Recognizing Obsessional Thinking and Best Way to Start Treatment

[Freckles]

First of all, I wanted to say thanks to everyone here who flooded me with support this weekend! It was my first time here and it helped me so much to have people who truly care and want to share their experiences and knowledge. So a big thanks!

I have decided to seek treatment for the obsessional thinking and anxiety. So I'm actually starting to get excited about the possiblity of living free of this or at least learning to manage it for my well-being and my family's.

My question is, until my appointment comes up next month how do I recognize obessional thinking? Sometimes, when a question comes forth that I want to ask my spouse, I feel as though I can't remember if I've asked him that question before and then I feel that I begin to rationalize asking him things. I know this can't be easy for him and I'm really trying hard to refrain from questioning.

Also, what are some methods that I can pull forth until my therapist appointment? I know when I go they will be able to give me techniques and counsel but I'm wondering if refraining from questioning and old habits is a good thing to do. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Is there anything that seems healthy to try that isn't like methods that I might come up with alone? My GP gave me some Celexa for anxiety but the side effects were too much to bare. They didn't actually increase the anxiety but they brought forth things that I haven't been feeling like troublesome thoughts of hurting others or myself. They advised me to stop them until after the holidays when I can talk with a specialist.

Thanks!

 

[Banned]

Re: Recognizing Obsessional Thinking and Best Way to Start Treatment?

Hi Freckles,

Good job on getting some help for this. I've experienced both anxiety and obsessional thinking and I know they are not fun. I did take meds for the anxiety and it helped quite a bit.

You can check out the CBT resources here if you're looking for some help between now and your first appointment.

 

[Daniel E.]

Re: Recognizing Obsessional Thinking and Best Way to Start Treatment?

Also, the book Brain Lock, outlined here, is highly recommended for dealing with obsessive thinking. Since the book -- at least in passing -- mentions repetitive questioning, you may want to pickup a copy. The book is available at many libraries. (There is also an abridged audio version available from libraries and Audible.com, but the audio version doesn't mention repetitive questioning. I like the audio version since it's read by the author in a rather passionate way.)

 

[Daniel E.]

Some info on recognizing the irrational, anxious thinking that may also be obsessive:

Isn’t doubt often a good thing that serves us well?
Absolutely. That’s why it’s so important to understand the differences between the two distinct forms of doubt that we all battle: doubt based on intellect, and doubt based on fear.

Intellect-based doubt is what we might call “healthy” doubt. It stems from our innate inquisitiveness, human curiosity, and natural inclination to challenge the apparent. It is based on reason, logic, and rational deduction, and it definitely serves us well. It’s this form of doubt that prompts us, for example, to avoid crossing a busy street when we’re not sure whether we can make it to the other side before the flashing “don’t walk” light changes.

Fear-based doubt, on the other hand, is uncertainty based not on reason, logic, and rational deduction, but rather on emotional, black-and-white, and catastrophic thinking. This form of doubt tends to be especially consuming, and when we’re stuck in it, we often lose perspective. We might, for example, decide that we should never cross a street (even with the light), because we once heard about a freak accident in which a pedestrian was killed while crossing a street legally, and we’ve become consumed by a “what-if” question such as What if I too am hit while crossing the street?

How can we know which kind of doubt is driving our decision-making?
Ah, that is often a very difficult question to answer, especially given that the very same fear-based doubt that can distort our thinking is also quite adept at masquerading as intellect-based doubt. Over the years, I have learned to ask five questions that, together, serve as a helpful starting point for deciding what’s driving any particular doubt:

1. Does this doubt evoke far more anxiety than either curiosity or prudent caution?
2. Does this doubt pose a series of increasingly distressing “what if” questions?
3. Does this doubt rely on logic-defying and/or black-and-white assumptions?
4. Does this doubt prompt a strong urge to act — or avoid acting — in a fashion others might perceive as excessive, in order to reduce the anxiety it creates?
5. Would you be embarrassed or frightened to explain your “what if” questions to a police officer or work supervisor?

If you answer Yes to these five questions, chances are pretty good that your vantage point is somewhere within what I call The Shadow of Doubt.

Living with Uncertainty - Interview with Jeff Bell

Regarding anxiety more generally:

What is worry, and how does it differ from anxiety?
Anxiety involves fight-or-flight arousal. This is a natural, “hard-wired” response that all animals have. Its purpose is to help us to respond to a crisis or problem that is right in front of us, an immediate threat. Worry is a verbal process, unique to humans, where we use our minds as a time machine, traveling into the future to encounter problems and threats that are not here yet. What makes worry different from simply planning for the future is that we are triggering this fight-or-flight response. Since the crisis has not yet arrived, and may never actually show up, this arousal can hang around for long periods of time. This can lead to health problems, difficulty getting things done, relationship stress, and other troubles.

It is natural to worry about certain things. At what point does worry become excessive?
Yes, occasional worry is natural. This is especially true when we are undergoing major life events or transitions. Worry only becomes a serious problem when it becomes a way of life, causes health problems, or interferes with our relationships or ability to get things done.

Some people find that much of their waking life is consumed by thoughts of all the things that could go wrong. The result of all the fight-or-flight arousal that accompanies these thoughts can include muscle aches and pains, stomach problems, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and trouble sleeping. The irritability and edginess that come with frequent worry can have a negative impact on relationships, too. Excessive “checking in” or reassurance-seeking can become a problem in relationships. Constant worry can leave you feeling emotionally depleted and depressed. For some, these problems are compounded by drinking or the use of other drugs in an attempt to “turn off” the worry.

Worry can also affect how productive and effective you are in pursuing your goals. Worry about the future interferes with problem-solving and decision-making in the present, and often leads to a pattern of avoidance and procrastination. Worriers may be active, engaging in nervous or “antsy” behavior, but they are often not very productive.

http://forum.psychlinks.ca/anxiety-and-stress/20576-the-worry-trap.html - Video