How do you persuade yourself the thoughts aren't real?

You don't, you learn to accept they might be

Doing so would be a compulsion. You gotta accept that maybe they are real and sit with the anxiety that causes you

That would be a very difficult and impossible task…You got to focus your attention on other things to get your mind off those thoughts, like activities, hobbies, listen to positive music, going outdoors or what you like doing, etc…But the thing is, the thoughts always come back so you just got to continue trying your very best and that’s what counts the most…

^And you need to stay with the thoughts for a while that cause you anxiety to overcome them eventually…