Is practicing mindfulness in the middle of having an OCD thought considered as a compulsion? I'm kind of confused because compulsions are usually defined as something that a person with OCD do for temporary relief from the anxiety caused by the intrusive thoughts.

HappyTurtle (Roxanne)

213d ago

My understanding and experience is that it is all about the intention, as anything can become a compulsion or be turned into a coping tool. If I am using mindfulness to try to push away and drown out the intrusive thoughts or feelings of intense discomfort, searching for instant relief- then for me that would be a compulsion. If I am doing mindfulness to connect to the present moment, and allow the thoughts and waves of intense discomfort to come and go in the background, then mindfulness in that situation it is a coping tool for me. Hope that helps :)

kimcena

213d ago

Wow. Never thought of it that way. Thanks so much! ♥️

RoxyB…

212d ago

You are very welcome. Took a long time for me to realize it in such clear terms, and once I got that concept it really helped, because I realized there were several little sneaky compulsions I didn’t realize I was even doing. The major way I tell if it is a compulsion is in the “Walk Away”. If I am not sure of my intentions, the I take a few minute break and if that instantly brings on high anxiety from not doing the activity or not figuring something specific out, then I know it probably a compulsion and I need to adjust. Because the more I am able to identify and reduce compulsions, the better the OCD gets