Intrusive Thoughts

[Maxruff]

Hello, I have chronic PTSD which includes crippling anxiety with intrusive thoughts. The anxiety creates thoughts and then the compulsion aspect seems to be that I do thinking to counter the thoughts. This leads to a cycle where I try to avoid any situation where the thoughts can arise and spend most of my time reading, playing video games, talking to friends - any distraction. It is difficult for me to do chores or other activities that do not require focused concentration. I’m working with an OCD therapist but ERP work has created so much flooding, we have had to back off. I’m really suffering. Panic leading to spirals of depression etc.

Does anyone else have this sort of thinking/avoiding OCD? What has helped you?

[lml885]

I believe I have similar. Only drugs are helpings sounds like you may have dissocciation. I’ve heard naltrexone helps. It can be hard to access. Also enjoying nature and meditation can help

[lml885]

and dealing with the uncomfortable feeling the thoughts bring rather than the thoughts themselves

[Mcfly64]

Maybe at the moment you should cut back a bit on the erp. Are you on any medication?

[deValentin]

Sometimes I felt I couldn't live without settling the problem that was tormenting my mind at the time. So, I had to find a solution no matter what. That took time away from more reasonable activities. Typical of OCD. Stress was my main trigger. It's quasi impossible to avoid stress because stress is part of life, and systematically trying to avoid problems in life only cause another problem. So, avoiding triggers wasn't a viable solution.

My solution to regain some control over my life was to learn to accept a certain degree of uncertainty and that I couldn't solve all problems in life. At the same time, I gave myself a set time to make decisions about activities in which to invest time and efforts. It was good for morale. Tolerating grey areas and living deliberately had the same effect as antidepressants, but without negative side effects. Unwanted intrusive thoughts finally left me reasonably alone. That's the route I followed. I wish you a similar recovery.

[Phoenyx]

I have crippling anxiety when I have intrusive thoughts. Only meditation helps me. I’ve been on Lexapro for more than 10 years. Now I was switched to Venlafaxin. It helps me like nothing else. Good luck

[Sallyskins]

If the ERP is too much, perhaps you should take it at an easier pace. Although stretching and challenging yourself, and teaching yourself to tolerate discomfort, are necessary in order to get better, if you allow yourself (or are forced by your therapist) to get overwhelmed by it, the result can be a setback.

Distraction is a very good technique as intrusive thoughts love a vacuum - if one's mind isn't occupied by anything else, it leaves a gap for intrusive thoughts to jump in! But distraction isn't the whole answer.

There is a book Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts by Sally M Winston and Martin N Self that might help you.

[deezlife]

This is similar to my struggles right now. I tend to avoid any thoughts during the day and once I sit down and start to unwind from the day the mind starts racing. Then I start to bite the inside of my cheeks. I recently go therapy chew necklaces. I hope this helps me. I have advoided telling my therapist because I am afraid of what might happen to me. I am trying to stop on my own.