What It Is

Dr. Larry Cohen Therapist and Life Coach, Voorhees NJ and Cherry Hill NJ (856) 352-5428 Contact NJ Therapy & Life Coaching

Clients sometimes report having difficulty focusing and paying attention during the day because of recurring negative thoughts that they can’t stop. This problem can also occur when you are trying to fall asleep. You may have reeling thoughts that keep you up at night. Clients have described this problem as hanging from a nail in a wall and being unable to free themselves. Experiencing this can be painful and significantly impact your life.

Worrying and experiencing anxiety is normal. But if your thoughts become obsessive and unshakable, you may need help resolving this problem. I have worked with many clients who have experienced obsessive thinking and NEED effective strategies to help them manage and treat this problem.

How I Treat The Problem

To treat your obsessive thinking, we first work to understand the root cause of these thoughts. Obsessive thinking can be a symptom of an anxiety disorder or other mental health problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. If you are able to uncover why you are suffering from obsessive thinking, you can begin to break free of it.

I use 2 different therapeutic methods to treat obsessive thinking. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has proven to be highly effective in treating this problem. In cognitive therapy, we focus on identifying and challenging your irrational thoughts and replacing them with more rational and realistic ones. In cognitive therapy, you learn to recognize your obsessive thoughts, identify triggers, and work to create a new way of seeing life problems and the worry that can result.

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.