Anonymous
- Date posted
- 1y
blixten0045blixten0045
- Date posted
- 1y
There’s a few ways: - acknowledge that the thought is there, accept it and let it pass. Don’t dwell on it, don’t analyze it, don’t ruminate on it. Just say either out loud or in your head “i understand that <insert intrusive thought here> I accept that the thought is here, and I’m choosing to let it pass” then move on to a new thought. - a very uncomfortable, but HIGHLY effective technique used in ERP is to lean INTO the thought instead of away from it. For example, let’s say you have health concern OCD, and you have an intrusive thought that says “maybe I have a brain tumor”, this method of leaning into it would be to tell yourself “ I probably have a brain tumor” over and over and over again. The more we do this, the more our brain and body get accustomed to the thought, and the less it bothers us. The important part is to keep saying the ERP technique until you no longer feel the anxiety about the thought. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes, sometimes 2 hours. This is very hard to do for some people because it forces you to lean INTO the fear instead of hiding from it. - brain dumps - this is when you take a notebook and dump out everything that your stressing about. Go into as much detail as you want, get everything out, scream in all caps, cry onto the paper, ask questions, answer questions, etc. - meditations - there are great OCD meditation videos on this woman’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@myocdcoach?feature=shared She also has a full course available for OCD recovery. You can either buy it for lifetime access, or a weekly membership price on her website.
pureolifepureolife
- Date posted
- 1y
Maybe. But maybe not. I don’t need any more certainty than I already have.
Related posts
Patrick McGrath
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 25w
Advice on instrusive thoughts that won't stop?
What's a piece of advice you give when someone has constantly intrusive thoughts and ruminations that won't stop? Interested to see what you tell others.....more on this when I see some replies!!!
_IDK_0023
- Date posted
- 25w
Co-Intrusive thoughts
I don’t know how to explain this so I’ll do it to the best of my ability. Does anyone experience “co-intrusive” thoughts that try to negatively support the initial intrusive thought? Example: Me: “Thank God I never acted on (scary intrusive thought) & I’m getting better!” Intrusive thought: “What a shame you didn’t” These types of things send me into a spiral. It makes me think that it could lead to a desire instead of staying a fear. Like an intrusive disappointment that I didn’t follow through with the thought? It’s been a long fear/obsession & I think my OCD is trying to trick me that the only satisfaction would be to act on the thought. (I know that’s bs) But IS that why it sends me the negative co-intrusive thoughts? That’s the only explanation that makes sense. Then I wonder is it something else? Am I a grenade waiting to explode??? I simply cannot relax in any moment because I think what’s the use if I’m just going to (xyz) one day?
grellen2000
- Date posted
- 24w
Intrusive thoughts (21+ please)
I need advice for intrusive thoughts. I used to feel like I could handle them. They weren’t nearly as bad as the things that related to my actual life. But now, I’m suffering. I haven’t had a sexual experience in over a year that didn’t involve constant intrusive thoughts. Most are somehow related to kids and I keep chasing off the thoughts but it’s so bad. I know you’re supposed to ignore them but I don’t know how I can just ignore that and continue what I’m doing. But they’re coming on stronger. I had one earlier I could not get rid of just as things finished so the thought came on strongly just before my orgasm hit and now I feel absolutely disgusting. I hated the thought and I know it’s not me and it was not enjoyable but it still feels like I was getting off to it. I feel sick. I’m so fucking tired of these thoughts. They’re in my every day life too and it’s all the time. I just want it to stop but ignoring it feels so wrong. What should I do?
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