Interrupting compulsions: I ran across... - My OCD Community

My OCD Community

8,947 members3,460 posts

Interrupting compulsions

Selesnya profile image
7 Replies

I ran across these articles today with advice on how to stop engaging with your compulsions when your obsessive thoughts start:

shalanicely.com/power/shoul...

shalanicely.com/thoughts/in...

This seems to be exactly what I've heard other people say about not engaging with OCD, but it goes into much greater detail on how to actually do this. I am really interested to start with the "may or may not" statements. I don't know you actually get to the point to believing what you say. I guess I'll see what happens.

Written by
Selesnya profile image
Selesnya
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
7 Replies
Selesnya profile image
Selesnya

OK, so here's my problem right now with this approach.

At work I'm trying to do a task where I have to think carefully, but it should be quick, like 5 minutes or so. As soon as I start working my OCD tells me that I can't do this task and that I will fail. I will never be able to succeed at my job. I will get fired. I will never get better. I can't conquer my OCD. I try to engage with statements agreeing with these thoughts. Maybe I will be able to do this, and maybe I won't. Maybe I really won't get better. Maybe I will get fired, maybe I won't. The noise in my head is too much to actually concentrate on what I need to do while I am making these statements. If my thoughts quite down a bit and I'm able to start working on my task, then that is enough to stir up the thoughts again and make it so that I can't actually do my task. I've been trying to do this five minute task all day long. I need to get it done today or tomorrow because it needs to be done before I'm on vacation next week (and then I have three more five minute tasks to do). Is there anything to do other than to keep trying? This all feels so futile.

Selesnya profile image
Selesnya in reply to Selesnya

Well, I did my best to work on this, and I was able to get my 5 minute task done finally. I had to give up the expectation that my thoughts would quiet down and that I would be able to concentrate fully. I just had to do my best and accept the possibility that I might fail because I can't concentrate as much as I would like to be able to do. Now to see if I can do this three more times.

Thank you, Selesnya, for sharing these links. I will look at them more when I have some extra time. They look really good. Has anyone read "Is Fred in the Refrigerator?" or other good books written by authors who actually have OCD?

Selesnya profile image
Selesnya in reply to

I haven't read Is Fred in the Refrigerator, but I just requested it from the library. The reviews of it all seem very positive.

in reply to Selesnya

That would be great if you'll let us know what you think about it.

reshon profile image
reshon

Good articles,thank you

philoso profile image
philoso

thank u for sharing these links selesnya.these links are very inspiring.

You may also like...

Resisting Compulsions

horrible murderer OCD tells me I am and that other people struggle with the exact same thing. But I...

HOCD, How to stop the urge for compulsions?

type is killing from the start. Actually before HOCD, I thought nobody is actually lesbian or gay...

Intrusive thoughts and the compulsions

to get my OCD a bit under control beforehand. Apart of my OCD are intrusive thoughts saying \\"If...

Puzzling/Analyizing Compulsions

have the type of OCD where the compulsions are analyzing and puzzling of scary thoughts to prevent...

How can I educate myself on OCD & overcoming it without it becoming a compulsion?

books and articles about OCD will turn into a compulsion. Does anyone have any tips or know how I...