So, this is really unorthodox, I know, and I am in no way advocating for this AT ALL, this is what I’m doing while I can’t afford therapy (thanks US for not guaranteeing healthcare as a human right) since I know how my own mind works, but I just wrote out in great detail why, exactly, my existential intrusive thoughts are inherently paradoxical, and cannot, therefore, be taken as fact. I realize this really goes against the whole “don’t give intro he thoughts” idea but... the whole point was to write it out, one huge fleshed out logical argument (a “last hoorah” if you will). The point of this is to realize and materialize this logic but NOT allow myself to read it after checking for grammar/seeing the finished product, NOT allowing myself to reassurance-seek by reading it. I realized that for me, and it’s always been this way, that after writing something down, or discussing it with someone, it feels more solid, and it’s easier for me to stop ruminating afterwards, and that’s the goal- to stop ruminating. Anyway, really, I know myself and I think this will work for ME, but for everyone else PLEASE DONT DO THIS WITHOUT CONSULTING A THERAPIST. I AM NOT ADVOCATING FOR THIS. I KNOW ITS NOT A GREAT IDEA BUT I FIGURED I GIVE IT A SHOT. Just felt like I needed to share, if not only to come back and track my progress later on.

Alyosha

Date posted: 5y

Hope it helps! I tried doing something similar where I wrote out my religious worries every night to figure out if they made any sense. Everything was fine for the first fifteen minutes or so and then (this was weird) there was almost like a “click” in my brain heat through and the OCD thoughts took over and just What If’d the death out of the first fifteen minutes lol. Of course, only part of me realized the OCD brain had taken over. I hope it works! If it doesn’t, you’ll know.

Just.a.bean

Date posted: 5y

Thanks! Yeah, I noticed that once I resisted the reassurance-seeking and made myself stop repressing the same arguments over and over, I started feeling more accepting of the thoughts, more comfortable, but then my OCD realized it was losing some power and tried to throw some new thoughts at me. I’m taking that as a good sign, though. ?

ARTnotOCD

Date posted: 5y

Before I even realized I had OCD I was already coming up with strategies to fight it that also would not be recommend for all. I’ve read a little that suggests some of our minds (non-OCD-specific) are better at what I call “tricking” themselves or the OCD. Good luck with your unconventional plan. I also like the idea that if it doesn’t work out, at least you’ll have it documented as such; sounds scientific. I hope it works out for you!

Just.a.bean

Date posted: 5y

Thank you! Today is was the first day of not checking, basically realizing that logic as established truth. It’s been hard, but it’s actually really helped, since now, even when I ruminate or argue with my thoughts, I’m not getting stuck in those same compulsive arguments. Thanks for the encouragement! All us OCD sufferers are in this together, we’re stronger than this ✊?

Alyosha

Date posted: 5y

* halfway through

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