Me to myself: Remember that OCD likes to chop and change themes just to keep you in the loop! YOU'VE GOT THIS! OCD: *changes theme* Me: *shocked Pikachu face*

I relate to that so hard. My theme recently has been harm or fear of going crazy and acting impulsively etc. but now it’s morphing into a fear of having a personality disorder and harm. It’s never ending ? I swear OCD will stop at nothing

@m34 Yessss. And my ass falls for it every time ?

@m34 Ughhh. You’re so right and I never thought of it that way. My biggest compulsion is rumination too. I have no outward physical compulsions. I have yet to find anyone who really has good tips besides mindfulness to putting an end to rumination

@electrolove I have had pure o most of my life, but only diagnosed a year ago. The rumination is the compulsion and there cant be recovery without giving it up. I allow a 15 min worry period once a day and dont try to resolve the worries but let them scare me and almost welcome them as an oppurtunity to refuse to do ocds bidding by not ruminating. A gret book is "Stopping the noise in your head" by Dr Alex Reid.

@electrolove Have you tried scripts? Writing down the scary thoughts and listen to them again and again on repeat. It has really helped me.

@Garrett Maguire I’ve heard others say that same thing! It’s just such a reflex for my brain to go there with every situation in my life ? sometimes I don’t even realize I did it until it already happened! I will check out this book :) thank you

@Estrid I’ve never tried a script but I’m thinking about it. I’m curious though, the response prevention part of this. How do you master that after an exposure? I’m scared I’d do an exposure fine but then cancel it out with rumination.

@electrolove Yes sometimes its like a reflex, but stop as soon as you realise it, without trying to resolve the worry.

@electrolove The best way is to do it with a therapist. Well, the response prevention I think is mixed together with the exposure, you can listen for say half an hour and let the anxiety wash over you and everytime the thoughrs come back you just welcome them instead of resisting them. After a while it gets boring more than anxious! But you gave to do it step by step, not take the worst thoughts to begin with. My scripts are written in the way if "maybe, maybe not, I can't know for sure"- with the purpose to embrace uncertainty.

@electrolove I will also add that it s important to know that rumination is a choice even if it feels very automatic. Mindfulness gas helped me a lot to take a step back and be aware of my opportunity to choose not to ruminate.

@Garrett Maguire I think you mean Reid Wilson, and I agree, it' s a very good book!