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.
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Selesnya
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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.
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?
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