Hello everyone. I would like to ask something that is not very much connected to OCD. I am a little bit confused about something. As far as i am concerned mindfulness is about not judging our thoughts but only recognise them and letting them go. On the other hand, CBT in my eyes is the exact opposite, where someone must judge his or her thoughts in order to change the distorted thinking. Is it only me that I find mindfulness and CBT to be the exact opposite? Can someone explain to me because i am confused. I am not talking about ocd because I know that erp os the best approach and I have started mine, but i would like someone to enlighten me about cbt and mindfulness.

Brian K.

User type: NOCD Alumni

Date posted: 3y

Hi Tsakatha, I am by no means an expert or doctor, but I’ve always thought similarly to you, with mindfulness being technique for being aware of thoughts/feelings without any judgment of good/bad and CBT as a way of focusing on certain behavior and then changing that behavior. In that respect, yes they do seem to be opposite in their approach, however there is also Mindfullness based CBT (MCBT) which I believe aims to teach an individual to separate their “self” from their thoughts/feelings and accept that the thoughts/feelings exist and observe them, but not interacting, dwelling on, or judging them. To me this sounds sounds somewhat similar to when we practice sitting with uncertainty by acknowledging intrusive thoughts, but not reacting to them by trying to either prove or disprove them and try to not interact further and go about our day. Not sure if I helped or confused us both more, but I agree that they seem opposite in their basic approach, but yet both can be effective depending on the illness, individual and circumstance.

Holl1

Date posted: 19w

OCD

I had a therapy assessment today (not on here) and she said she is gonna put me forward for CBT and said I had generalised anxiety because I worry about different things, rather than it being OCD where you worry about one thing, but I do compulsions so I’m confused. Will CBT help even if I do have OCD ? my main worry is harm and I told her other things like fear or fainting or switches being off but she said I’ve got anxiety and I definitely feel like I’ve got ocd

It’s Going t...

Date posted: 18w

Question about uncertainty

I’ve been getting stuck in my understanding of OCD lately. When I have intrusive thoughts, although I have OCD, I’m not supposed to label them as part of my condition? Instead I just say maybe/maybe not? It feels like it takes the wind out of my sails a bit in recovery? Like having cancer, but when I go to chemo, I’m supposed to say “maybe I have cancer, maybe I don’t.” Would anyone be able to speak to this and increase my insight and understanding? Thank you!

Anonymous

Date posted: 12w

I’m struggling to know what’s a compulsion

Is anyone else just confused by their ocd all of the time?? I was diagnosed 2 months ago and I feel more confused than ever. I have no idea what’s an intrusive thought, when I’m ruminating or doing mental compulsions or what my “themes” are. I guess I don’t really have intrusive thoughts the way it seems others do and I don’t struggle with themes that are extremely taboo or frightening so I’m always just extremely confused and frustrated. I feel like I just have a lot of intrusive doubt and I think a ton but don’t really know when I’m ruminating or not?? I have comorbid depression and anxiety so I’ve no idea what’s what. Do other people struggle with this?? How do I try to begin to identify these things or know if what I’m doing mentally is a compulsion or not?!

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