Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 1:31 pm
JUST LET THEM COME INTO MY MIND, RELAX, AND TELL MYSELF "THOUGHTS HAVE NOOOO POWER". THEY CANT HURT ME, GOD, OR ANYBODY.
I deal with negative thoughts in different ways. Some I can use the thought stopping technique with. Others, the more bothersome ones, I use the six steps for dealing with panic. I calm my body and my breathing. I talk comfortingly to myself. I accept that I am having intrusive thoughts and try not to give them any more power or space in my mind than I have to.
Another technique I use is to I put off worrying about the thought. (I'll say to myself that I'm going to worry and problem solve about it at 9 p.m.; most of the time I've forgotten by then.)
The program has many useful tools for dealing with obsessive thoughts. It's also helped me to ask myself what I am getting out of continuing to have the thoughts. Figuring that out was a huge key in my recovery.