Jeanie12
- Date posted
- 3y
SashaSasha
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
You have an intrusive thought: “what if I forgot to turn off the stove?” Rumination begins: “My parents will kill me if they find out.” “I’ll burn the whole house down” “Did I turn it off? I think I did, but I can’t remember. I usually turn it off…. One time I didn’t, but I came right back… I think”
SashaSasha
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
It’s basically thinking about the same intrusive thought over and over
JustmesadlyJustmesadly
- Date posted
- 3y
Like trying to find a reason behind it, why did you think it,what did you do before and after turning off the stove (just to add to sasha)
Jeanie12Jeanie12
- Date posted
- 3y
Alright, so that’s what I was afraid of! I believe I have Pure O. I have been diagnosed with ROCD. I am constantly thinking about either I am attracted to my significant other or not. To the point that I get dibilitated. How do I stop constantly thinking about it. It plays on a constant Loop.
SashaSasha
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
You notice the discomfort that’s associated with the thought. It’s not the thought that’s causing you to ruminate; it’s the feeling of discomfort and anxiety that makes you look for relief. Rumination becomes that relief. Unfortunately it’s temporary and doesn’t solve anything. So what can you do? Just sit with the feeling and let it be there with you, until it passes. Or say something like “maybe it is maybe it’s not. I will not know for certain.”
Jeanie12Jeanie12
- Date posted
- 3y
@Sasha So it’s not hurting me that the thought is 24/7 on my mind? As long as I’m agreeing with it, ideally, it will start to get better and the anxiety will go away? 🥺
SashaSasha
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Jeanie12 Yes, so the reason it’s consuming you all day, is because you are responding to it and resisting it. So then you start to do compulsions, and it becomes a vicious cycle. Your brain thinks it’s under attack and keeps sending out distress signals over and over. What happens when you stop reacting and stop giving in to the ruminations, is that your brain stop getting confirmation from you that it’s under attack, so then it naturally will reset itself. Of course the intrusive thought can come again, and habitually your body may respond with distress signals, but eventually it will weaken its association with the thought as a threat. The more you ruminate, the more you reinforce and feed the ocd and the anxiety. The less you do that, the more you calm down. Temporary discomfort for long terms relief as opposed to temporary relief but long term suffering
Jeanie12Jeanie12
- Date posted
- 3y
@Sasha Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about all this. It’s such a confusing feeling having to live with OCD.
SashaSasha
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Jeanie12 No problem. It’s very confusing. I still get confused even with a lot of knowledge about it. It’s a disease that wants you confused and undecided. But keep working, keep learning, and keep fighting. The days will get easier my friend
Jeanie12Jeanie12
- Date posted
- 3y
@Sasha You already always do kind to everyone in this app! I see your comments a lot and I appreciate it! Yes, it is very confusing. I know the exact time and day and thought that derailed me. Somehow me knowing that my husband is incredible just isn’t enough to knock off the thoughts. I’ve always wanted babies with him. The intrusive thoughts of not wanting a baby with him now are new and devastating.
Jeanie12Jeanie12
- Date posted
- 3y
@Sasha Really butchered my grammar in the first half of that. 😅 Hopefully you can decipher that!
SashaSasha
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Jeanie12 Aw thank you. And I understood you 😂… Just take it one day at a time. And keep working on mindfully not reacting to the feeling or thoughts. You’ll see, slowly but surely it will unwind and get easier. Your relationship with the thought will not be like this forever.
Jeanie12Jeanie12
- Date posted
- 3y
@Sasha Do you have any advice on mental compulsions? Physical ones are “easy” not the anxiety that comes with it obviously but I can force myself to sit with it. The mental stuff is the hard part. Mental checking specifically! When I kiss or hug my partner, I always check to see if I’m feeling anything or wonder if I will feel anything. I also wonder if I felt things differently than I know I did! So I think of a memory that was happy for me and think “maybe I actually didn’t have a good time with him.”
SashaSasha
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Jeanie12 Physical ones are easier for me too. With mental, you have to learn to be mindful of your ocd compulsions and notice if you are starting to analyze or ruminate. The second you notice, you can label it as an ocd issue. And then sit with it. Learn to accept that it’s possible, and there’s no certainty to anything. It’s hard but it will strengthen your brains habits of letting go of ocd thoughts
Related posts
ocdonedidily1
- Date posted
- 17w
Perfectionism OCD and rumination
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.
kitchensink234
- Date posted
- 13w
Advice please!
I have really started to take control of my compulsions and im starting to string together better days! Still not great days or even good, but they are better!!! I have controlled my outward compulsions (googling, research, reassurance, checking) the past couple of days and felt the positive impact of that. But unfortunately, I am realizing that the rumination is still constant. My sexuality and relationship are the only two things constantly on my brain, and if they aren’t I freak out and wonder why im not thinking about them! Anyone have any advice on how to deal with the rumination. Sometimes I don’t even notice im doing it, but it’s taking up 90% of my day. Once I start to tackle this I think I may make some real big progress! Hope everyone is fighting today! ❤️
lf5
- Date posted
- 7w
Tips for rumination with real event?
I've been doing well the past month in cutting down on compulsions and have been feeling better however, last night I had a set back that carried on into today. I had gotten very poor sleep (4ish hours) and then something triggered my memory. I think with the sudden anxiety spike and lack of sleep I didn't have the strength to ignore my compulsions. Last night and today I've realised I've gone back into rumination and mentally reviewing the event excessively again and comparing my situation to other people's, but most of the times that I start going down these rabbit holes I don't even realise I'm doing it? Also been fixating a bit on the fear that I've ruined my progress and that I will fall back into the deep end of it all again, that I have done so much work getting myself out of, although trying my best to not be too discouraged. Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with rumination more specifically?
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