Quote:
Originally Posted by melissa.recovering
What you posted is the exact opposite of what I used to overcome my intrusive, OCD-related thoughts.
I was taught to open myself to all thoughts, not judging them or trying to avoid them. (It's like trying to not think of a pink elephant once you think about it...the more you push, the more it pushes back!) My psychologist and I would meditate together, and I'd also meditate alone...letting my thoughts flow by without judgement.
It was very difficult to face the intrusive thoughts, but the more I exposed myself to them, the less scary they became. Your method seems like the exact opposite of what my psychologist would have recommended.
And I'm talking about Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)...you've probably heard of it before. What you describe is EXACTLY what I used to do before getting therapy...and 4 hospitalizations later, I realized that it wasn't working!
Not saying that it won't work for someone, but your method definitely didn't work for me.
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Since you typed exactly what I was thinking, I'm just gonna say "ditto!"
I'm still struggling with NOT labeling my thoughts...it's something I've done all my life, and it's very hard to unlearn, very hard to let myself not be critical or "yell" at myself for having certain thoughts.
Acceptance is so very, very hard, but I am seeing progress, and that's what's important to me.