One of the most commonly discussed symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder is the tendency to get stuck in unpleasant or upsetting thought patterns for extended periods. Patients often say they cannot control these thoughts or break out of the loops, leading to intense frustration, discomfort, and stress.
Fortunately, there are several strategies for dealing with looping thoughts that may help the afflicted regain some measure of control over their obsessive ruminations. Keep reading for a rundown of some ways to keep OCD thought loops at bay, or at least make them easier to manage.
Why Do Thought Loops Occur?
OCD was one of the first psychiatric illnesses to be diagnosed through a brain scan. While brain imaging is still an emerging technology, particularly with regard to its applications to psychiatry and mental illness, there is evidence to suggest that obsessive rumination occurs as a result of hyperactivity in certain regions of the brain.
In a neurotypical brain, the regions that handle decision-making and control over our actions are connected in a cycle called the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic loop. OCD patients show an overabundance of activity in this loop when their brains are submitted to a PET scan. This hyperactivity mirrors the often stressful feeling many OCD patients share of having their thoughts swirling around in a never-ending cycle.
Strategies for Stopping OCD Thought Loops
Dealing with continuously looping thoughts can be exhausting and distressing. Here are some strategies for how to stop OCD thought loops that might help reduce the stress from obsessive rumination.
1. Accept Thoughts Head-On
Rather than pushing upsetting thoughts away, it can be helpful to instead accept the thought and allow it to complete itself. Sometimes, this resolution allows us to move past the idea and on to something new.
2. Focus on a Task
Turning your attention on a simple but engrossing task can be an effective way to slow or stop looping thoughts. Reading, watching television, cleaning, and cooking are all great options.
3. Share Your Thoughts
It’s common to feel shame and fear when grappling with looping thoughts, and these feelings often drive people to keep their thoughts to themselves. However, sharing your ruminations with a trusted friend can help lessen their power and their hold over you, allowing you to feel some measure of relief.
4. Use Humor
Humor can be a terrific weapon against thoughts that bring fear or distress. For instance, if you find yourself constantly imagining losing your job, try to reframe the scenario in a funny way: you’ve lost your job because your boss has turned into a giant duck.
5. Seek Professional Assistance
If your OCD is severely inhibiting you and making it difficult for you to enjoy your life, there are many treatments available that can help address the problem. Meditation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or talk therapy are all options that have been proven to lessen or even banish the symptoms of OCD entirely.
Take Control of Your Thoughts
When it comes to managing your mental health, the important thing to remember is that you’re not alone. If you’re struggling to figure out how to stop OCD thought loops, get in touch with a caring professional as soon as possible.
OCD & CBT
Cognitive behavioural therapy is an effective treatment for OCD disorders. This type of therapy teaches you how to modify the negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to your condition. It also helps you develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Access CBT offer CBT treatment for all types of depressive and anxiety disorder issues with in-person depressionCBT Counselling in LiverpoolorOnline Support
TheNHSUK also offers a number of support groups and advice for those suffering from OCD disorders
