How do I prevent myself from having obsessive thoughts?

Question

I believe I have an obsessive-compulsive personality trait. I prefer things to be in order. The obsessive part is the one that really bothers me. When I make a mistake, or when somebody does something unjust against me, I obsess over those. It is not healthy; and I believe it is a waste of time. Do you have any suggestion as to how I can avoid such obsessive thoughts?

Answer 1

1) Mix with people as much as you can.
2) When down with too much obsession, create a mental picture of gushing / throwing out all your tensions once & for all through an outlet (say in the head, like a volcano).
3) Meditate whenever you can- delve deep into the ocean of your mind & learn to keep your mind floating lightly just above the ocean bed.
4) Accept 'imperfections' - the world is full of them but running fine!
Best of luck!!

Answer 2

I think you are one of the kinds of people who have actually been brain washed by your parents or by some who have had a major influence on your young life.. It was not purposeful and not meant to be harmfull but it was none the less.. I suggest that you find a nice quiet place where there is no disturbance and lie down.. close your eyes and digress yourself back year by year until you find the exact time that those influences began to take hold in your life.. I assure you that you will have total recall.. everything that you have done in your life is recorded in your memory bank and all the influences both negative and positive are archived there also.. Children are cast into a mold and are taught things as they grow.. I believe that for a person to become who they really should be they have to break that mold. If one fails to do so then you have to live with the repercusions of the influences. Take your time, go back and look at the pictures of yourself growing to where you are now..go back one year at a time and recall the influences from friends and relatives..each one will cometo full visualization and you will see it perfectly as it happened.. Somewhere at sometime deep in your psych..there was a time or an event or series of actions that caused you to become who and how you are today.. go back and find it..once you do, you will be able to correct it.. Not only do I think it will benefit you psychologically but you will enjoy it as well.. give it a try..it is an amazing experience.. Your memory can take you all the way back to the point to where you first began to understand words and direction.. It is beneficial and fun.. give it a try..

Answer 3

It will be hard, anyone who tells you it won't has never done it. I've had OCD before and it is a horrible thing to live with, I didn't even realize how bad it was until I stopped doing it. It feels amazing, trust me, do whatever you can to control it. Now, It took me about 6 months to completely phase mine out. (this was over a year ago) I still catch myself doing it sometimes but not enough to be upsetting. You have to take back control in a sense, tell it no (not like a crazy person talking to themselves out loud, but to yourself). Make the conscious decision to not do it. You might even think, if I can just not think about this for an hour I'll do it then, and when an hour goes by you can think about it. That's how I started. there were days when I just didn't have enough energy to fight it but as long as those are unfrequent, they are normal. Busy yourself with other things, get a hobby, preferrably a thinking one, like chess or something that allows you to analyze but about something else. Eventually, you won't have time to think about the things, get yourself a life that is more exciting and when you have plans that night just say, nope, don't have time to think about it right now, I'll do it when I get home, then maybe you'll be so sleepy when you get home that you'll go right to sleep. The main thing is, don't try to do too much then get frustrated and quit. The things that worked for me won't be the exact same things that will work for you. (I had some therapy and from my experience, they have no idea what it is actually like so it is hard for them to offer useful advice.)

Answer 4

You have received lots of great advice here, and I'd like to add something, but only consider this with other forms of treatment, both physical and psychological.

Research all of these.

Orthomolecular treatment.

Pfeiffer Center (they have a great description page of possible metabolic disorders that can cause ailments and symptoms like these, and the treatment for them).

High histamine

low histamine

pyrroluria

And then consider if getting a metabolic work up by an orthomolecular practitioner (REPEAT -- only along WITH other forms of treatment) to see if you have any of these metabolic dysfunctions and receiving treatment is something that might
work for you.

Answer 5

I'm not sure to what degree you have the disorder, it may be to the point that you'll need to seek treatment for O/C disorder, but I think it's always worth trying your own behavior modification efforts first.
You will have to be self disciplined and not allow yourself to put to much time/ energy into any one thought.
Maybe you just allow yourself to go over that particular thought just once...think it through...get resolution, and then not allow yourself to dwell on it.
Anytime that thought pops back into your mind, have a distraction to engage into to get your mind off of the obsession.
I'm no PHD...but I wish you luck!

Answer 6

become more extroverted so you can see how people can live a great life without an ounce of OCD. Your friends can help you a lot with this. All, engage yourself in activites that are fun for you and where thoughts of perfectionism never come to mind. Sports are good for that.