focus on things like tv or music. It is sensory overload. I feel like a zombie. I experience severe anxietys too.
In moments when I feel well, I feel like I'm in a dream state. There is not many thoughts about things in particular in my head. Except, I get very excited about doing the next thing & have 6 activities going at once. This usually leads to anxietys & overwhelmed.
I need to have awareness that focus on one thing at time. Very difficult.
I don't know that our brains are that smart anyway. Having no thoughts is maybe the way we are meant to function. If I think of a baby, the natural mind is likely not having inner dialogue, it simply is.
I am slowly learning that I already know myself & taking on other people's opinions is not relevant or productive.
It can be very difficult. Easy to get confused. I rely heavily on other people to guide me & also, there is nothing wrong with being discerning. I try to value how I feel, rather than what my brain tells me. The brain can run in circles trying to find reasons for things.
Our feelings are complex too. A counsellor mentionedv example of feelings of anger when loved one passes away.
Objectively, anger would be incorrect feeling. If that makes sense.
Let feelings happen, good & bad, joy & tragedy. There is not always justifiable reasons why the emotions occur, however, all feelings are valid.
I try to be kind to myself. Not easy. Self Compassion.
Hypothesis: maybe the thoughts disappear when they don't make sense anymore. The mind goes blank.
It doesn't feel nice. It's a sense of losing oneself. Losing identity.
The AP definitely stopped my thinking. I think it was good thing because all my thoughts were stressful.
I have memory problems & problem solving takes huge mental effort.
Try to rest. It's ok. The mind & body are mysterious. I want to believe they are self healing. Far more than we have the any idea of.
I appreciate that what you are experiencing is scary & not fun. The mind will come good again. I think we get very overloaded, as you mentioned traumatic memories. These have been buried for so long. The mind & spirit needs time to heal.
Talking to counsellor, psychologist is helpful to unload ask of the things you are going through.