Mindfulness disarms anxiety every time you practice it. Here’s a gentle reminder from OCD Educator, James Callner on how to practice it.
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Turn your negatives into positives by taking the risk to face your fears. That’s how we teach our brains we are stronger, braver more courageous than we think. We truly are.
7 days ago
Self-talk
Any qualified therapist will teach you about "self-talk". Why is it so important to have some kind of dialog with yourself when you are struggling with OCD symptoms? Well, before I answer that from my own perspective, let me ask you a question. Have you ever had a positive or nurturing obsession and/or compulsion caused by OCD? My answer is, never. Obsessions that have led me to compulsions have always been negative in some way. In my experience with recovery, self-talk is countering the negativity that OCD delivers. Even if you don't fully believe the words you are saying to yourself, your subconscious will still follow your lead. Examples: OCD says; you are going to panic right now. You counter with self-talk, I've been here before and I handled it, so go ahead and bring it on. OCD says; You may harm someone with that thought. You counter with self-talk; Nice try OCD, but that's not who I am. I have higher values than your bizarre obsessions. OCD says; you have to wash your hands or you will be contaminated. You counter with self-talk; I don't have to do anything you say because I'm in control here, not you! When OCD nags me with negativity or challenges, my own self-talk always leads me to these words - " yeah, yeah, yeah, heard it before but I ain't going down that road today." Now you tell me which feels more like recovery, self-talk or OCD babble? I choose positive, nurturing, encouraging self-talk. Takes practice but really works. JC <3
1 week ago
How do we get rid of unwanted thoughts? I'm asked this question a lot from OCD sufferers. Hey, I've asked it of myself. In my experience and knowledge of how OCD works, it's really the wrong question to ask. The question should be; how do I take the power out of unwanted thoughts. OCD seemingly produces bizarre and many times horrible thoughts, attacking our morals and values. In my view, the thoughts become stronger because we are highly sensitive creative people and the right side of our brains, or inventive hemisphere is highly active. Listen, even Steven Spielberg or George Lukas couldn't come up with the abstract thoughts and story-lines we do. Our left hemisphere, or analytical brain, seems to dim down a bit when these awful thoughts come in. Our job is to identify them as OCD or bully thinking and ignore them for what they are until they burn out. The thoughts are not you, they are OCD trying to make you perceive yourself as bad. You are not. Remember, these bully thoughts try to invade your morals and principals. I always ask myself, am I going to give this bully any power? The answer is always, no. And the way I persistently do it is to identify and ignore. Bullies want attention, they burn out when you don't give it to them. JC <3
3 weeks ago