Another treatment I use to resolve obsessive thinking is Exposure therapy. This involves gradually bringing up your obsessive thoughts and challenging the validity of these thoughts. I describe this as attacking your worry and negative thinking. Doing Exposure therapy allows you to confront your fears and anxieties and reduce the intensity of your obsessive thinking.
Exposure Therapy brings up your Worrisome and anxious thoughts in a controlled way while helping prevent you from engaging in your obsessive thinking. Doing this allows you to recognize that your fear and worry are not as threatening as you believe them to be. One reason why you are having obsessive thoughts is to help you manage your anxiety. But, relying on obsessive thinking to manage anxiety is maladaptive and unhelpful.
Over time, with repeated exposure to obsessive thoughts and practice attacking these thoughts, you will experience a reduction of your maladaptive thoughts. You will also be able to tolerate obsessive thinking and the pain it causes with greater success. Anxiety begins to decrease, and you will begin feeling more control over your fears and anxious thoughts.
However, Exposure therapy can be challenging and may increase anxiety when it begins. it is crucial to remember that the anxiety that comes up during exposure is temporary and a necessary step in overcoming your obsessive thinking.
Self-Care
As with other mental health problems, self-care is an essential part of your recovery. Do things you love with the people in your life. Joyful experiences lead to relaxation and a disengagement from worry and anxiety. Social support is crucial in the treatment of obsessive thinking. Connecting with friends, family, or support groups can make you feel heard. You will meet people who struggle with the same problem, making you feel less alone in your struggle.
Using mindfulness and meditation can also help you to resolve and treat obsessive thinking. By observing your thoughts without judgment or attachment, you can develop a greater sense of awareness and control over your thinking.
You must be patient and not judge yourself as you work to resolve this problem. Resolving this problem can be complex and REQUIRES us to engage in other therapies such as psychodynamic therapy. Here, you work on the underlying reasons that may be driving your anxiety, worry, and obsessive thinking. There is no formula for resolving this problem. However, working with a therapist is essential if you are to recover and retake control of your life.
