My two helpful thoughts I substitute

[Guest Eiko]

I used to have a more general anxiety about work and I would go over and over all the things that might go wrong with a client. I found saying to myself "I don't need to rehearse any more." Helped. It told me I knew what I was doing and whatever came up, I would deal with it.

Now, with the OCD, when my fears pop up, I have started saying "maybe, maybe not." This tells me that maybe my worst fear is about to come true and I'll deal if it has, but maybe everything is fine.

[Guest PalaeontologyLover]

I don't know I've always been told thought substitution is a compulsion and unhealthy but then again I used to try and substitute new fears and thoughts with old, lesser fears. If you really feel they help I can't see why not. I always find just thinking of the thoughts as paper that I'm going to scrumple up and throw away helps

[Andrea]

I really like those 2 thoughts Eiko!!!

I think the second one is great.. to fight against OCD

Andrea

[taurean]

I have been pushing the concept of treating thoughts with indifference so the second thought works well with that.