When you get a stuck thought in your mind, as stupid or untrue as it may be, how do any of you block them out, or try to at least? It’s like my mind has another voice telling me making up the stupidest things?
"It’s like my mind has another voice telling me making up the stupidest things?" ---- honestly a good way to describe OCD haha. For me, what helps is *not* trying to block the thoughts out, because you really can't. You're wasting energy on a losing battle when you try this. Random weird thoughts will happen no matter what. OCD recovery for me is all about responding to the thoughts differently rather than trying to stop them or shut them down. This is what brings relief.
i don’t necessarily block it out but i just ignore it or laugh it off kinda like “okay weird thought lol anyways..”
@dwestiny I find it hard to ignore, even tho I know it’s stupid..: I guess that’s what makes it difficult
@Boss34 it can help to remind yourself that the thoughts are just that—thoughts.
@dwestiny I’ll try, it comes and goes, each year the last few years, it flares up, then subsides, I don’t get it… I guess I’ve had things of OCD since I was a kid, looking back
Trying to block the thoughts typically backfires for me, because doing so tells my brain to consider the thoughts dangerous or bad. My OCD has given me some very wild, very imaginative intrusive thoughts. It’s currently telling me I’m going to die in a plane crash when I leave the state soon. I’ve learned to laugh at my thoughts, remind myself that the sticky thoughts are just my OCD being annoying, and going on with my day. Non engagement responses are very helpful here too. https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/heres-why-response-prevention-is-the-key-to-ocd-recovery https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/effective-ways-you-can-respond-to-unwanted-thoughts
When an intrusive thought comes I can’t just say “that’s not true” and just move on. I always feel like I have to disprove the thought and be able to say it with confidence but the problem is that the ocd doesn’t allow me to feel and say it with confidence so I get stuck for hours or even days. How can I stop feeling like I need to do this?
I struggle so bad with intrusive thoughts. They can be so bad that I'll cry because I KNOW that's not how I feel or want to do. (Too embarrassed to say what they're about) I'll constantly try to figure out why I have them, and constantly figure out what they mean, causing me to constantly circle around and around. I had to get on anxeity meds, which helped a little but the thoughts still happen. How do you help yourself with this? How do you know that you're just not some physcopath? 😅
Two things are happening: I get thoughts that just keep looping. They almost feel like song stuck in my head. Also, I’ll imagine something and I feel my stomach drop. Then as the seconds go by I keep getting fragments of the this thought but with different details. For example, it’s kinda like how a “vision” is portrayed. I’ll get a glimpse of the thought and then it’ll rapidly expand into something worse every few seconds. I don’t know if I’m causing this or if it’s just an automatic thing like any other intrusive thought. It feels unavoidable, idk if this is a compulsion or if it’s just another manifestation of an intrusive thought. Apart from that remembering an intrusive thought triggers the full thought again and then it just keeps looping or expanding. I don’t know how to stop any of this. Help?
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