- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
Just understanding that concept, is half the battle. You’re well on your way of great mental health! I use to constantly consider a bad day was when I would experience “intrusive thoughts” all day long. Or a great day was when there were no intrusive thoughts. What really helped me in my journey of recovery was- “intrusive thoughts” are actually a compulsion. Just you labeling them as “intrusive thoughts” is a compulsion. In reality, any thought you have, whether it be a happy, sad, angry, anxious, arousing, terrifying, exciting, etc.. doesn’t have anything to do with who you are, or what your actions will be. They’re all just simply thoughts. Thoughts are something your brain just does. Your brain knows you don’t like “intrusive thoughts” so it will be very kind and logical for you, and come up with ways to constantly check on, control or cope with those thoughts. Which is what we call compulsions. So instead of labeling my thoughts, I now just realize “Oh, I had a thought” and go back to what I was doing, or what I value. I don’t value spending my time doing compulsions. I don’t value spending my time coming up with different scenarios in my head or avoiding certain objects, people or places. I do what I value, while having any thought in my head. That’s the path to great mental fitness. 😊
- Date posted
- 3y
Thank you for this
Related posts
- Date posted
- 25w
I struggle so bad with intrusive thoughts. They can be so bad that I'll cry because I KNOW that's not how I feel or want to do. (Too embarrassed to say what they're about) I'll constantly try to figure out why I have them, and constantly figure out what they mean, causing me to constantly circle around and around. I had to get on anxeity meds, which helped a little but the thoughts still happen. How do you help yourself with this? How do you know that you're just not some physcopath? 😅
- Date posted
- 20w
I’ve been thinking a lot about how OCD changes the way we see ourselves, but I recently realized that I am not my thoughts. Just because a thought pops up doesn’t mean it’s true or that it defines me. I’ve started learning how to see OCD for what it is—just a disorder trying to trick me—and I’ve become stronger in dealing with it. Has anyone else here had a similar realization? How do you handle these thoughts when they show up?
- Date posted
- 19w
How do I stop letting my intrusive thoughts control me? Ive been having them for almost a year, once I graduated, become more isolated and lost more friends they've become worse. I feel like when I had friends and was still going to school they weren't as bad probably because I was living more so I didn't take them as seriously. But now that Im home all day and alone they've gotten worse and it feels like they're starting to control my life. Theres times where Im on social media and eventually I forget about them but then when I realize I forgot about them they come back. Sometimes the thought just lingers it doesn't even just pop in my head and go away. I can't tell anyone in my family because they'd judge me for the thoughts and they don't really believe in mental illnesses. I also sometimes think of what other people may think of me if they knew the thoughts I had and it makes it worse. How do I stop letting these thoughts control/trigger me and stop reacting or feeling some type of way about them.
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond