- Date posted
- 4y
- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 4y
You can't "stop" ruminating but you can stop participating in it. When you catch yourself off in thought playing it out, trying to figure it out... acknowledge that... like ahh this is ocd I'm going to let these thoughts be here but I'm not participating. Then return to whatever activity it is that you're doing. The thoughts will play, the anxiety will come, let it. Eventually the thoughts will become quiter, anxiety will lessen and you will catch yourself participating more quickly. Also learn how to meditate. Meditation is soo good and helpful and will teach you how to do exactly what I said above. Because you essentially do the same thing when mediating. You focus on your breathing but when you notice yourself paying attention to your thoughts you again focus on your breathing.
- Date posted
- 4y
Thanks Jess. I see what you’re saying on the rumination. I’ll try that acknowledgment. But I get so damned scared of my inability to stop the ruminating, I’ve turned it all into a battle. As I said above, I really struggle with meditation. That’s when my OCD is at its loudest and when my anxiety is at its highest. It’s become a “thing” in itself. I’ll keep plugging away.
- Date posted
- 4y
B would be the more ideal solution in this situation. At times I tend to overthink and realize that I’m overthinking and the more I try to ignore the ruminating the stronger it comes on to me. Just accept and continue to go on with your day and without even noticing it, the ruminating will fade on its own. The only tricky thing is once you realize it faded usually it will latch back on, but just continue to accept it and focus on doing more important things. Even watching a show or talking to a friend or family member tends to help and take off some of the tension you may be feeling. Hope this helps, if you have any more questions feel free to ask.
- Date posted
- 4y
Thank you. It’s constantly trying to lure me in - when I’ve gone for a period of time, usually a minute or so, without noticing it then it comes back with a vengeance. I usually can’t even concentrate on TV or other people as it’s a constant loud presence. Learning to fight it - by not fighting it - is the greatest challenge of my life.
- Date posted
- 4y
I’ve read several books on Buddhism which I’d recommend doing for anyone that faces any sort of anxiety or distress. Basically what it says is most of us spend most of our time in the past or the future while the present slips right by you. Consistency is definitely the biggest key, the little steps you take everyday really do build up and make the biggest difference. Rather than trying to spend most of your time in your mind, try to find strength in vulnerability by accepting the fact at the moment your not at your best and just strive for little improvement day by day. It really helps me to meditate and just focus on something really beautiful and forget that everything else around you exists for a period of time. Another exercise that helped with my thoughts, was commentating every little action I’m doing as I do it. Even though your still talking in your head it drifts away the attention from your thoughts and focuses on properly commentating the actions your performing.
- Date posted
- 4y
B is the best and smartest option.
- Date posted
- 4y
My other compulsion - buying books on Buddhism! Seriously! I have over 60. I find that whenever I try to meditate or be in the present moment or usefully distract myself in any way that is when the OCD is at its loudest and it’s most invasive. I know why - it’s because I *try* when I should be letting go. I guess that’s my ultimate problem. I don’t know how to let things go.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 25w
Hi! I've been on my OCD healing journey for about half a year and I have seen a lot of success. I'm reaching out for advice, I am very willing to do exposures because I know the more I do them, the more I get better, but I struggle with the response prevention part. I don't know how to control my brain when it comes to facing the fears especially since most of my compulsions are mental. I can tell myself the typical things "I am okay with the uncertainty of this happening", etc. but its like my brain doesn't believe them. I've been stuck in this disconnect for a while and would love advice you have heard from a therapist or learned that has really help you.
- Date posted
- 20w
There’s this one situation that I haven’t stopped thinking about from last night . So basically, I was reading 'The power of Now' which is a book that I love so much and really got me into spirituality. It’s been so helpful for my OCD and rumination but it’s also been pretty triggering for it as of late, so I’ve taken a long break from consistently reading it. The excerpt I read was about abundance and how its not about being bountiful, necessarily in material things but realizing and being grateful for the things that exist in your life now and in doing so, you will open yourself up to more good things. I understood it but I re-read it a lot because I didn't feel confident enough to explain it to someone else. but otherwise I LOVED IT. It made me feel so at peace, I agreed with it, and it gave me hope to start focusing on the good things in my life rather than the bad. So when I went to bed I rehearsed myself explaining it to someone on a podcast and then all these questions started flooding in like “why should I only focus on the good and aren't we supposed to accept the good and bad? Aren’t those the values of Buddha and spirituality” “Ya, we're supposed to accept the good and the bad but why?- so we can feel more good??? And isn't the point of OCD to not label things as good and bad? and why should I focus on the good- so I can feel good? why should I feel good? because I'm worthy of it? why am I worthy of it? because I'm a good person and do good things? well I’ve also done bad things so why shouldn't I consider that. I just don’t understand why I should feel good without it being selfish. And then this went on for like 2 or 3 hours. Like holy shit. I over explain these ideas and concepts that I resonate with to the point where they don't even make sense to me anymore. It becomes very existensial very quick. And I’m not suicidal but these questions make me feel hopeless in society for some reason?? And myself. Like if everything contradicts everything then what’s the point to life? If nothing can be understood or explained in a senseful way, then how do people move forward and make decisions, like AT ALL? There’s never a right or perfect answer and I feel like with any decision I make in regards, I’m doing a compulsion either way. If I don’t answer them, then I’m avoiding it and if I do then I’m checking and seeking reassurance. I’m sorry if this was way too long and over-explained I just need some advice or to know if anyone can relate in any way. Also, I’m sorry if some of those back-to-back questions were triggering.
- Date posted
- 18w
Been struggling with existential OCD lately. Very hard to describe the thoughts/feelings, but it is a constant feeling of being stuck in my head. Like what is consciousness and where do I think from? Like I think it’s OCD, maybe it is maybe it isn’t. But if it is, what would be good ERP exercises? Just existing (lol)? And what would be my response prevention? I’m not even sure what mental compulsions I may be doing.
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