How to pull away from a thought?

Everyone says to just “sit with anxiety “ and I feel like I can’t I have to be focused about what my intrusive thoughts says . I can’t let go I just can’t. It’s like I can’t get rid of it. It’s sucks cause I hate it but I feel like its not working for me. I don’t know how to not fight the thoughts. Even though im telling my mind it’s just a thought and all good. I can’t be all good I just CANT . It’s like I’m trying to put a show to my mind and trick him, but he knows it

POCD

Tyconia

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 43w

Sometimes it's not really about pulling away from the thoughts but about accepting that they are there and that you feel bad. It's like an app running in the background. You may be doing something else, but you still hear it and have to be aware of it. You can still try to do other things. The thoughts and bad feelings will be there as you do, but it is what it is. OCD isn't logical. It comes from the behavioral part of your brain. It happens because it's become an easy and normalized part your behavior. If you let it be there and redirect from its patterns each time you notice them, you slowly retrain your brain, until the OCD is less powerful Doing this and ERP techniques aren't meant to make you feel better, or make the thoughts go away, or give you certainty. They're all about learning how to operate when things feel bad. It's really tireless work in the beginning. You probably won't feel the benefit of your anxiety coming down yet, but if you can limit your response, and stay away from compulsions as long as possible, that will do the work. And even if you keep falling into compulsions, just keep trying again. Anything to spend less time believing it

OrMsB

Date posted: 43w

@Tyconia I feel like no matter what I do I can’t accept the thought is there like is makes me doubt myself and I can’t focus on anything else. And the thought is also annoying and I want to get rid of her all. Like I want to throw up. I feel bad all the time. The thought is all I’m thinking about like I have no life. I can’t stop doing compulsion, bad and good. I need someone to tell me it’s going to be ok cause I don’t feel like it. And I’m afraid that even if I stop doing compulsion the thoughts will still be intense forever

Tyconia

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 43w

Also, I recommend finding other online resources. Nathan Peterson on YouTube is a great channel to watch. NOCD also has weekly live streams on Wednesdays. These kinds of things can really help

OrMsB

Date posted: 43w

@Tyconia I will, thank you

Mowgli

Date posted: 43w

@OrMsB Yes, just to add what @tyconia just said. What I do when it feels like I can’t sit with the thoughts and anxiety, I listen to podcast about ocd, a lot, when I do this I start to relate, then I get moments where I really believe and accept that it’s ocd again

FaithSheagren

Date posted: 25w

Intrusive thoughts about intrusive thoughts

Hi everyone. I’ve been doing therapy for about two months now and I would say it’s slowly helping me a lot. I explained to her the breathing techniques and “sitting in the anxiety for a bit” and I feel like those are helping. But then my therapist said “don’t sit in the thought because then you might act on it”. I don’t “sit in the thought” but rather i sit in the anxiety to comdition my brain into thinking it’s not a threat. But ever since yesterday, my therapy appointment, I’ve been really shooken up. Even though I don’t “sit in the thought” I feel like a bad person that she even had to bring it up even though I explained it wrong. I’m so upset I feel like I just took 3000 steps back from my progress and this little thing is really scaring me. Am I a bad person? I don’t want to act on any of my thoughts and it scares me so bad I hate living.

joshd

Date posted: 18w

Trying not to think of intrusive thoughts

I been dealing with OCD my entire life but recently I been finding it really difficult to find the slightest relief. I know it’s not good to do but I been trying not to think of the thoughts but of course they come back even stronger. Does anyone know what I could do in the meanwhile ? Thank you

nae nae

Date posted: 13w

Grounding techniques?

I can't focus on anything but my thoughts. I'm so inside my head, and my mom always tells me to focus on my body and my surroundings, but I can't, or maybe I just don't know how. I try to, but it doesn't help. The thoughts are still there :(

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How to pull away from a thought?

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