- Username
- erinandem522@gmail.com
- Date posted
- 4y ago
It depends what your intention is. If your intention is to "get rid of" or escape the unwanted thought it emotion, that's a problem. Using distraction that way, especially if you stop doing what you were doing to switch to the new activity, quickly becomes compulsive. If your intention is to improve the moment while you have the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, or to engage in the activity to prevent you from doing mental compulsions, that's a positive
Okay, but isn’t trying to escape an unwanted thought the same thing as trying to improve a moment? I’m a little confused.
@giraffe522 Not quite. It's the difference between doing something enjoyable instead of something you fear (ex: my schoolwork triggers my OCD, so I'll play angry birds instead) vs doing something enjoyable in addition to the feared task (listening to your favorite musician's album while you do your schoolwork)
It's good to keep up positive and healthy activities as regular habits. If you tend to do them at times when you're trying to get rid of thoughts and feelings you don't want, it's probably an avoidance compulsion. Even for people without OCD, maybe they find playing video games fun and relaxing. But if it's their go-to when they're supposed to be doing homework which is making them anxious as they're scared of failing, that's when it's being used as avoidance and isn't healthy, it's maladaptive. It's better to process those feelings and get to doing what they need to do. Also as in this example, compulsions can often create self fulfilling prophecies.
I don't think it is, activities that give you pleasure are good for your mood and your Health.
Okay, thanks!
Do you think that me saying to myself, “these are ocd thoughts, they aren’t true at all” a compulsion??? It makes me feel better like more relaxed but I am worried that maybe it is just a compulsion...But it can’t be I don’t think, bc it is the absolute truth. That is what ocd is. Intrusive thoughts that aren’t real or true about yourself. Thoughts??
Quick question: When I first was dealing with my ocd I would not talk to this one girl because my hocd tried to say I liked her. I thought if I ignored her it would all stop and I wouldn’t think about the thoughts anymore. Is that a compulsion?
Can playing video games, getting on my phone, checking notifications, etc. be compulsions?
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