- Username
- Anonymous
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Unfortunately you’ll continue to do mental compulsions because trying to suppress these thoughts make them more aggressive and intrusive. Try to sit with the thoughts and try to not add value to the content. An average person has 60k+ a day... mostly subconsciously of course and everyone gets intrusive thoughts... we just want certainty and wonder why. If you haven’t already, look into getting with a therapist that specializes in treating OCD to learn how to practice ERP each day, you’ll learn that when these intrusive thoughts come you can continue to do what you want and it’ll just fade to the background
I don't get this. I don't understand or know how to apply thinking without adding value
Please some help
@j420 Me either
@j420 Ok so let’s just take one of the thoughts that are intrusive to you. When it pops up, just sit with the thought but don’t think or dissect it a part. Just say “I don’t know, maybe, will not today !” And stay in the present. Are you in therapy at all yet?
@j420 I want you to learn from a professional, I may not be explaining it correctly I’m sorry but I know that when a thought comes that I don’t necessarily agree with or want, I accept the uncertainty and let the sensation and feeling pass
@NOCD Advocate - Danielle Yes I'm seeing Thelma. I'm so frustrated with my brain. I'm 51 and had this most my life. I am frustrated with trying to figure out how to let an intrusive thought "just be there"and I also need to learn some self compassion
Yes because i have difficulty letting the thoughts flow. I want to fight so bad but i know the process to recovery is letting the thoughts happen and just fade over time
I feel your struggle. Many years ago I used to try and 'block' intrusive thoughts or images in my mind by playing words or images in head. Eventually I would play the same things in my mind, then in same order, and more words/images added on. The intrusive thought would become more harder and anxiety raising to suppress out with my 'thought train' compulsion and I did not want it to appear while I was actually trying to do something. Now I just sit with it, time out until I'm calmed down.
I am sorry that you are struggling with this, I have definitely been there
Danielle. So what's the difference between ERP and sitting with the thought.
@j420 You simply just don’t engage with the thoughts or give them value, it takes work. ERP is the practice of actually triggering these thoughts on purpose and allowing them to exist while not engaging with them.
@NOCD Advocate - Danielle Thanks Danielle you I think have made it clearer to me. So engaging is hyping up my belief that I will kill myself when all I need to do is agree that I might and not trying to believe it. My mind is already saying that right
@NOCD Advocate - Danielle I think I've had this all wrong because I have been giving the thoughts value. I thought that's what I was doing when I was sincerely trying to believe them.
@j420 Yes don’t engage at all, just state that you noticed the thoughts and continue to sit with the uncertainty
@NOCD Advocate - Danielle It’ll take some time, you are forming a new way of doing things
@NOCD Advocate - Danielle Thanks Danielle. I appreciate you responding to me
yes
Sometimes yes
yes :( i can’t escape
Yes
All day every day 24/7 almost
I feel your pain
I have the thoughts 24/7 and they never pass
I had the same thing. I learned to stop rumination engaging with the thought. My life is so much better. Erp and therapy works!
Does anyone else ruminate nearly 24/7 about their Harm/Pure OCD thought or thoughts? For example, stating to themselves that “I don’t want to harm, hurt or kill anyone, etc.” Do you have anxiety while doing so and also even more anxiety after trying to stop the reassurance/compulsions. Thanks in advance!
Can anyone share some advice on mental compulsions? I feel like I’m doing them before I notice I’m doing them (comparing, mental reviewing, reassurance, ruminating). I’m just starting ERP but I don’t know how I’m ever gonna get better if I keep doing them before I realize it ughhh help
Does anyone have any tips for reducing constant mental compulsions and rumination? I am constantly saying sentences/phrases in my head or ruminating so when I am trying to not engage I have to first make the decision to actively stop saying my compulsions in my head but it can feel very all or nothing as for me it’s not when an intrusive thoughts pops up anymore as I am constantly saying them so it feels like I’m either doing all of them or none of them which makes doing the process step by step very difficult. Any advice?
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