Avoiding Anxiety Triggers

When it comes to avoiding anxiety triggers, approach them in the same way you would if you had a physical injury: understand what's causing the pain and stop that, do specific exercises to recover from the injury, and then gradually but consistently reintroduce the trigger, learning to embrace it in a healthy way so you don't run into the same problems again in the future.

[WoundedGlory]

Your 4 minute video has taught me more about myself than 13 years of therapy. Thank you.

[marciano]

Seriously almost anything triggers my anxiety at this point I dug myself so deep

[ocdtreatmentclinic]

I am an OCD specialist . The videos are great Mark, Great work

[everybodyhasabrain]

Thanks for checking out the videos! Struggling with judgments about what's "real" can throw up a lot of barriers. I found it useful to just ditch "real" and focus instead on healthy actions, regardless of whether a worry seemed "real" or not. You might find my videos on being irrationally healthy and false/real memories helpful. All the best on this journey!

[everybodyhasabrain]

Thanks! ERP is great but I'd need to know more to explain how you can use it here. I'd also suggest Acceptance. A big part of what's going on is that you're attaching meaning to things. For example, if I believe blue skies are a "problem", I'm going to get very upset every day I see a blue sky. But I attached that meaning to blue skies. Often with OCD we attach labels to things, judge those labels, and then react to those judgements. Learning to accept things as they are is tremendously helpful.

[gavinduggan]

Constantly a source of wise support. Thanks Mark once again

[Jazzzzer]

Thanks for sharing your videos-Mark!! Very enjoyable!! I have been suffering from ocd and severe depression for about 40 years. I am working thru the OCD workbook and with a therapist with CBT.ERP, but as you know, OCD is an extremely "Tricky/Clever opponent". :) The "Beast" in my head keeps telling me that this latest obsession is Real, unlike the others that "Imprisoned me". It has me "Constantly in horrific pain/panic attacks", unable to concentrate. It's one "Hellish nightmare", but hopeful.

[everybodyhasabrain]

Thanks a lot. That's great you have your brother there to help you. And congratulations on 2 years of sobriety! Keep truckin'!

[everybodyhasabrain]

Thanks so much for the message! That's fantastic. I'm really glad you've found it useful. I use The Hammer for every compulsion I run into as well so keep smashing away with it as you move along on this journey.

[MohammedAqar]

Confronting your fears and anxiety triggers is the most effective solution for anxiety recovery.

[HeatherRiderCoaching]

Love the throwing analogy and learning to throw differently. Super helpful!

[everybodyhasabrain]

We don't do healthy things to be successful in beating OCD. That's a similar thought process to somebody who checks the doorknob to be safe, or checks how they feel towards their partner to be certain they're in love, or washes obsessively to be certain they're clean, etc. That thought pattern: "IF I DO X THEN Y" is the problem. So break it. Just do healthy things to do them. Doing them is success, not the outcome.

[tinisterr]

Very helpful video. Im from northwest USA and did I pickup on a Canadian accent? Just wondering :)) thankyou

[Jazzzzer]

Hi Omar-I have the same "Obsession" with Guitar Amplifiers. I am a Professional Jazz guitarist. The OCD Workbook-Bruce Hyman has been very helpful to me. You list your "Triggers/annoying poison" tugs, and in my case-I used Imaginal Exposure-recorded a tape with my voice, of a Horrific situation if the amp failed on the gig. Listen to it 45 minutes per day for one month while obstaining from thinking the disturbing thoughts. Refrain from Reassuring yourself at All Costs-that's what the beast want

[XmasGhost]

Triggers! My house is a minefield. There are so many triggers.

[peterhung]

And I see these people every day, I have been on sleeping tablets for a many years, please give advice Peter Hung

[joshboydguitar]

Thank you so much for your videos. You are so positive and encouraging

[Jazzzzer]

Thanks for the response Mark!! You and your Videos are Extremely helpful!! I watch one or two a day...and let them digest, naturally. :) My Twin brother has OCD, as well. He works with me "daily", as he has his "Manageable". It's tough for me to get thru ea day. I'm Tough, tho!! I freed myself(2 years Totally Sober) from Alcohol, which I used to "Self-medicate", as I see is common to help with the Pain and Suffering-but not a good idea.
Good Luck in All your Journeys, pal!! :) Keep on Truckin!!

[susieq]

Hey Mark. In the video you quoted "sometimes it may be healthy to stop anxiety triggers for a while." Could this be said too for when I was trying to talk to people so much? I thought the stress was because I wasn't taking to people so I'd force myself and when I felt anxious I'd try even harder but nothing seemed to work. So for like two weeks I haven't been talking to people and a little quiet, really only talking when I truly had something to say. I've stopped reacting to the "talk!!" thoughts. Now I'm slowly bringing back me initiating conversations (I wasn't doing it for those 2 weeks) but it's been much less stressful. Do you think this could be said for any value we may be compulsively engaging, if we are pushing ourselves too hard to take a step back and give ourselves space?

[kylenash]

Hey Mark, massive thanks for your vids. Recently the ocd has come up on people, particularly a few friends faces. "Can I see them properly?" "Can I see how they look?" etc Feeling like I need to judge or know some crucial thing about there face or how  they look. Its tough as with other things like looking in the mirror or checking the stove, I know to embrace the fear and walk away. But here I have to keep looking at them to engage conversation etc, (As you normally would!). But I keep trying to check if I can "See them".  Is very hard to stop myself and has been making me Ill. Its like me showing you the number 22 and saying ok look at the number again but don't check what it says. Seems impossible! :/ How do I not check but look at something at the same time?