These manifestations can vary from unnoticed or minor distractions to debilitating stress, preventing the sufferer from maintaining a thought.
There are also many associated conditions, in addition to anxiety disorders, which can be classified as having secondary relationships with causing racing thoughts.
[8] Racing thoughts can be brought on by bipolar disorder, defined by mood instability that range from extreme emotional highs, mania, to severe depression.
Disjointed, constantly changing thoughts with no underlying theme can be a sign of the manic phase of bipolar disorder.
[10] Manic thoughts can prevent performance of daily routines due to their rapid, unfocused and overwhelming nature.
Amphetamines are used as a stimulant to trigger the central nervous system, increasing heart rate and blood pressure while decreasing appetite.
[15] This overabundance of thyroxin causes irregular and rapid heartbeat, irritability, weight loss, nervousness, anxiety and racing thoughts.
[16] The anxiety and inability to focus is very common in hyperthyroidism and leads to racing thoughts, as well as panic attacks and difficulty concentrating.
[citation needed] Anxiety disorder, the most common mental illness in the United States, affects 40 million people, ages 10 and older; this accounts for 18% of the U.S. population.