Ruminating

[gracechick]

How do ya'll break the ruminating cycle? Or checking to see if this person behaves like they don't like you or what you said...blah, blah blah

It's only been the past few years that I've understood I would be classified a Pure O so I am learning all the time. I am so relieved to find the comfort & support here I need & not the look of "whatever are you talking about...You think too much...So that's x's problem." Nonsuffers don't understand we can't turn that part off in our brains. It is a constant whether the current is low or spiking.

May God bless each & everyone here today with a mind of peace, love & His grace which is sufficient for everything the devil throws at us

 

[OptimisticSmile]

thats a hard one. My pastor was always like just let the thoughts pass, just dont think about it. Id be like "ok im going to go home and do something to distarct me" as soon as I would leave his office the ruminating just started up again.

for me the libertation I found was just saying its OCD and not me. that made having doubtful thoughts something that, although unpleasant, I was able to keep myself from arguing with and trying to solve. If it wasnt for finding this forum I probly would still be rethinking every moment of my christian walk (starting at age 6) over and over again in my head. I was over and over again covering the same territory and answering the same what ifs in my mind and having the same circular conversations with my Pastor.

for me it was learning to trust God even though he has led me through times of doubt and withdrew a sense of his precence. Learning about william cowper the hymnist really helped me because in my inmaturaty I would have never even considered the possibility of a christian going through what he experienced. Gods thoughts are higher than our thoughts. while we beat ourselves up for the OCD God allows it to be there and for a greater purpose than we could imagine without it. We have the promise of Romans 8:28.

i hope that helps.

 

[gracechick]

Thanks for the encouragement. Sometimes I get angry at myself for all the lost time I've spent ruminating...about things in highschool even. & that was many years ago.sigh.

 

[kimba]

Good gravy! I do the same kinds of rumination - not about God at all but about High School and childhood stuff. It is NO FUN not being able to let go of it once it starts....I started 10 mg Paxil 2 months ago and somehow I am able to let things go easier - it is a blessing. The rumination starts but it is easier to tell myself that it is the OCD and sort of move on. I do try to distract myself also. I don't rum. so much at work etc when my mind is busy with something else. However, I do rum. at work about work sometimes "did I remember to do such and such?" or wondering if my boss is mad at me because she doesn't act "normal" to me. I usually just call and ask her if she is "ok" then I stop worrying about it. The paxil does have some side affects but so far it has been worth it - I feel lots better and my other issues are virtually gone (depression and anxiety). The OCD is still there - I am pure O also - but somehow doesn't bother me as much and it took 6 weeks of the med, but the intrusive, violent thoughts and images (this is my main OCD thing) are not so frequent. Praying for you!

 

[gracechick]

I so know. Even when I wake up in the am Im already strating to obsess. My mind goes searching for what it wants to ruminate on or whatever happened the day bfore. I really do have to laugh at myself sometimes, bcause it is so rediculous.
I do take meds as well & have for years so I don't remember what it was like previously. Suppose I should be grateful for that
Prayers to you as well.

 

[gracealone]

How do ya'll break the ruminating cycle? Or checking to see if this person behaves like they don't like you or what you said...blah, blah blah

It's only been the past few years that I've understood I would be classified a Pure O so I am learning all the time. I am so relieved to find the comfort & support here I need & not the look of "whatever are you talking about...You think too much...So that's x's problem." Nonsuffers don't understand we can't turn that part off in our brains. It is a constant whether the current is low or spiking.

May God bless each & everyone here today with a mind of peace, love & His grace which is sufficient for everything the devil throws at us

Hi Gracechick,
Although my ruminating may center upon different themes than yours the symptom of rumination is still prominent with me as a pure "O".
Along with the "just let the thoughts be there and get on with your life" tactic. I sometimes take the thoughts or ruminate about them - but in a different way.
As an example, when one of my prominent OCD thoughts recently centered on the fear of becoming incurably and clinically depressed. Instead of ruminating about the reasons this couldn't or wouldn't happen to me - which involved heavy mental debating and arguing within my brain I just give into the thought instead. I use a "bring it on" attitude. How I would do this is by saying things to myself like: "Yep, Mitzi, you are probably right - you will become depressed to the point that even multiple electroshock therapy sessions won't bring you out of it. Every medication will fail. You will probably end up having to be locked into a padded cell for the rest of your life in order that you won't hurt yourself... etc."
I picture the OCD thought as a ghost or phantom in my brain. It isn't reality because it hasn't yet happened. When the ghost tries to frighten me with it's scare tactics I surprise it by inviting it in instead of running and hiding from it. When it says "Boo!!" instead of flinching, I say to it... "Really now... is that the best you can do?" Then I offer up some even scarier examples of spooking in order to minimize or mock it's ability to scare me."
This has been the most helpful tactic for me to eventually extinguish my OCD spikes. (The "depression" spike is barely smouldering at this point). It's what I like to call fighting fire with fire, or the controlled burn.
Just some food for thought in order to help you starve your OCD ruminations.
God Bless,
Mitzi