foryourbrain

Date posted: 2d

🩷🐘

Have you noticed that the more you try to not have a certain thought, the more it will pop up (pink elephant theory)? Or that the more you try to fight or resist or replace a thought, the harder it gets? This is a really hard thing to get past. But the answer (at least what’s helped me) is to sit with the thought and let it come and go. If I try to fight it, it gets worse. If I give it attention, it gets worse. Starve OCD- don’t give it attention, it’s not worth it! Have a great day! ☀️

Anonymous

Date posted: 2d

hey! out of curiosity, how do you do this when your ocd manifests physically? because my ocd is health based, i will develop symptoms that are hard to ignore (shortness of breath, fixating on my heart, tickle in throat) and i would love to try this to aid in my ocd treatment

foryourbrain

Date posted: 2d

@Anonymous Hi! I’m sorry you’re dealing with that. It is hard when it’s a physical manifestation. If you exhibit a symptom like that due to OCD though, you could try telling yourself that that’s all it is- it’s OCD. And then try your best to sit with it and let it pass. It will probably get worse for a few minutes due to your ignoring OCD, but it will then get better. I hope that helps. :)

Anonymous

Date posted: Yesterday

I would try to make the symptom worse. If you feel shortness of breath, start doing jumping jacks. If you have a tickle in your throat, start coughing. Say, "OCD if you want to be irrational, I can be more irrational!"

Cotondetulear

Date posted: 2d

Honestly I just talk to it like it’s a real person. Intrusive thought? “Can you pleaseeeeee leave this until I’m done with eating/work?” This works for me 75% of the time and has to be caught pretty early on, like when the intrusive thoughts start.

foryourbrain

Date posted: 2d

@Cotondetulear I love that. I do that too!

anonocd

Date posted: 2d

@Cotondetulear Next level is: “oh well ok we’ll try your best OCD, I dare you” and then move on with day

Vee92

Date posted: 2d

I’ll be imagining my OCD as a pink elephant from now on. Thank you for this!

RRazz

Date posted: 2d

When Im unknowingly having certain intrusive thoughts that lead me down a rumination rabbit hole, once I catch it, I sit with it. Then I compare it to a "shark attacking me" or a "lion walking into the room". It helps take the sting out of my intrusive thought. Is this wrong? Am I relying on the comparison thought to get over the intrusion?

foryourbrain

Date posted: 2d

@RRazz No, it sounds like you’re doing the right thing by sitting with it and recognizing it’s trying to attack you but you’re just going to let it ride and be there. Thank you!

MHurley

Date posted: Yesterday

My therapist would always say, "What you resist, persists." He'd tell me that you need to acknowledge that you've had the thought, be okay with it, and then let it move along and our of your mind. My mom would always suggest to acknowledge the thought, then visualize a box, put the thought into the box, let it float away, and then visualize flipping a light switch off so that you can no longer "see" the thought in the box. It's work, but these things have helped me.

foryourbrain

Date posted: 18h

@MHurley So cool, I love that line! Thanks! Keep it up.

User type: Therapist

Date posted: Yesterday

Hello foryourbrain, I see that you are sitting with the uncertainty! Just as you are saying, the more that you try to get rid of the thought, the more you think about it. Further the brain learns to treat the thought as a threat. It seems like you have done a lot of hard work and I commend you. You are legendary! Keep up the great work! Ian M. Reeder

foryourbrain

Date posted: Yesterday

@Ian Reeder Thank you!!

Hannah090

Date posted: 2d

I try, but sometimes the thought is so strong that i give up😔

foryourbrain

Date posted: 2d

@Hannah090 Never give up! They’re simply just thoughts. I know that’s easier said than done, but you’re in control- let them sit there. You don’t have to engage with them :)

Lucas’s OCD ...

Date posted: 2d

And yes I have had that feeling but never give up on yourself. Remember no matter what your worried about your thoughts are not you

Stephaniewer...

Date posted: Yesterday

Yes. I agree starve the OCD. It takes awhile of ERP to get to that point of 99% non-engagment and neutral response or even sarcasm are used when necessary to not go down the rabbit hole of compulsions. I know ERP looks different for everyone, its just finding what work for each individual. Maybe Maybe Not wasnt response that worked for me. Usually a couple sarcastic words, the less I say the better since, that can turn into a compulsion for me as well.

foryourbrain

Date posted: 18h

@Stephaniewermers@gmail.com Awesome job, I love maybe maybe not. I posted about that as well!

melodyjoymeo

Date posted: Yesterday

Yes I struggle w this a lot

AprilNicole

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: Yesterday

This is such a great reminder! I've been having spiritual and existential OCD and I've literally been fighting it and also giving in, only for it to just come back worse. Thank you for this reminder! 🤍

Betty8989

Date posted: Yesterday

Yes

Badpplsuck25

Date posted: Yesterday

Yes!!! I have noticed that!!!! ( Especially with my intrusive thoughts)

Belly wolf

Date posted: 21h

Smart

tabie

Date posted: 20h

I have a hard time getting past Medical anxiety

foryourbrain

Date posted: 18h

@tabie You can get past it! Let the anxiety come, and stay, and then leave. You’ve got this :)

Always Cheer...

Date posted: 5h

You starve the thought of it’s power when you sit with the thought and don’t engage with it.

foryourbrain

Date posted: 4h

@Always Cheerful Yes!!!

Anonymous

Date posted: 3h

I have this happen too

Lucas’s OCD ...

Date posted: 2d

Follow me plz

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