Does anyone have any tips on how to stop ruminating? This is one of my biggest compulsions and its so hard to stop. I know saying maybe maybe not works, but I would like some other tricks as well. I think this may be why I've been having so much trouble with my exposures not creating much anxiety lately.

Comment deleted by user

Comment deleted by user

I not only ruminate, I chronically think. I think, imagine, and ruminate non-stop. I'm hardly ever not in my head and I've learned to function like that in life which has made it worse. Mindful meditation has been a good start for me to try to change this.

I think the want and need to stop ruminating can be a compulsion in itself. I stopped doing the maybe maybe not I just fully agree with what ever I am scared of, and tell myself that is is definitely going to happen, not in a Catastrophizing way but more like yep that's true it's probably a really bad thing... But i try to limit my fear response to it (or more it quiets down after I've said that it's true often enough) I think wanting a feeling to go away can make it worse. Let it be there, invite it in and eventually it will ease off, but the more you fight it the more it will linger (in my experience).

So in essence - > i agree with every thought and fear that comes up before it gets to a point of avoidance (my OCD is quite well managed at this point, but i used to avoid a lot of thoughts without even noticing)