[newtobipolar]

One thought. It is almost constant. I am bipolar, and I feel enormous regret that I was diagnosed later in life. I feel like my kids got screwed out of having a good mother. I never hit them, did drugs, got arrested, or anything. I was always here, but not here, if that makes any sense.

Anyway, It has been 3-4 days and I can't shake the thought!!!!!

What can I do?

I make myself busy by cleaning, washing, cooking, creating something, reading, going for a walk or a long drive, and (not recommended) drinking and daydreaming.

[TishaBuv]

It sounds to me like you were a good mother.

[Skeezyks]

Hello newtobipolar: In an effort to allay intrusive thoughts, the Skeezyks employs a Buddhist practice called "compassionate abiding". This involves simply allowing the intrusive thought to come forward... breathing into it... perhaps even smiling to it. Sometimes I will even place my hand over my heart as a sign of lovingkindness & compassion for it. After a few breaths, I then drop the "story line" & simply continue to stay with the underlying emotion... be it fear, anxiety, grief or whatever.

Two things happen when we employ this practice. First, very gradually over time, the strength & frequency of intrusive thoughts wanes. But second, & perhaps more important, is that we learn we can stay with difficult thoughts & emotions without losing our balance... our equanimity. Here is a link to a mental –health-oriented description of the practice of compassionate abiding:

https://mindsetdoc.wordpress.com/201...e-abiding-101/

May it be of benefit...

[AlphaAlpha]

I have some OCD material in PDF format that I can send to your e-mail if you provide it to me if you'd like. The material has been put together by a man that was a long time sufferer of OCD that decided to turn his hardships into a form of helping people. It has helped me quite a bit.

Just let me know. (I can also send the material to anyone reading this too if someone else is interested)

While keeping that in mind here is a little question that will allow you something to focus on....

If you step up to home plate to bat would you focus on the pitcher or first baseman? Why?
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[CobolCapsule]

Time helps with my obsessive thoughts. I can obsess about something for a few days to a few weeks, and usually it goes away eventually.

If you step up to home plate to bat would you focus on the pitcher or first baseman? Why?

Not quite sure i can make sense of this question. A batter should be focusing on the ball leaving the pitchers hand.

[AlphaAlpha]

Originally Posted by CobolCapsule

Time helps with my obsessive thoughts. I can obsess about something for a few days to a few weeks, and usually it goes away eventually.


Not quite sure i can make sense of this question. A batter should be focusing on the ball leaving the pitchers hand.

Exactly. So you would agree that you should have your focus initially on the person pitching, correct?

[CobolCapsule]

Exactly. So you would agree that you should have your focus initially on the person pitching, correct?

Yes...my focus would be on the pitcher, and then once contact is made my focus is on running fast to first base.

[AlphaAlpha]

Originally Posted by CobolCapsule

Yes...my focus would be on the pitcher, and then once contact is made my focus is on running fast to first base.

Yes, that's correct.

[northernstorm]

I havent found a solution yet.
My 3yr old son was killed in a tragic accident a year and half ago, I happened to be in er at the time of his arrival. The worst longest day of my life.
I am obsessed with watching vehicle accidents on YouTube. Not because I enjoy it or anything. But since his accident I have this almost unbearable fear that I too will die in a vehicle accident. I still haven't figured out why I watch them

[TishaBuv]

I've had obsessive thoughts about certain things for years. I allowed myself to obsess. I even reached out to the other person the obsession involved, which was very helpful. I confessed I had these pointless, obsessive thoughts. Now, I've gotten it out of my system. I still think the thoughts, although much less, but I don't feel sad, empty, and incomplete any more.

I also spent a lot of time thinking about why I obsessed in the first place. It had to do with low self esteem and rejection and probably the loss of my father.

There was no way I was going to stop those thoughts. The only way was to allow myself to work through them.