OCD and rumination

What is rumination in OCD? It can sometimes be difficult to spot when we move from our initial intrusive thoughts to compulsions, especially when it comes to subtler, mental compulsions such as rumination. While intrusive thoughts are automatic and pop up randomly, rumination is an active process that we engage in after the initial intrusive thought, and it's something we can work on reducing. It tends to look like repeatedly engaging with the intrusive thought or the obsession, often with a goal of feeling more certain or sure. However, rumination actually only serves to reduce this certainty over time, and ends up feeding the OCD cycle, which is why it's important to learn to spot when we might be engaging in rumination compulsions.

crazypackersfan

Date posted: 8d ago

I've been getting triggered lately, and every time the trigger hits I've got to say a ritual of 10 or so phrases before trying to get my mind off it. The OCD that I'm getting triggered from is terrible, but the ritual to try to get rid of the OCD is OCD itself, so I'm using OCD to fight OCD and it's not working very well. Unfortunately my insurance is not taken by you guys, so I'm sort of stuck here.

Anonymous

Date posted: 7d ago

@crazypackersfan There are resources on YouTube and from NOCD on YouTube to give you understanding of ERP

littlecreek24

Date posted: 9d ago

I really really struggle with this. I feel like I'm stuck in my head most of the time fighting the same fight over and over. Lately it's been feeling like a "bad" person and getting mean thoughts about myself and others. Selfish thoughts, bigoted thoughts, self hating thoughts, suspicious of others, all of it. I physically shake my head when I get them but then I feel bad for doing that. I've been isolating myself more because of it. I feel like being alone in public is what really triggers these thoughts, so I'd rather be at home not talking to anybody. But then I feel bad for my at-home hobbies because I feel like I'm just distracting myself and not doing anything useful. I literally have to be entertained/distracted 24/7 or the thoughts come back.

Anonymous

Date posted: 8d ago

@littlecreek24 This is a compulsion since you are trying to run away or avoid the thoughts. You need to allow them to come in and go on their own without purposely focusing on them or trying to push them away. It’s like a stray dog that walks up to your porch. You let it stay there till it gets bored and leaves. And if it comes back you do it again.

Crook

Date posted: 5d ago

@Anonymous But what if the dog never leaves? That’s what mine are doing

Mackenzie - ...

Date posted: 4d ago

@littlecreek24 Thank you so much for taking the time to share some of your story with the NOCD community. I am going to link an article on rumination from our NOCD library that I hope you will find helpful.

Mackenzie - ...

Date posted: 4d ago

@Mackenzie - NOCD Team Member https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/the-rumination-trap

MothHawke

Date posted: 6d ago

I do this a lot and have been trying to stop. An intrusive thought pops in, and then I feel like I have to “solve” it. I go through a whole made-up scenario where I “fix” the made-up problem. It feels so real, like it’s happening right now, and it’s often about the worst-case scenario.

Mackenzie - ...

Date posted: 4d ago

@MothHawke You are not alone. Rumination is a common symptom of OCD. It involves persistently mentally engaging with intrusive thoughts, worries, or doubts in an effort to analyze them, find solutions, or make sense of them. This mental compulsion is used to alleviate anxiety and uncertainty, but it only provides temporary relief and perpetuates the cycle of OCD.

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