Intrusive thoughts

[Gnelsen02]

What do you do about intrusive thoughts how do you cope with them?

[Pocketpie]

It definitely depends on what type they are. If they are a guilt ride, I have to remind myself that the past is fact, and unchangeable, but that the way that I choose to act in the future is up to me. I remind myself that OCD is lying to me.

If they are thoughts that I might hurt someone I remind myself again that OCD is a liar, and that I love my family and friends; I am not/will not be evil.

If they are thoughts where I have to check on something I allow myself to check it one time, I make a funny noise or say a funny word to mark that moment so that later when my mind goes back and tells me that I've forgotten to do that I remember the funny word that I chose to assign to that moment and can confirm that no, I have already checked and I must believe that it happened and let it go, and remind myself that OCD is lying to me.

If it is a song looping in my head, or a whole host of songs, I choose one song to replace them with, play it over and over in my head until it consumes all of the other songs, and then I enjoy my soundtrack.

If it's a flood of thoughts that are keeping me from falling asleep I keep a notebook by my bed and I just write the thoughts down as they come in order to dodge the fear that I will forget them. It does help me to relax and fall asleep. I also use breathing exercises and muscle exercises to fall asleep. That was one of my biggest struggles, especially as a child, and it probably peaked at the age of 10 where I was getting two or less hours of sleep a night. It took me many years to realize that a list, of all things, was the most helpful. it's also helpful to have a cloud or a drive where you can keep various lists for things. It does not harm anyone to have these lists and it is very calming to know that they are with you so that you can take the thoughts out of your head and put them on paper. Picture that as you do it! Picture yourself extracting the thought and the stress of that thought as you list it.

Contamination fears are my greatest weakness. I have not found a way to successfully overcome that. There are many ways that I deal with my fear of contamination. I obsessively sanitize things. Other than controlled exposure therapies I do not have advice on that topic.

What other types of intrusive thoughts do you have?

[Gnelsen02 in reply to Pocketpie]

Harm revolved

[Mydogb in reply to Gnelsen02]

Hi Gnelsen02 I have harm thoughts what I do is just let the thoughts come and let the anxiety take over then it passes. It works for me it seems so real like you will do it. But we have to remind our selfs it's just a thought and nothing else! Hope this helps.

[OpieD]

My favorite was to say "nice try" and walk away. It's easy once you reach the point of realizing that what you fear will not come to pass if you don't give in. That's the biggest hurdle on the way to a normal life. But it can be done.

Trust who you are.