Community discussion: Stopping thought spirals 🌀

My rumination usually stems from past mistakes and wondering what I could’ve done differently. To curb this, I confront the rumination head on and remind myself that this is OCD trying to problem solve and protect me. I give myself a few minutes to just sit with whatever feelings come up as a result of the rumination and remind myself that there’s nothing to figure out. We’re all human, we all make mistakes, and we can accept that there isn’t always going to be a solution. AND THAT’S OKAY. 👍🏻 ❤️

I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

Doing a crossword puzzle!

Get my body moving

Acknowledge that the original thought is a pattern of OCD. And then confront the thought with “this thought can be here, but it does not mean anything nor do I have to interact with it.” Then I move to a different activity

Bringing awareness to the rumination and then trying to do a meditation instead.

Put the screens away and hang out with other people. Connecting socially makes me entirely forget what was making me so stressed out about

I told my therapist that when I get overwhelmed in a thought or a ritual I just wanna scream. So she said do it, just scream, sometimes that’s a good way to break away from the cycle.

i recently learned the 5 4 3 2 1 method, it’s good to try! it doesn’t always work for me every time but definitely helps. i also learned to just leave the room i was in. like if im sitting on the couch and cant stop ruminating then i am taught to change my environment, get up and get a glass of water or something.

Watching a good movie

Labeling the thoughts as OCD thoughts and trying my best to let them be there without trying to solve them

Mindfulness- using my 5 senses to notice the present moment around me

Mine is about the future usually and I try to acknowledge it and just move on

A yoga , meditation session along with some cardio . Also listening to podcasts

When I’m caught in a OCD thought spiral I just stop momentarily and remind myself that I’m in the here and now and then look at my surroundings and take note of how my vitals feel. Everything ALWAYS checks out and tells me that OCD is a liar.

write it down !

Telling it to shut up and what ever I think isn’t going to happen or call it a name ,I named mine bingnut😁

I often ruminate in order to avoid feeling something I don’t want to feel or a thought that scares or bothers me. I find it helpful to name it and then remind myself to allow it (“allow” has become a bit of a mantra for me). This is basically a truncated version of the RAIN tool (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture). If your curious, there’s more abt this tool here: https://www.tarabrach.com/rain-practice-radical-compassion/

Recognize the ruminating/compulsive behavior, then do my best to step away. Show myself kindness by saying something like: it’s okay, it’s just a misstep, we will try again.