Sync Posted August 25, 2018 Share Posted August 25, 2018 So, here's a funny one. I have repeating thoughts, pretty much all the time. Like I'll think a sentence, and then the sentence will repeat in my head some number of times. And then I'll think another one, and that one will repeat. It just happens, it's like I have no control over it at all. The funny thing is that it's not an obsession. There's no fear component at all. It's not even uncomfortable, just profoundly annoying. So there's nothing to attach my ERP methods to. I can't tolerate a fear I don't have. My pdoc said this was an OCD symptom, but I can't find any information on it. Is anyone familiar with this at all? I've mentioned it to my tdoc, but I'm not seeing an OCD specialist right now so he doesn't know much about this symptom. I'm hoping there's a meditative or therapeutic treatment for this particular symptom because so far my DBT and ERP skills are doing nothing. It really is annoying as all hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted August 25, 2018 Share Posted August 25, 2018 This happens to me too - not all the time, but not infrequently. I also get stuck on having to repeat particular thoughts out loud over and over again. Same as you - no anxiety or anything, it just happens. I do not know the solution though I typically try to mindfully note it and then just keep going about my business while just allowing it to happen. The more I focus on it, the longer it lasts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 I have a stuck thought myself. It is my main problem. I obsess over it. For years... The same two words. It annoys me that I think these two words all the time because I don't want this thought in my head. It doesnt make me anxious though i have the fear that this problem will never go away. I don't have the classic Pure O...I can relate better to sensimotoric ocd actually. It seems like perseverance (for example getting stuck on names or words) is a known issue with autistic people. It also had similarities with 'earworms': pieces of music you hear in your head and which keep repeating itssel. Have you ever heard of the ironic process theory? The white polar bear effect? If you don't want to think of something then you start thinking about it all the time. I think I have this in the extreme. I sometimes get stuck on words or names. They don't mean anything. I try not to worry because the word or name isn't important to me. Most of the time, the stuck thought will go away on its own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabagaba Posted August 28, 2018 Share Posted August 28, 2018 i have words or phrases or say,names of actors invade my head- They actually do cause me to feel anxious-simply because they are out of nowhere and so so maddening... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sync Posted September 4, 2018 Author Share Posted September 4, 2018 @tryp thanks, I've been trying a combination of mindfulness and radical acceptance with them, and it does seem to be helping a bit. Getting furious at them only seems to make them intensify. It is so completely maddening and I've been thinking about ERP mostly because it's an OCD symptom, so I've been furiously searching for a fear and/or trying to stop the thoughts with direct willpower and it's been completely counterproductive. DBT seems to be more the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rainman56 Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 I can somewhat relate...I pretty much ruminate on something all the time for the most part whether it be a project I'm working on or something bothering me...When it's something positive or maybe a song I get no anxiety from it...If it's something negative it becomes a big problem...Still haven't found a way to handle the pure O at it's worst Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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