Having a little trouble...
Well my OCD is like clockwork and usually strikes me once a year. This year however, was especially bad. I watched a few Law and Orders:SVU and with in sometime I was obsessing about molestation. These images and thoughts, although very illogical and completely unfounded, forced me to fly home and try to seek some help, not to mention make me sick and scared. I visited an MD for some Meds to help while I wait to meet with the psych. however he blatantly said no so I am trying to cope and overcome this on my own (well at least until Thursday when I have my session). Any good ideas and methods to help me in the mean time?
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Guest
Hi Yossarian,
OCD/obsession thinking can really drag us down. If you could allow the visions, the thoughts to just float by and not become emotionally attached to them, they would slow down and occur less and less. It is your resistance to them that keeps them coming back with such force and emotional impact. Do you see?
It takes practice. This will not happen over night. First understand that it is just ocd. Nothing more. Understand that when you practice allowing the thoughts to come and go while at the same time keeping present with whatever you are doing - you will notice the thoughts slowing down and come less.
Acceptance. Accept whatever your thoughts are saying. Just say: OK. Then go back to what you were doing and do your best to keep your attention on your activities throughout the day. When the thoughts and visions occur again (and they will) just gently bring your attention back to what you were doing. Do this over and over again. You are creating a new habit. Be patient with yourself.
You can also say things like:
Oh, there you are again. You are welcome here.
Whatever you say.
Remind yourself, too, that thoughts are not a call to action. They are just mindless things and when we have ocd are thoughts are incredibly imaginative. Once you have a handle on this and can see the calm that does indeed come, you'll beable to watch your programs again with a new understanding. The thoughts may come again, however, and you'll need to practice the exercise again, but you'll have a better understanding of what is going on.
I recommend watching more neutral programs that make you feel good. The stuff on tv today is way to "out there" and not worth our eyes or ears.
OCD/obsession thinking can really drag us down. If you could allow the visions, the thoughts to just float by and not become emotionally attached to them, they would slow down and occur less and less. It is your resistance to them that keeps them coming back with such force and emotional impact. Do you see?
It takes practice. This will not happen over night. First understand that it is just ocd. Nothing more. Understand that when you practice allowing the thoughts to come and go while at the same time keeping present with whatever you are doing - you will notice the thoughts slowing down and come less.
Acceptance. Accept whatever your thoughts are saying. Just say: OK. Then go back to what you were doing and do your best to keep your attention on your activities throughout the day. When the thoughts and visions occur again (and they will) just gently bring your attention back to what you were doing. Do this over and over again. You are creating a new habit. Be patient with yourself.
You can also say things like:
Oh, there you are again. You are welcome here.
Whatever you say.
Remind yourself, too, that thoughts are not a call to action. They are just mindless things and when we have ocd are thoughts are incredibly imaginative. Once you have a handle on this and can see the calm that does indeed come, you'll beable to watch your programs again with a new understanding. The thoughts may come again, however, and you'll need to practice the exercise again, but you'll have a better understanding of what is going on.
I recommend watching more neutral programs that make you feel good. The stuff on tv today is way to "out there" and not worth our eyes or ears.
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Guest
Very good advice Boon.
I am going through the same thing with different thought context. My thoughts are about generally hurting my daughter. I'm trying to desensitize myself to the thoughts. I've been home alone with my daughter all evening and have been purposely spending time right next to her so that the anxiety can come and I can get over it. It's a battle. I don't think you can stop it instantly. I'm working on desensitizing myself to it so it no longer scares me. I'm also setting aside time each day to think about it and read articles about it. Though I was a bit hesitant to go about it this way, if the experts say it works... then so be it. Best of luck!
I am going through the same thing with different thought context. My thoughts are about generally hurting my daughter. I'm trying to desensitize myself to the thoughts. I've been home alone with my daughter all evening and have been purposely spending time right next to her so that the anxiety can come and I can get over it. It's a battle. I don't think you can stop it instantly. I'm working on desensitizing myself to it so it no longer scares me. I'm also setting aside time each day to think about it and read articles about it. Though I was a bit hesitant to go about it this way, if the experts say it works... then so be it. Best of luck!