Rumination won’t stop

So I have had OCD for years and am currently in a bit of a relapse , if I were to think back to how I managed to recover (for over 2 years) it’s the wanting it to stop that is making it worse. You have to allow yourself to think about whatever it is you’re worried about. I know ultimately we all want it to go away but it won’t unless you can sit comfortably with it. My therapist once described it as the thought being someone who has knocked on your door, if you leave it out there it’s only going to keep knocking, you have to let them in

Rumination can only increase your anxiety, nothing else. It cannot protect you, or make you safe. Sit down and slowly write down the problem, logically examine it and really ask yourself is this something to be afraid of? Is it a question that even has an answer? Then see if you can just let it go. Trying to solve the problem is the actual problem. Whatever it is you are worried about is not the problem. You can cope with anything. Good luck

I basically have to find a really silly way to agree with the thoughts. Like, “freak yeah dude! I’m so stoked about that happening! I can’t wait to _____!” Usually it’s pretty graphic and gory, and it sucks, but I try to find comedies that reflect the kind of humor that’s needed to respond differently to the content. I have harm OCD, and so I’ll try to incorporate Dale and Tucker versus evil, Chad from SNL and other SNL bits into the intrusive thoughts, and it works pretty well. I’ve also been trying to act super confused in response to the thoughts. Like, what do you mean by I might contaminate them?… What does that even mean? So I should cough in their face, is that what you mean? Stuff like that. I also have been referring to my OCD as Geoffrey from Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Sweet, can’t wait to contaminate everything, so Geoffrey can still have a job! Can’t wait to put things out of order, so Geoffrey can rearrange it. Can’t wait to cheat, so that Geoffrey can be my mistress. You can’t be cheating correctly unless you’re cheating with the butler, right?