- Username
- Anonymous
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Do nothing when you have a intrusive thought
Watch it pass
Hi, Jay. Rumination is definitely my most common compulsion as well. What helps me is indentifying the intrusive thought/obsession as my OCD, gently saying “this fear may be true/become true, I am uncertain and that is okay” then refocusing on the present moment (my breath, what I see, what I hear) and going on with my day. It can be extremely frustrating when an obsession is insistent, but after a few days of being diligent by accepting, refusing rumination, and refocusing, it becomes less distressing and less frequent. Best wishes to you! You got this!
Thank you so much Jolie, I'm having a hard time just now because it's like my OCD has thrown up a thought that I feel I cannot be uncertain about you know, but that's most likely what is keeping me stuck when I think about it, I cant imagine looking back on this thought and seeing it as ridiculous, like my now past ones, but I also felt that way about them too, thinking is fun😂😂
@Jay Mc Right! 😂 When we’re in the midst of an OCD peak with a new obsession, it feels like it’s a whole new thing and it’s just too distressing to treat. It feels different and special, but in reality is just OCD playing tricks as usual. I’m going through that now with a new obsession. You’ve got this! It’s important to have a sense of humor about this all, I’m glad you do!
@Jolie Honestly I've always been a very serious person, I think generally being an anxious person from a young age made me that way, always on the defensive. But a blessing to have come from struggling with OCD is that its paradoxical, and a sense of humour helps me see the thoughts for what they are, random stories our brains tell us
@Jolie Btw someone here suggested I listen to Dr Michael Greenberg, he has totally changed my perspective on rumination and how it is totally in our control, ill link the ocd stories podcast I listened to below, hopefully it can benefit you if you haven't listened already https://youtu.be/PcFTi7HJYnk
@Jay Mc Thank you so much! I’m glad he has helped you and I’m excited to see what I learn!
Dr Michael greenberg
Thank you, I shall look him up
Just want to say, I watched him on the ocd stories podcast there, he has totally flipped things round for me, the idea that rumination is 100% controllable has helped greatly. I'm going to put it into practise, thank you
Same here. I also read Michael Greenberg website and for the first time in my life I felt that someone got it about compulsive rumination, this is where I learnt that I have compulsive rumination, and that he empowers and shows that I and anyone can stop it. Without rumination I would not have most of my anxieties, like 90% of them, if I drop that unproductive habit, along with compulsive research and assurances seeking, which are also part and feed in or out of rumination. Ugh.
I think it probably helps to see it all as rumination doesn't it, thats what Ali Greymond suggests too. Anytime we Google, research, seek reassurance whatever, its all rumination on the thought that leads us to then DO the actions, the rumination is the engagement and taking the thought seriously, so it seems like the bridge between intrusive thought - compulsion. Its an interesting approach, definitely going to read more about it and look to implement myself.
@Jay Mc I was really surprised to realize that I do compulsive googling and research. I thought that it was the way I cope, it helps me to calm down; but I never realized that it is a perfect fuel for more thoughts and keeping my attention on the issue/obsession, and is the urge to figure it out (aka doing something about it, even in this mental engagement form).
@Jay Mc Are you doing ERP? Is it applicable for rumination?
@allitta Yes. Sit with the thoughts, just watch them, don’t engage
@allitta I am not doing ERP with a professional rather learning to sit with the thoughts and feelings myself, but it absolutely is applicable to rumination as it is a compulsion. Rumination regarding intrusive thoughts is just trying to solve the problem through thinking. But there isn't a problem to be solved, nor can feelings be removed with thinking, so it is a waste of time. It is also within your control, you are the one trying to resolve the thought, so instead of engaging, you're aware it's there, but deciding you don't have to problem solve. Hope that helps:)
How to stop rumination? I have existential OCD, a type of purely obsessive OCD, and rumination feels automatic. Has anyone tried meditation? Did it help? What did you do?
Anyone have any good tips for resisting the urge to ruminate? My compulsions are mainly reassurance seeking and ruminating and while I can resist the compulsion to check something on my phone, it’s really hard to resist ruminating, because ultimately, the ruminating is just thinking thoughts, which we all know we can’t control.
Title says it all. Biggest compulsion I can’t seem to stop doing even if I notice I’m doing it is ruminating. How do I stop? It’s almost like my brain automatically does it and I keep getting so lost in thought.
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