Some people have not obsessive thoughts, but obsessive feelings, and the principle is similar to the appearance of unwanted thoughts and images. Psychologists sometimes view such extraneous sensations as the result of excessive mindfulness, leading to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this case, there is a desire or need to resist thoughts and observations related to sensations. This issue is also addressed in self-help books for OCD (see, for example, Hershfield, Corboy and Claiborn, 2013).
I think I have an excess of saliva. I keep swallowing. I check to see if there is anything left, and it always turns out that there is a residue; I can’t stop, it drives me crazy. Now, too, it feels like a lump in the throat.
My underwear is bothering me. I can’t find one that fits right.
When I try to sleep, I feel like I should go to the bathroom, even if I’ve just been there. Then I think I won’t be able to sleep if I don’t go again. This can go on for hours.
One friend said that when she looks down, she sees her nose. Now I constantly see my nose, it seems to me that it prevents me from looking properly, and I hate it. Does this happen to anyone else?
When I go to bed, I hear my heart thumping. I can’t relax. I can’t stop counting and listening and worrying about it. I keep getting up to check my blood pressure and pulse. What’s wrong with me?
Restless voice: What’s wrong with me if I can hear my own heartbeat all the time? It’s terribly annoying. I can’t get rid of the idea that this indicates some kind of heart problem.
The voice of false calmness: you do Not need to worry about your heart. You were examined by a doctor two months ago. Don’t think about it. You need to concentrate on some other sound, such as the noise of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Restless voice: But I can’t. I try, but then I think: “What’s wrong with me if I can’t even distract myself?» Then I come to the conclusion that I have a heart problem, or I start to worry that it will never stop and will continue indefinitely. Voice of false calm: Just leave these negative thoughts. I know it can be done. Perhaps if you sing to yourself or turn on the TV, the sound of your heartbeat will not be so audible.
A restless voice: I’ve already tried it, and it didn’t help. I listen all the time to see if I can hear my heart pounding, and then I think it’s better to go check my blood pressure. I realize that this is crazy, so I start to think about what kind of strange person I am if I have such strange problems. Who else could have such difficulties?
Voice of wisdom: believe it or not, but your endless almuslimani is the reason that thoughts become fixated on the sounds. You just need to stop paying attention to them. Let them be. The more often you check your blood pressure and pulse, the more you pay attention to frightening thoughts. Thoughts themselves are not evidence of facts. I suggest you stay focused. And you also need to remember that it’s not the sound itself, but the reaction to it – that’s why it seems so annoying and dangerous.
Restless voice: If I stop paying attention to the sound, how can it help me?
Voice of wisdom: you need to try. Obviously, the old method certainly does not help.
Most of your agony is caused not by what you think or feel, but by how you react to your thoughts and feelings.
Now you have read about various obsessive thoughts. Vivid illustrative examples were given, and often after this, readers ‘ anxiety increases. However, be sure that this disorder is temporary, and you recognize that this is a small price to pay for the benefits of knowing that you are not alone, as well as for being able to identify what type of set of obsessive thoughts you have.
When you see these stories printed, you will already feel somewhat better, no matter what stuck repetitive thoughts are bothering you. People with obsessive thoughts like yours have been able to heal and live a normal life – and this proves that your situation is not as terrible, crazy, or hopeless as it may seem. The next Chapter will look at the myths that need to be debunked – about thoughts in General and obsessive thoughts in particular.