Q.) HOW TO STOP THOUGHTS

A.) You don't try. The harder you try to block out a thought, the more it will persist. Instead, you focus on something else and get immersed in it and the bothersome thought will fade away on it's own.

Here's an example: You are trying not to think about avoiding cracks in the road when you walk. You start to think about what you have to do today and then you start to think about your job and then about school and then that project that's due, then you start to think about how it's going to get done and when it should be done and somewhere along the line you forgot about the cracks in the road and then you realize that you forgot about the cracks in the road so you get a shot of anxiety again and start to avoid the cracks in the road again.

This week keep practicing changing your thought patterns like I just outlined. It's good mental practice and is very powerful with some practice.

Question below!

Q.) Can OCD be cured by a behavior therapy program alone or is it bio chemical in nature too because I know that the major symtom I have now started with a thought that threw my whole world out of wake it came at a time when I was in a nervious breakdown and my mind and body were screwed up. And I notice it gets worst during times of stress and one time when i was taking a homopathic supplement the symtoms went bullestic chemically all on their own I wan\\\'t thinking or doing nothing to bring that kind of response on. So if it\\\'s also bio-chemical can it only be cured by supplements or some how healing the brain?

A.) Your physiology changes with new behaviors alone. Your brain actually rewires itself when you change your habits. Read the exercises from my previous answers for today and I think that's the best course of action for your case. Let me know how it turned out this week on this blog as a reply. Don't forget to do that.

Question below!

Q.) My partner suffers from a form of OCD (BDD) and is very angry and frustrated. this manifests itself in different ways. He breaks things in the house and is verbally agressive towards me. This behaviour was infrequent at first but has now become part of his routine and happens instantaneously. what can we or should we do. He is seeing a cognitive therapist and taking medication.

A.) If he is abusing you, you need to get out of the house or he needs to go somewhere else until you and your counselor agree that you are safe. Noone should have to be abused because of OCD. He needs to continue his medication and if it's not working, I would consider asking your therapist for an increse in the dose. Make sure that the medication is not making him worse.

Q.) How do I become free from OCD?

A.) You become free from OCD the minute that you stop performing rituals. You will have cravings but as long as you are not performing rituals, you are free from it and the cravings will die out. The same with quitting smoking, they are both just habits. Do the exercises that you see outlined in my previous answers as they are powerful and free to you!

Question below!

Q.) My particular OCD deals with rituals that I have to do, and I feel that I have to do these rituals or people I love will die. What happens then? How can/do I get rid of OCD if I can\\\'t stop feeling so strongly that if I stop doing the rituals, people I love will die?

A.) Today, don't do one of those rituals and see if the person dies. Seriously. They won't. This will start to show the the fast way that your belief is faulty. Then replace this belief with the belief that if you don't perform the ritual, That you won't die living with OCD.

Q.) obsessive concern about damage to paintwork and body of my car

A.) Don't worry about your paintwork. Just know that these things, we can't take with us when we die. You painted a vehicle which can get into an accident and is exposed to the elements outside. What I would do ask the company who painted it the best way to take care of it, and follow their instructions to the letter, do NOTHING MORE or nothing less.

Q.) how to stop assumptions of contamination

A.) If you assume something is contaminated, you're right. Germs are everywhere, they are on our hands and in our mouths. In fact, there are more germs in our mouths than there are on our toilets. I am not trying to gross you out but to reveal to you that germs are not as bad as you think they are. We actually have live microscopic bugs in our intestines that help us digest food. They are necessary, They are not really bugs, but bacteria. Acidophilus for one. You can even by it as a supplement. Yougurt also has active cultures. We cannot worry about stuff we can't control. However, without germs, we would die. They need us and we need them. It's a good thing because our bodies defenses against any bad kinds are way more powerful than you could ever imagine.