Rumination as a compulsion and how to treat it

I am feeling conflicted when it comes to treatment and would like some advice. I suffer from Pure O, and all of my compulsions are in the form of rumination. If my therapist tells me to ‘lean in’ to the thoughts and even dissect and think about that thought/worry more - is this not akin to telling someone with contamination OCD to mindfully wash their hands? The initial microsecond thought is the normal human thoughts everyone gets - that’s normal and can’t be stopped, the rabbit hole ruminating that follows is technically analytical thinking therefor it should be able to be stopped. Does this resonate with anyone and has anyone experienced similar? I’m definitely experiencing some OCD around treatment and my therapist (am I doing this right etc) but I also feel my question is valid and I want to ensure I am following the right treatment path. Thank you!

"Pure" OCD

Username: FIMILIFIMILI

Date posted: 2y ago

I would address this concern with your therapist and ask for them to clarify what exactly they mean. Based on what you've said, there is either some kind of communication misunderstanding..or the therapist is not properly trained in ERP. And I would hope they know what they're doing.. 😬

Username: salvationsalvation

Date posted: 2y ago

I am not sure what they mean by "lean in". I practice ERP for rumination by writing down what my OCD fears and looking at that piece of paper without engaging in mental compulsions like mental calculations or trying to disprove the fear. Just looking at that upsetting scenario on paper and accepting the uncertainty of that situation, until my anxiety dissipates somewhat. I would not just engage in rumination by itself.

Username: Kiki84Kiki84

Date posted: 2y ago

@salvation Lean in as in - lean in to the feeling of discomfort and explore those thoughts more as opposed to trying to rid yourself of them. However I worry that this would in-fact be fuelling the rumination. At the moment It feels like my mind is on loop just thinking about OCD and treatment - I know this is OCD in itself! If I just let the thoughts be there - am I performing a compulsion? If the rumination is the compulsion then I should be stopping the looping thoughts all together right? I find the conflicting pieces of advice confusing!

Username: salvationsalvation

Date posted: 2y ago

ERP entails provoking an OCD obsession while abstaining from performing a compulsion to ease the discomfort. It's difficult to say exactly what that means for you without knowing what obsessions you have. For example, if I am obsessed with the idea that I might have done something morally wrong but forgotten about it, I would write "I might have done action X". My compulsion would be mentally trying to recall and assess whether or not I did action X. This is rumination. The point of ERP is to sit with the with the discomfort that I have because of the obsession without doing a compulsion.

Username: Stacy QuickStacy Quick

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 2y ago

Check this out:https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/the-rumination-trap

Username: Stacy QuickStacy Quick

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 2y ago

I also like to recommend this video:https://youtu.be/a-QR_1KoJ80

Username: Kiki84Kiki84

Date posted: 2y ago

@NOCD Therapist - Stacy Q. Thanks Stacy - this was the episode I listened to which got me thinking and questioning the advice from my NOCD therapist to lean into the uncomfortable thoughts and actively think about them. Dr Greenberg would say this is fuelling rumination/compulsion. Very confusing!

Username: seanferguson13

Date posted: 3y ago

I have severe Pure O. It’s around my OCD thoughts themselves (OCD about OCD). I can’t stop noticing my thoughts - 24/7 - and it brings me deep anxiety. I fear my life is to be lost to this looping existence and the longer this goes on the more evidence accumulate that this is true. My compulsions include deep rumination about the problem, Googling, buying books on OCD and well, doing posts like this. I’m with an OCD specialist who specialises in ERP. I’ve done a lot of the E but I think I’ve been struggling with the RP. I’ve reduced the active/positive compulsions but I really cannot stop my brain looping and ruminating - which is by far the worst of it. In a situation like this - do I (a) try and stop the thinking/rumination or (b) learn to accept that thinking/rumination? Because I find it almost impossible to do (a) - it tends to get worse when I try and stop it. Any help folks can give would be gratefully received.

Username: 68273

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y ago

Erp and rumination for PureO

So, I think I’ve had enough time with out ocd symptoms to know that my intrusive thoughts are just that, intrusive thoughts. However, I’m having a spike right now and again it feels so real. I have tried erp before and I would ruminate the whole time after the exposure and I would try to stop it but rumination for me is so automatic. I don’t event know I’m doing it sometimes. I would want to start erp again but how can I stop rumination? I know if I don’t stop it, then I’m not doing the prevention part which would then not benefit me at all . Anyone has successfully stopped ruminating after being triggered?

Username: missadventurer

Date posted: 1y ago

Rumination

So I got diagnosed with OCD this past summer. Since then I've been in ERP therapy for my OCD. I'm 24 and it took a long time to figure out that what I had was OCD because a lot of my compulsions are internal. I struggle a lot with rumination, my brain just chewing on the problem to find a definitive answer. My therapist told me to focus on the feelings in my body, to try and be present in my body and not just stuck in my head. But it's really hard because I don't realize I'm ruminating until I've already started and it can be hard to drag myself away from it. I usually just start ruminating about something else related. My question is, does anyone have any tips and tricks to stop ruminating? I read the article by Dr. Michael Greenberg about stopping rumination but it just seemed like his advice was "Just don't ruminate" and it was very stressful.

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond

Rumination as a compulsion and how to treat it

Related posts

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Be a part of the largest OCD Community