describe how YOU get through obsessive thinking and scary thoughts?

easybreeze · Post by **easybreeze** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:06 pm

HI, well I feel like im on the right track, I feel like I’m seeing a realistic part in the clouds. I do have a little fear though, one because I don’t know who im turning into and just how to be that person, but also ive had so many devastating downs along the way in the program, just when i thought my life was really turning around. So with that in mind, when i get a negative scary thought my first reaction is to obsess. So ive been stopping and relaxing and refocusing real hard on the present moment to kinda snap out of it. I’m trying to use humor to down play the validity of the scary thoughts if they cling a little. After just a few days of practice this happens really quick and i kind of just move on. I have to correct myself constantly though. All day at work I was conscious of my state of mind. i just jump out within maybe 15-30 seconds of obsessing about my obsessivness and kinda go back and forth between inner thoughts and present moment. lol so anyway is that kinda how it goes till it become so natural you just have an automatic response that diverts you to the present moment almost instantaneously? Please respond cause this really may be the last major portion in my recovery...thanks!

Ivyheart <>< · Post by **Ivyheart <><** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:44 pm

I think as soon as I realized through the program that the scary thoughts were just that...scary thoughts. That they were not me going carzy!! That alone took alot of anxiety away. I just try and remind myself that those scry thoughts are just my minds way of thinking up something horrible to keep me from dealing ith the REAL issues. Humor like you said is so helpful. Down playing the thoughts right away help me as well. Replacing those crazy thoughts with the truth (out loud) I believe for me, taking every thought captive is key. I have to recognize thoughts that are lies and not from God! Prayer!! My key to sucsess.
I wish you full recovery!

Ivy

vincent_778 · Post by **vincent_778** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:30 am

hello easybreeze. same like you i have this scary thoughts and everytime that i beginning to have this i start focusing my mind on my stomach and doing the relaxation the breath in and breath out and telling myself im not scared and telling myself that this is a learned behavior and i could change the way i think. I would really tell myself (self talk) "brain its time to discipline yourself you are calm and peaceful. God is peace and He give me peace" I always keep telling myself that then focusing to my stomach doin relaxation. it works! and then try to divert my attention around me the sorroundings such as trees, structures anything that i could appreciate just remind of the present. Im happy for your accomplishment right now Im stilol on session 5. Its funny because before i listened to this session im already applying it to myself.

KRISTEN · Post by **KRISTEN** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:24 pm

I think thats exactly how you get through it.
And when they get stronger than you can handle you just have to work a little harder.They ALWAYS pass.

Zoe_M · Post by **Zoe_M** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:02 am

I really like this post, great topic!

What works for me, is to have my spouse give me a scalp massage. There is something so soothing about this. When we are relaxed, there is no room for anxiety (scary thoughts) and we just relax.

Also, I have found having a technically challenging hobby to divert your attention to, is very good as well.

All the best and God Bless!

Zoe

Michael · Post by **Michael** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:29 am

Some things to remeber as per scary thoughts.
1) Ourbrain does not know the diffrence in that it absorbs everything i.e. distrurbing news events, disturbing movies, articles, ect...
2) We are sensitive to negative stimuli and analytical in nature thus when a scary thought "pops up" we often use our analytical skills in a counterproductive manner in following a scary thought up with alot of false "what if's".
3) Reinforcing these false what if's over and over much like a dog chasing his tail we leave ourselves in a circle of anxiety.
4) The key is to practice in writing following up these irrational what if's with rational responses in writing. I often would practice doing this in my little spiral notebook.
5) Though consistent effort and hard work we have the ability to insignificize/decensitize these thoughts.
6) Finally, in the area of intrusive thoughts, reality is we are incapable of acting on these thoughts because the fact these thoughts initially made us anxious is pure evidence that we are incapable of acting on these thoughts.

peace8 · Post by **peace8** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:56 pm

hi... me just knew that i hv PTSD n this obsessive thoughts probably... so could not advise too well :p

However, i think trusting ownself is very important, we are not mad... n things really happen... we are not crazy but probably somethings happened made us 'panic' n react ...

Yes, smile more and do things that make u happy... i went through alot of thinking ... trying changing self into another person in order to acommodate to what we facing the real whole... but ... at the end i realise... changing myself too much is not helping... as i like myself all the years that I've been and losing self is the worst i think...

So, i m trying to accept some 'facts' and just build confident and constantly remind self to be calm... ha ha, my problem is that i m re-doing, re-checking every thing every work even every paper (probably due to the 'sabotage' that i hv experienced from very long old colleagues, people i knew so long and after i had a trauma, they tried to get me out of job :'( sad isn't it...

But... we have to cheer up, there are still alot of angels around thou we can't live in a world with no devils ^.^

Have faith in urself!

Marco · Post by **Marco** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:39 am

I´ve learned along my recovery, that the key is just letting them be there, as bad as they got, i let them run out of energy... that is the key, accept them and they will go away...

Never forget, it´s just anxiety...
Marco