- Date posted
- 3y
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
Rumination is very hard because it can sneak up on us unbeknownst to us. What I will do when I catch myself ruminating is I will go for a walk or do something that distracts my mind without trying to push the obsession from my mind (that’s the hardest part). I make a decision that I am not going to let ocd rule the day and I get busy and if the ocd stays I don’t care. I let the ocd do it’s thing. This takes a lot of practice and I am not always good at catching it but I keep trying. I hope this helps.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
To fix the problem of rumination, you have to be aware that you're doing it. Your first step to stop ruminating will be to build the awareness to when you are ruminating and stop it in its tracks. When you catch yourself ruminating, simply say "This is rumination, it is not helpful". Anytime you catch yourself in your head, say this phrase and then try and focus your attention on something more meaningful.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
Dr Michael Greenberg wrote some articles about ruminating that you might find helpful
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
I highly recommend Nathan Peterson's videos. He is a licensed therapist and has a channel titled "OCD and Anxiety". He's done some community posts on rumination and a video on it.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 20w
I cannot for the life of me stop ruminating or checking how I feel about thoughts or focusing on thoughts or creating more thoughts. I feel like I’m losing my mind. I want to scream. I try not to ruminate about the thoughts, but trying not to just makes me think about them more. I try not to check, but somehow, I still check. I want to let a thought sit in the background, but the more I try not to focus on it, the more I end up focusing on it. I don’t want the thought to expand because that feels like engaging with it, but I can’t just stop it from expanding. It feels impossible. People keep saying I’m in control of my compulsions, and maybe that’s true for the physical ones. But when it comes to the mental compulsions, I swear I have no control. It feels like I’m missing something that everyone else seems to have, like there’s some tool they’re using that I don’t have. Controlling mental compulsions has never felt possible for me. I’m starting to fear them. And every time someone says I’m in control and can just choose not to do them, I end up beating myself up even more when they happen. Or when I *choose* I guess. I don’t know anymore. If this is my fault, if I’m responsible for this, then what does that make me? I feel like a monster. I am at my wits’ end. How am I supposed to control mental compulsions when it feels like they control me? I freak out when they happen. They don’t bring me relief, they just make me panic. I want it to stop so bad.
- Older adults with OCD
- OCD newbies
- Mid-life adults with OCD
- Harm OCD
- Young adults with OCD
- POCD
- Religion & Spirituality OCD
- Relationship OCD
- Date posted
- 19w
Hello everyone. Does anyone have any tips on how to forget something more quick? I read some nasty things as a kid and I remembered it a few months ago. I considered doing bad things to myself when I remembered. I just want to forget that I read this.
- Date posted
- 15w
How can I deal with False Memory OCD? I am struggling with ruminating thoughts, and trying to figure out false memories! How can I enjoy my day without figuring it out?
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond