my therapist recommended i write down an anxiety producing thought and then write a rational counter-statement to that thought. the thing is i fear that wont that only fuel my OCD? i asked my therapist this and they said that i should still try it because i have to teach myself to believe rational thoughts. what should i do? a lot of what i learned about OCD is to not give it power or attention but wont this give it attention?

Username: NickerinoNickerino

Date posted: 4y ago

This sounds like terrible advice for OCD. Is this person actually trained to treat OCD?

Username: 🌱🌱

Date posted: 4y ago

i dont think theyre specifically for OCD

Username: NickerinoNickerino

Date posted: 4y ago

@Duck I'm sure someone else with more expertise will chime in soon, but in my opinion your therapist seems well intentioned but is actually giving very bad advice.

Username: MM

Date posted: 4y ago

Yes, I had an ocd therapist have me do this for a few sessions and for me it was very effective but it may not be that way for others.

Username: little rabbitlittle rabbit

Date posted: 4y ago

For me, when I did that, it became a compulsion of reassurance and it didn't help me get over the fear. How do you see this yourself, how do you react to it? For me, the rationality comes after I've done some extensive ERP, since the ERP makes my own brain come down from the anxiety, instead of listening to others' logical opinions etc, it's my own opinion that comes to the surface once I'm more logical and less emotional.

Username: 🌱🌱

Date posted: 4y ago

for me i feel like i do mental compulsions a lot, such as trying to fight the thought. i feel like this is fighting the thought but just on paper

Username: little rabbitlittle rabbit

Date posted: 4y ago

@Duck It was the same for me, I was fighting the thought with logic to try and not feel uncomfortable and stressed and guilty etc. So I labeled it a mental compulsion.

Username: ARTnotOCDARTnotOCD

Date posted: 4y ago

Agreed that something I naturally did to combat OCD is very similar to this, but that for some people it might be difficult or worsen OCD, but maybe while working with a therapist is the time to try it to find out. Good luck!

Username: _esary__esary_

Date posted: 4y ago

This does not sound like good advice. I had a therapist who did not specifically specialize in OCD, and she told me to write the intrusive thought and then rationalize it by explaining why it is true. This did not help at all, though I did it for almost a year. in fact it probably kept the ocd obsessions alive by giving reassurance. Please seek out a therapist who actually specializes in OCD, using ERP, if this technique doesn’t seem to be changing anything. ❤️

Username: _esary__esary_

Date posted: 4y ago

*by explaining why it is not true

Username: njjjjjj

Date posted: 3y ago

Hey there’s one thing I’m unsure about about treating OCD. I’ve heard exposure therapy works and you’re supposed to just agree with the thought but then what about those CBT worksheets that challenge the thought ? Doesn’t that clash with having to agree with the thought. Sorry if I don’t make any sense I just want to know the best method so I can heal.

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 2y ago

ERP question

So I’m starting therapy this week but I’ve been trying to use ERP myself, my main compulsion is rumination which I wasn’t even aware was a compulsion. I’m trying to do ERP but when I focus on observing the thought it goes, I dunno if I’m focusing too much on actually how to follow ERP or is this normal? I feel like I might be subconsciously blocking thoughts because I know how bad it is when I go down the rabbit hole, but then I also worry that the anxiety goes too quickly and that I’m finding it too easy to ignore the thought?

Username: Kiki84

Date posted: 2y ago

Rumination as a compulsion and how to treat it

I am feeling conflicted when it comes to treatment and would like some advice. I suffer from Pure O, and all of my compulsions are in the form of rumination. If my therapist tells me to ‘lean in’ to the thoughts and even dissect and think about that thought/worry more - is this not akin to telling someone with contamination OCD to mindfully wash their hands? The initial microsecond thought is the normal human thoughts everyone gets - that’s normal and can’t be stopped, the rabbit hole ruminating that follows is technically analytical thinking therefor it should be able to be stopped. Does this resonate with anyone and has anyone experienced similar? I’m definitely experiencing some OCD around treatment and my therapist (am I doing this right etc) but I also feel my question is valid and I want to ensure I am following the right treatment path. Thank you!

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