What are some tips & techniques on how to control/reduce my OCD unwanted thought!
Question: This really interferes with my daily life, & it's disabling. I can no longer stay in school or perform any employment tasks because of it. When I try to concentrate or focus on something, or when I'm angry, the thoughts become worse. I can't even concentrate on reading or counting money anymore because of this. I can't hold a conversation with anyone anymore-& it's even worse with a phone conversation, & EVEN WORSE if it's a BUSINESS phone conversation. My doctor told me I'm @ the MAX dosage of my Luvox. I can't even enjoy listening to music without the thoughts popping up. & with my Tourette's Syndrome, I find myself accidentally blurting out the thoughts, & people think I'm crazy. When talking to my friend, I have to pause every 3 words per sentence in a conversation to let the unwanted thought pass through. & I've been EXTREMELY forgetful-especially recently. Good thing she is the only one who has patience with talking to me. Other people get turned off really easily.
Answers: This really interferes with my daily life, & it's disabling. I can no longer stay in school or perform any employment tasks because of it. When I try to concentrate or focus on something, or when I'm angry, the thoughts become worse. I can't even concentrate on reading or counting money anymore because of this. I can't hold a conversation with anyone anymore-& it's even worse with a phone conversation, & EVEN WORSE if it's a BUSINESS phone conversation. My doctor told me I'm @ the MAX dosage of my Luvox. I can't even enjoy listening to music without the thoughts popping up. & with my Tourette's Syndrome, I find myself accidentally blurting out the thoughts, & people think I'm crazy. When talking to my friend, I have to pause every 3 words per sentence in a conversation to let the unwanted thought pass through. & I've been EXTREMELY forgetful-especially recently. Good thing she is the only one who has patience with talking to me. Other people get turned off really easily.
Try the following:
1) Slow down your thought process as far as possible
2) Try eating a bowl of oatmeal. Add 1 teaspoon of ground flaxseed to it.
3) Breathing exercises, yoga, meditation
4) Jogging
5) Set aside a few minutes during the day where you are allowing yourself to not think about anything. Just sit and relax and be cool. Let go. Otherwise, I have come accross something called Focussed thinking or something like that. Find a point or a spot on a wall or something and just focus on that. Focus on trying to think about the spot only. Nothing else. Your mind should have nothing in it besides the spot.
6) Hypnosis tapes
7) Listen to audio tapes, dealing with topics that interest you. They will help you relax, and focus on what the tape deals with, the extra thoughts will gradually subside...
8) Listen to soothing music. For me I find that music with a touch of sadness helps.
9) Try keeping your self going throughout the day at a steady pace. In other words, "train" your mind little by little to get rid of those thoughts. An hour the first day, 2 hours the second day, 3 hours the third day and so on...
10) Also, I think this has a little to do with ADHD as well. Whenever you get those thoughts, immediately divert the topic and/or think of something good. Or whenever you get those thoughts STOP, wait for a while, then move on with the next thing that you were doing...
11) Lastly are you angry at anybody? Angry/bored/nervous/overworked/stressed.... I find that when I get rid of these feelings, I feel better. I think that its these feelings that in one way or the other get expressed like this.