Medications in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) class are commonly used to treat the symptoms of OCD, according to the American Psychiatric Association. You can find a local support group through the International OCD Foundation and other OCD resources. Peer support and support groupsĪ sense of community may help you navigate obsessive thoughts and other symptoms. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapyįor those living with OCD, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MCBT) may be an effective complementary treatment to exposure therapy and medication, according to a 2018 study involving 125 people with OCD. “For example, for my patient who had a fear of dying in a car crash, exposure would look like gradually increasing the amount of time they spend in the car, driving in unknown places, or driving with a stranger,” he says. “As challenging as it is, exposing yourself to your fears will train your brain to stop obsessing over them,” says Ray Sadoun, a mental health and addiction recovery specialist in London, England. Exposure therapyĪ successful form of treatment for obsessive thoughts and other OCD symptoms is exposure therapy, which involves: If you live with a condition that includes obsessions as a symptom, treatment usually includes a combination of therapy and medication.
#ANXIETY WITH OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS PROFESSIONAL#
Professional treatments that help with obsessive thoughts
“The mind and body are intricately linked, so mental health conditions can also lead to physical health problems like high blood pressure, headaches, digestive issues, muscle aches, chronic pain, and an increased risk of infections,” Shepard adds. These could lead you to experience other challenges such as: In fact, obsessions have the potential to impact your overall sense of well-being and prevent you from enjoying activities, work, or relationships. “People may try to talk themselves out of these thoughts or distract themselves, but obsessive thoughts are not easily short-lived.” Jaclyn Bauer, a clinical psychologist in Ranchos Palos Verdes, California. “These thoughts can range from mild annoyance to all-consuming,” says Dr. What is it like to live with obsessive thoughts? The main difference is that rumination creates a distressing loop about the past, while obsessive thinking may also generate fear about the possibilities of the future. Sometimes, obsessive thinking is similar to rumination, a common feature of those who live with an anxiety disorder. Obsessive thoughts may start as intrusive thoughts, says Shepard, but they’re different in that they’re more intense, frequent, and upsetting. You may start having difficulty sleeping or completing daily tasks. It may be difficult to put these thoughts away. Melissa Shepard, a psychiatrist in Baltimore, Maryland.įor some other people, however, intrusive thoughts become persistent, significantly distressing, and aren’t easily dismissed.įor example, you may constantly think about hurting your ex or their new partner, fear embarrassing yourself in front of them, or dread running into them. “We all have upsetting thoughts that pop into our minds from time to time,” says Dr. You may even be able to avoid these thoughts if you focus on a task or distract yourself with friends and family. But eventually, they decrease in intensity and frequency. These intrusive thoughts may affect your mood and some of your behaviors. They could include a memory that flashes in your mind, or a song that sticks around in your head for a while.įor example, it may be natural to have persistent intrusive thoughts about your ex-partner after breaking up.
Intrusive thoughts are common and, in many circumstances, natural and expected.
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