Interrupting compulsions

[Selesnya]

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.

[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 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.

[Hidden]

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 in reply to Hidden]

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.

[Hidden in reply to Selesnya]

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

[reshon]

Good articles,thank you

[philoso]

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