question about ignoring intrusive thoughts and urges

[carlleo123]

Hope I can explain this properly. I understand that to beat intrusive thoughts and urges is to basically ignore them and not give them any fuel. This is something I find very difficult particularly the urges, but I also realise this is the key to me getting better. I know you should not ruminate, test or carry out compulsions as this makes them seem more important. However, when you have had the thoughts and urges for as long as I have had, and basically have approached trying to get rid of them in all the wrong ways, is it still possible to ignore them? I think my concern is that I have made them so important that they are now too deep rooted in my subconscious if that makes any sense. Any advice and opinions on this would be very much appreciated.

[Saffie]

Yup it definitey is possible, it's just hard work and takes time. You need to reprogram your brain and that takes a lot of perseverance, but it can be done. As well as not fuelling the thoughts, you need to expose yourself to your worst fears. Face them rather than running from them, because they will always catch up with you. Best and most effective way to do this is with a good CBT specialist.

[ocdlost]

I feel the same, so many years.

Edited November 23, 2014 by ocdlost

[carlleo123]

Yeah I do face them saffie to be honest, I so want to run at times but I don't. I've had cbt but I didn't really progress with it but I don't know if my therapist was that great. I think I could do with speaking to a real expert but unfortunately can't afford it so am using self help books at the moment, thanks for the reply

[Guest dimmerswitch]

As Saffie has pointed out, you need to face the intrusive thoughts, but it looks like you already acknowledge this :-)

When you have an intrusive thought/urge, smile to yourself, laugh and think how proud you are to have had the though/urge.

I know this isn't easy, believe me, but it does work.

Don't ignore the thoughts/urges, but don't pany importance to them. Just acknowledge the thought, laugh and move on.

Good luck!

[Guest legend]

Test the thoughts, by doing the things that you don't do, because of ocd

Eg. I have to check the door 30 times, well let's test it then, let's work towards not checking the door, and carry on and allow the thoughts to bonbard

Remember though , thoughts aren't the issue, its ones reactive responses to them that keep the loops going

[gingerbreadgirl]

I personally think "ignore" is the wrong word - you shouldn't be trying to push them away or suppress them (which will only make them stronger), allow them to be there, just don't analyse them or try and figure them out. They're just mental garbage.

You probably get mental garbage hundreds of times a day - you might suddenly get a thought about a holiday you had last year or something. You wouldn't desperately fight this thought because it doesn't cause you any distress - you'd probably just let it waft around for a bit and then your mind would be onto something else. That's your aim with these harm thoughts - not to get rid of them or push them away, just to see them as any other random thought.

[Guest dimmerswitch]

Mental Garbage - Priceless!

[Guest legend]

Mental Garbage - Priceless!

On average 11,000,000 times a day

[ACE]

Hope I can explain this properly. I understand that to beat intrusive thoughts and urges is to basically ignore them and not give them any fuel. This is something I find very difficult particularly the urges, but I also realise this is the key to me getting better. I know you should not ruminate, test or carry out compulsions as this makes them seem more important. However, when you have had the thoughts and urges for as long as I have had, and basically have approached trying to get rid of them in all the wrong ways, is it still possible to ignore them? I think my concern is that I have made them so important that they are now too deep rooted in my subconscious if that makes any sense. Any advice and opinions on this would be very much appreciated.

Hello there Carl pleased to meet you :original: ,well I say about ruminating of course if you can not do it that will be great but try not to get so down if you do find yourself ruminating and you find this very difficult to stop as we know it's certainly never ever easy to do.I know of course during my life and at my most worst I would ruminate non stop even when I wasn't so bad it would still be virtually impossible to do.I think with thoughts the best thing or what I've certainly found very helpful is when they do come let them be try your best not to as much as possible get stuck into them.If you find this tough try not to feel bad or get hard on yourself ok.I find try not to get angry the thoughts are there,try not to give them any real weight as hopefully they will come then go.

But this may not of course be the case as any such thoughts try to get into your head&just stay there&we know the OCD&Anxiety will do what it can to make you go over&over them.If you can possibly get yourself distracted anyway at all possible with something very mindful&of course productive anything to take your mind away from unwanted thoughts that will be great.As we know it takes practice to fully get ourselves into a healthy way of thinking&obviouslyy being quite unwell especially it's quite difficult to master.But I say keep on at it don't stop you will get it right gradually&Eventually trust me :original: .