How do you manage obsessive thoughts?

[SR2727]

I was wondering if anyone is comfortable talking about how they manage their obsessive thoughts? This is one of the things I struggle with alot. I have intrusive thoughts than then turn obsessive. Mostly it's about my past and the mistakes I've made so I'm left feeling immense shame which heightens my anxiety and then in turn makes the thoughts more obsessive. Sometimes I also get these thoughts about other people and the things they've done. It can be upsetting and will detract from my time with that person because I'm preoccupied with these obsessive thoughts. Currently, I'm doing slightly better at managing these but I don't know anyone else who experiences this so have only been able to find some advice from online sources (I felt my therapist was not too helpful in this case). Is anyone comfortable sharing how they manage this?

[davidthecoder]

This is actually a huge challenge for me as well, so I am very interested to see what others have to say. These thoughts can be quite intrusive, and often interrupt me when I am trying to do productive work.

I have noticed that my OCD is very much related to stress levels. More stress, more obsessive thoughts. So I really focus on reducing stress as much as possible. For me that means daily meditation practice.

Thanks for posting this question!

[SR2727 in reply to davidthecoder]

This is a really good point, I definitely have worse obsessive thoughts during stressful times. I guess meditation can be really powerful for that!

[wittsend0]

The repeating tape in my head, needs to be sidetracked. For me that is workign with my hands or reading something that is mindless. NO Buiness books, no educational , nothing to promote remembering . Just entertainment to break the thought train.

[SR2727 in reply to wittsend0]

Similarly, I find that when I'm busy at the gym, doing art, playing games etc I can distract myself enough from the obsessive thoughts for a while. My problem is when it comes to sleep, the thoughts keep me from sleeping well 😔

[wittsend0 in reply to SR2727]

I read using the kindle app on my apple iPhone with the Screen image reversed so it is light print on dark background and lit very dimly. Again reading something I dont have to remember or think about. A lot of YA antics. Nonsense, allows me to fall asleep while reading. I know to kill it off when I knod off a couple of times. If I wake up thinking again, I read again . I'm basiclally self medicating with reading. And costco Sleeping pills. But it’s the reading that breaks the runaway train of thoughts.

[SR2727 in reply to wittsend0]

I've just bought some sleeping pills, last night was a horrible night of tossing and turning ☹️

[Rafael_]

As someone who's in a pretty bad OCD phase, sometimes you have to stop letting your inner critic from dwelling on those regrets and wrong, and escalating anxiety/lashing out, owning yourself from those times in the present is the only thing most of us can do. Logic defeats anger. We live what we learn, and I like to think of improving my next moment when this anxiety event comes to mind. Some tools like deep-breathing and using less offensive thoughts or wording can help sedate that anger. When it comes to other people, I'd realize on my own that nobody can read your mind despite the harms done to you, letting them present in your mind is working against you. Actively talking and spending time with people you like can remind you of them and stop letting them from affect you.

[SR2727]

"Logic defeats anger" - I love this, so powerful!

[mizzou7016]

Oh my goodness where to begin....one of the main sources of my PTSD/Anxiety is what we call Cognitive Distortions.....there are many aspects of this....the main parts for me are hypervigilance and Catastrophising....Hypervigilance is always being "100% on alert" Always having plans if things go south...such as escape routes....always being where i can see pretty much at least a 300 degree semi circle around me.....sitting in a position where nobody can be behind me, always scanning the room for 'threats" etc.....catastrophising is just that.....looking and creating a catistrophic situation for anything that happens...you know.....always hoping for the best outcome......but being "realistic" in your mind and knowing that things are going to go south and i'll be prepared to handle them....My work has created a lot of this.....for me i just have to remind myself that 1) I am not at work....and 2) not everyone has bad intentions

[SR2727 in reply to mizzou7016]

It's definitely a difficult thing to experience. I can empathise with the catastrophising - I will obsess over past mistakes and start believing that everyone secretly hates me and will leave me in the end. I try to logically think my way out of the thoughts but it's so hard to do, especially at night when I'm trying to sleep 😞

[wittsend0 in reply to mizzou7016]

Holy crap you just defined issues Ididnt know I had.

[mizzou7016 in reply to wittsend0]

I've done a lot...and I mean a lot of research over the last 2 years trying to figure out this side of what makes me tick....It's quite interesting...the link below has more cognitive distortions and what they mean.....

verywellmind.com/cognitive-...

[wittsend0 in reply to mizzou7016]

All to close to home...

[wittsend0]

HI, for me, it has to be light text on dark background with the Light level set very low. Next it has to be something I dont really have to think about. Which allows me to turn off the perpetual worry running a muck in my brain. YA does the job. Typically if I start to pass out a couple times while reading its time to sleep the device and close my eyes for the night. Its all about stopping the freigt train in my head by focusing on something else.

[wittsend0]

Mindless.... YA Fantasy,

[Nothing_but_books]

For me, audio books help me sleep. I drift off listening. All works well, I think even my sleeping mind is soothed by what I'm hearing.

One night, however, I went to sleep listening to a novel by Stephen King: I remembered it as primarily a detective story. Oops, I forgot one little scene... I woke at the end of Chapter One, screaming. Won't do that again... I hope.