Well, we made it through another week! Maybe barely, and kicking and screaming, but, we made it. Any takeaways you want to share? Have any plans for the weekend? I had another flare up last night and am just trying to work through it. Every one feels like I’m getting closer to a full breakdown but I’m determined not to let OCD win. I plan on doing a lot of reading this weekend and hopefully catching up on sleep!
I have been great this week, a little confused. I read an article that said passively acknowledge the thoughts, and continue what you are doing , I listen to the thoughts, it’s like I focus on them and wait until they are done and then go on and continue about my day, even with the distress. But I saw a video where a man said when you see the thoughts coming, focus on the present moment, so I’m a little confused as to what to do, focus on them and watch them until they are done ? I don’t know what passively acknowledge them means.
@QueenE1998 I struggle with this too! I think what passively acknowledging the thoughts mean is this: the intrusive thought comes and you say “oh, hey OCD, I don’t have time to deal with you today because I have things to do.” So you’re acknowledging that it’s there, but not feeding it. And then continuing about your day. Does that help?
@QueenE1998 By not feeding it I mean that we aren’t engaging in any compulsions when the thoughts arise.
@emilytravelswild So basically , you focus on the thought until it’s gone right ? And then continue or when it starts coming in you see it coming and then you just continue doing what you are doing
@QueenE1998 So I don’t focus on the thought because to me that feeds it. I just talk to it like it’s a person “ok, OCD, you can leave now because I have things to do.” As I go about the things I needed to do that day. When I focus on the thought I tend to ruminate and then go down a spiral from that. So for example, I’ll have an intrusive thought as I’m making coffee. I’ll talk to it “go away, OCD. This thought could be true, or not, but I’m not focusing on that right now.” And then I continue making my coffee, sit down, and read my book, or check my email, etc. OCD is usually screaming at me in the background but I don’t focus on it. I focus on the things I set out to do that day.
@emilytravelswild That is great! See I just give it no response, which is totally understandable that’s it hard for some people to do, but I always been a person to just sit there and give no response anyways. I have been treating it like a person as well. I just got from therapy and been told I was doing it right . So I’m happy .
I really like how you described that.
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