May 22 in General discussion
Key lesson I learnt that transformed the way i looked at OCD
Swiss psychologist Carl Jung quoted that “what you resist not only persists, but will grow in size"
When i first started to struggle with intrusive thoughts i was resisting them, trying to push them away, questioning the thoughts and fighting with them. I was so scared of my thoughts and i felt like my mind was just coming up with more disturbing things to think about. I felt like a really bad person.
I didn't realize it at the time, but this is exactly what NOT to do. I was actively feeding and strengthening the neural pathways to be more anxious.I was resisting the thoughts and that made them persist longer. There is a better way to work with the mind.
What i was doing.
Intrusive thoughts coming in ----> Anxiety ----> Resistance and Mental Compulsion to the thought (questioning it, seeking reassurance, checking my body etc)
What is best to do:
Intrusive thoughts come in ----> Anxiety ----> No resistance, let the thoughts be there and ACCEPT the anxiety and the thought (it doesn't mean we agree with it, it just means we aren't fighting it)
A way that i have found very helpful to practice accepting uncomfortable intrusive thoughts and uncomfortable anxious feelings is by putting myself in cold water. When im in there i try and relax into it and accept the cold water. Even though it is sometimes really difficult to go in cold water or ice baths i like to train myself to find comfort in the incomfortable. This then helps translate to dealing with OCD and i can better accept, let go and relax into the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings.
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Key lesson I learnt that transformed the way i looked at OCD
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