How does one deal with excessive intrusive thoughts ?

@Mrcheeku

I recently learned that even though the mind cannot be free from the constant "noise" of our thoughts there is a way to step back into a quieter spot in the back of our minds where we won't feel as "in the middle of everything" or feeling like we need to react to those thoughts. First step is to aknowledge that we don't need to control whatever enters our mind because we are not our thoughts, we are how we choose to respond to them. When we place ourselves in the back of our minds instead of in the middle of the "noise" we can let events happen and pass us by as an observer of that event without holding onto the feeling that being in the middle and reacting would give us. As the persistant thoughts are no longer right in your face it's easier to say, "It's okay to be having this thought. This thought and the anxiety being present will not last forever," making some space for that to happen and gently bringing your focus back to your breathing. Gradually even the most persistent thoughts should occure less and less as you're practice of accepting their existance without fighting against or holding onto them.

I also learned a while back that the mind doesn't have a subconscious understanding of negative words like "don't" or "avoid" or "stop" but will aim for the thing you are focussing on even when you want the opposite of that to happen; so when making an effort to stop doing something it is more effective to focus on the opposite or feeling the result of success would feel like to help the subconscious be more attracted to the correct thing.

Moving this to our shiny, new OCD / BFRB forum! :)