This is a strange time that we are living in our world right now. Strange times can bring on strange and unhelpful thought patterns. It’s easy to focus and dwell on these thoughts until they turn obsessive. There are things we can do to escape from these thought patterns and ease our minds. Consider trying some of the following:
- Name the beast. Describe your fear in one sentence. This takes away a little of its power.
- Find the distortion. Apply a Cost-Benefit Analysis. How is believing this costing you, and how is it benefitting you? If it’s costing you, decide a course of action.
- Schedule a time. Give yourself 15 minutes a day to ruminate and journal all your feelings. If the thought comes up at another time, say “Sorry, it’s not time for that.”.
- Snap out of It. Wear a rubber band on your wrist and snap yourself when the thoughts turn obsessive to remind yourself to let go. Or, write your obsession on a piece of paper and throw it away.
- Learn the lesson. If you are obsessing over a behavior, consider the lesson you’ve learned. Forgive yourself, if necessary. Move on.
- Imagine the worst. Once you’ve dealt with the worst-case scenario, it’s not worth worrying about.
- Dig for the cause. Often, the obsessions aren’t the real issue. Maybe there’s something deeper you need to discover.
- Tell someone. They can help you find a solution or tell you it’s ridiculous. Often, obsessions are based on partial truths.
- Interrupt yourself. If you’re obsessing over something, start thinking about 10 reasons it won’t happen.
- Stay in the present. Ruminating takes places in the past and future.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8
We pray these tips help you. Remember, we are all in this together and God is with us!
© Fresh Hope for Mental Health
