How do we stop ruminating or obsessive thoughts? #mentalhealth #obsessivethoughts #boundaries

[tonysmith]

Acknowledgment seems to be a big, helpful thing with mental health.

[FriendlyNeighborhoodUnclePete]

I have such a hard time stopping myself from doing this.

[patriciacole]

I have found distance and space from the “noise” has helped me most.

[amygerstle]

Ruminating leads to depression not always easy to stop even with distraction when in the throws of something ❤

[alifetomake]

I switch to the child part of my personality, and do some silly stuff, like dancing, ruining a song or saying ridiculous things with a baby voice. It makes me laugh! Then I switch back to adult, and think about something else. Works a treat!

[janetslater]

I had found that if I would try to forcethose thoughts to stop, it would just make them stronger. I feel like the best thing that I can do is not react, but let them "do their thing, " so that my rationale thinking can finally turn on.

[daniellelight]

Its also Important to have a script that works for you to contradict the rumination.
I’ve found this to be the most effective way to stop thoughts in their tracks. Although it may take time to find a narrative that works for you, even if it’s just along the lines of “I can only control what is in my control and thinking this way is only causing more harm to my mental state”
It has to be something that works for you personally, but once you find the right script I swear you get so much relief from being able to tell yourself a new story about what your brain thinks it is protecting you from.
Rumination is usually your brain’s way of trying to keep you safe, so finding a way to comfort yourself and contradict your thoughts is the only way to ride out those waves

[Hawk_Leigh]

**"STOP STOP STOP"** always lead to me into a panic cause it wouldn't actually stop it, which gave that thought even more power over me.

Now I either do someone along the lines of:

1. Acknowledgement. *"Yup that's a thought alright."*
And sometimes that's enough for it to "feel seen" and go away.
Especially for an intrusive thought, reminding yourself that it isn't "your" thought can be so helpful.

Or an *"okay, this is troubling me. What can I do about this feeling/thought?"* Or *"what could be causing me to think/feel such a way?"*
[Spoiler: You might just be hungry, tired, or maybe you're over-stimulated or you have a headache you haven't quite registered yet]

2. I'll "shake it out of my head"
(quite literally shake/dip my head once or to the side so it can "fall out" of my ears, kinda like how you'd get water out of your ears as a kid ☺️ lol it sounds so silly but it works *so* well. I guess cause it's related to the mindfulness technique of *seeing the thought and just "letting it leave"* like your thoughts are constandly flowing down a river and you just need only to wave and acknowledge them as they float by instead of trying to scoop them up and toss them out of the river (which requires focusing and panicking over them and therfore causing them to stick around longer than they would have)

With the headshake, I feel like I'm just giving them a little push out the door so-to-speak lol. Let 'em fall right out as easy as they popped in uninvited.

3. And sometimes, (especially when all else fails) you just gotta **laugh** at it and make fun of it. It takes the power away from it and it leaves you alone.

Kinda like how you're taught as a kid to deal with a bully. "Don't let them see your reaction and they won't do it anymore" and/or trivialize what they say/do so they feel embarrassed and leave.
Even something as simple as an *"okay Edge lord"* as if they're some angsty teenager in your head telling you to do dumb sh*t or telling your horrible "fun facts" or telling you you're dumb, etc.

It's funny how much less power they'll have if you just laugh at them, and also **maybe give them a little grace** cause they're an angst teen and they're 'going through it' and they really just need love, acceptance, and help. They just don't know how to ask, ya know?

Those are the 3 ways I personally have learned to deal with my intrusive/obsessive thoughts now. It's my own tool kit I've developed even before I was able to get the therapy and help I've needed.
And I hope this helps at least *one* person out there! Cause you're worth it!! And i know it can feel like you're out of control, and there's no e-brake...but you've got this. Someone, somewhere out there know's what you're going through (it me, hi my name's Leigh 👋😅💕) and I believe in you. Even if you don't believe in you right now, *i* do. Take things One Step, One Thought, One Victory at a time.

Don't give up! ❤❤

[themoonandthesea]

Recently i decided when i catch myself having intrusive thoughts i will start wishing i was eating lobster dinner instead. If you believe in manifestation those bad thoughts are wishes that could cost you.

Im going on an actual trip to the beach in a few days so i think its working ✨

[dcraexon]

Simon Says … red light green light kick the can

[Aps-tfte]

Bible says "take every thought captive"

[profhscomchannel]

Would love some citations of the research you are referring to. Thank you

[tinatvarelashvili]

Doesn’t work at all. Saying i don't want to engage with it means ignoring bad thought, not caring about it
And THAT'S EXACTLY what's impossible 😅 that's what we need help for, to stop caring about it, so they say : method to not care is to stop caring

Come on that's what we can't do