How do you deal with obsessive-compulsive obsession?

Several types of psychotherapy can be used to help someone with OCD manage obsessive thoughts. The most common is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), specifically an approach known as exposure therapy. People with OCD are often treated using an approach called exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP).
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How do you overcome OCD obsessions?

6 Best Strategies to Combat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  1. Practice mindfulness to manage stress. Two key characteristics of OCD are high anxiety and the presence of intrusive thoughts. ...
  2. Get plenty of exercise. ...
  3. Sleep well and enough. ...
  4. Avoid nicotine and alcohol. ...
  5. Reach out to family and friends. ...
  6. Find an ERP therapist.
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How do I stop constant obsession?

Here are 10 tips to try when you begin to experience the same thought, or set of thoughts, swirling around your head:
  1. Distract yourself. ...
  2. Plan to take action. ...
  3. Take action. ...
  4. Question your thoughts. ...
  5. Readjust your life's goals. ...
  6. Work on enhancing your self-esteem. ...
  7. Try meditation. ...
  8. Understand your triggers.
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What triggers OCD obsessions?

Stressful life events.

If you've experienced traumatic or stressful events, your risk may increase. This reaction may, for some reason, trigger the intrusive thoughts, rituals and emotional distress characteristic of OCD .
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Can you get rid of OCD?

Some people with OCD can be completely cured after treatment. Others may still have OCD, but they can enjoy significant relief from their symptoms. Treatments typically employ both medication and lifestyle changes including behavior modification therapy.
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Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)



Is Obsession a mental illness?

What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) or the urge to do something over and over again (compulsions). Some people can have both obsessions and compulsions.
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How can I clear my mind of unwanted thoughts?

8 Ways to Give Your Mind a Deep Cleaning
  1. Be mindful.
  2. Start writing.
  3. Put on music.
  4. Get some sleep.
  5. Take a walk.
  6. Tidy up.
  7. Unfocus.
  8. Talk about it.
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How do I get rid of unwanted mind thoughts?

Five Tips to Stop Intrusive Thoughts
  1. Don't suppress the thought. ...
  2. Recognize the difference between thought and reality. ...
  3. Identify the triggers. ...
  4. Implement a positive change into your daily routine. ...
  5. Talk it out and don't rule out therapy. ...
  6. Recommended for You.
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How do I break my OCD cycle?

How can you break the cycle of obsessive thinking?
  1. Distract yourself: Try distracting yourself by breaking the thought cycle: ...
  2. Enhance your self-esteem: Negative thoughts about yourself can lead to depressive thinking. ...
  3. Understand your triggers: When you start to have harmful thoughts, make a mental note of the situation.
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Can I overcome OCD by myself?

The only way to beat OCD is by experiencing and psychologically processing triggered anxiety (exposure) until it resolves on its own—without trying to neutralize it with any safety-seeking action (response or ritual prevention).
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What type of therapy is best for OCD?

Psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy, is effective for many people with OCD .
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How do you stop OCD thoughts naturally?

Exercise regularly.

Exercise is a natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment that helps to control OCD symptoms by refocusing your mind when obsessive thoughts and compulsions arise. For maximum benefit, try to get 30 minutes or more of aerobic activity on most days.
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How do you stop thinking about something that bothers you?

Here are some examples of how you might change the channel in your brain:
  1. Call a friend and talk about a completely different subject.
  2. Challenge yourself to rearrange your bookcase in 10 minutes.
  3. Sit down and plan your next vacation.
  4. Spend a few minutes clearing clutter in a particular room.
  5. Turn on some music and dance.
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How do I shut my brain up?

How to Quiet Your Mind
  1. Breathe. 1/14. We do this all the time, but to use your breathing to find stillness, be more careful and conscious about it. ...
  2. Watch Fish Swim. 2/14. ...
  3. Exercise. 3/14. ...
  4. Listen to Music. 4/14. ...
  5. Help Someone. 5/14. ...
  6. Go Outdoors. 6/14. ...
  7. Progressive Muscle Relaxation. 7/14. ...
  8. Hang Out With a Dog. 8/14.
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What is the best medication for intrusive thoughts?

Other medications that help in controlling intrusive thoughts are:
  • Paroxetine (Pexeva)—prescribed only for adults.
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)—for children above seven years and also for adults.
  • Sertraline (Zoloft)—for children above six years and for adults.
  • Fluvoxamine—for children above eight years and also for adults.
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Do obsessions ever go away?

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms generally wax and wane over time. Because of this, many individuals diagnosed with OCD may suspect that their OCD comes and goes or even goes away—only to return. However, as mentioned above, obsessive-compulsive traits never truly go away. Instead, they require ongoing management.
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How does an obsessed person behave?

Behaving in a controlling manner with the person you love. Feeling extreme jealousy of other relationships the person you love might have with other people. Feeling overly protective of the person you love. Becoming so overwhelmed with emotions about a person that it disrupts your daily functioning.
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Is Obsession a symptom of depression?

When your relationships, social life, therapy, and performance on the job or in school are affected, you may begin to experience symptoms of depression. Researchers have found that the more severe obsessions and compulsions are, the more they impact your daily functioning, worsening depression symptoms.
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Why does my brain think things I don't want it to?

The two most common diagnoses associated with intrusive thoughts are anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They can also be a symptom of depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bipolar Disorder, or Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
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What foods help OCD?

Go for: Nuts and seeds, which are packed with healthy nutrients. Protein like eggs, beans, and meat, which fuel you up slowly to keep you in better balance. Complex carbs like fruits, veggies, and whole grains, which help keep your blood sugar levels steady.
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What lifestyle changes help with OCD?

8 Effective Lifestyle Changes To Help you Manage Your OCD Traits...
  • 1 . Take up a sport. ...
  • 2 . Try “delay therapy” ...
  • 3 . Quit smoking and drinking. ...
  • 4 . Get adequate sleep. ...
  • Eat brain healthy foods. Eating healthy is imperative, OCD or no-OCD. ...
  • 6 . Take out time to meditate. ...
  • 7 . Give acupuncture a try. ...
  • 8 . Try relaxing oils.
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Why do I keep thinking about something over and over again?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: When Unwanted Thoughts or Repetitive Behaviors Take Over. People who are distressed by recurring, unwanted, and uncontrollable thoughts or who feel driven to repeat specific behaviors may have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
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What are the 7 types of OCD?

Common Types of OCD
  • Aggressive or sexual thoughts. ...
  • Harm to loved ones. ...
  • Germs and contamination. ...
  • Doubt and incompleteness. ...
  • Sin, religion, and morality. ...
  • Order and symmetry. ...
  • Self-control.
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What mental illness causes obsession with a person?

“Obsessive love disorder” (OLD) refers to a condition where you become obsessed with one person you think you may be in love with. You might feel the need to protect your loved one obsessively, or even become controlling of them as if they were a possession.
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What are the signs of obsession?

Signs of obsession include:
  • Repeated unwanted ideas.
  • Fear of contamination.
  • Aggressive impulses.
  • Persistent sexual thoughts.
  • Images of hurting someone you love.
  • Thoughts that you might cause others harm.
  • Thoughts that you might be harmed.
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