- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
You can sit with the feelings and not react to it. The thoughts can be there. They are in awareness but we are not directing attention to it, we’re not trying to answer a question, not trying to figure it is just there. We are aware of the issue and your only job is to do nothing about it.
Try to focus on the job on hand, while letting the obsessional thoughts & anxiety be there. Then, you will learn that you can function, even when you are anxious!
Listen to Michael Greenberg’s podcast on ocd stories
Rumination is a compulsion
That’s what the title is
Thanks all, still don't think I've quite got my head around this but your comments are helpful!
Try doing something active, like making some food or reading a book. Just gently turn your attention to that activity, even while the intrusive thought is screaming for attention. Keep coming back to the activity you're doing, and the anxiety should eventually ease up. Practice makes perfect!
Something that really helped me was delaying. I would be like "oh look here's that thought again, I'm just going to let it be there, if I really must think about it, I will in 15 minutes." Once 15 minutes goes by, try delaying again... and again after that. See how long you can delay! "One of the most effective ways of combating these obsessions is not to fight them at all, but to accept their presence. A thought is not a prediction, instruction, or call to action. A thought is a chemical and electrical event in your brain, neurons firing this way instead of that way. You have weird, unpleasant, or violent thoughts simply as a result of having a brain, which means you can think about anything." - Jon Hershfield
How do you sit with anxiety? I wanna check my pulse over and over again. I dunno what caused my anxiety. Now I am just sitting here. Ugh! I feel crazy!
Hello everyone! I’m starting to recognize when my thoughts begin to spiral, when i’m seeking reassurance or checking. But I still have the sense of uneasiness and anxiety. I was wondering what others do that allow them to move forward with their day when they realize this? I don’t know if I’m making sense, but what are ways you pull the focus back to the present and yourself? Like besides saying “maybe or maybe not”, more like what do you do with yourself after you recognize the thoughts? I feel like I’m at a “now what?” and don’t know what to do with my anxious energy. I’m trying to find something physical to help me so if you also have any hobbies or interests that help I would love to hear it.
I've been doing well the past month in cutting down on compulsions and have been feeling better however, last night I had a set back that carried on into today. I had gotten very poor sleep (4ish hours) and then something triggered my memory. I think with the sudden anxiety spike and lack of sleep I didn't have the strength to ignore my compulsions. Last night and today I've realised I've gone back into rumination and mentally reviewing the event excessively again and comparing my situation to other people's, but most of the times that I start going down these rabbit holes I don't even realise I'm doing it? Also been fixating a bit on the fear that I've ruined my progress and that I will fall back into the deep end of it all again, that I have done so much work getting myself out of, although trying my best to not be too discouraged. Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with rumination more specifically?
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