What if I Believe My Existential OCD?

This was a response to a great question about difficulties experienced when existential OCD or depressive thoughts seem to be true and we start to believe them and it makes recovery more challenging.
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[@Donttellmethisneverhappened]

Thank you. Scarily, the more I read and watch about it, the more I realize that my OCD extends to many more thoughts, behaviours, considerations that I have than I ever imagined- I generally played down OCD symptoms for the last 12 or so years of my life, until I was recently formally diagnosed with it, but now wherever I look I find more new things, such as this "existential OCD" that I just thought is me being reflexive and curious (and anxious about it)

[@jonnysaytherapy]

It can be common to have this experience and I guess we need to remember that anything can become compulsive depending on the function. If the function is to get certainty, avoid or control difficult emotions and feared consequences then we can become ruminative about anything. Whereas thinking creatively, problem solving with acceptance in the service of our valued life direction is a very different function. It’s why it’s important to practice defusion and tools like dipping in and out of the stream so we can catch when thinking is becoming compulsive and get out of the thought loop and back into our lives…

[@GuillaumeDenry]

Thanks Jonny, you cannot know how this video helps me now, I'm so grateful for your time and explanations

[@jonnysaytherapy]

I’m glad it was helpful, thanks for the feedback

[@shahilkhan5371]

Thanku very much sir, you helped me a lot , I just have 1 question I am slowly recovering from my Existential OCD I can see that but from past few days i have been too much obsessed about OCD videos what should i do about it

[@jonnysaytherapy]

I would practice gradually reducing the time spent engaging in ocd and psychology content and increase the time listening to other material you value related to hobbies, interests, comedy, music etc. aim to get ocd material down to 5-10% of what you listened to and values based content up to 90%

[@KyGoupil]

Thank you for putting this video out for everyone to access. Such a great resource for this dealing with existential OCD.

[@jonnysaytherapy]

Thanks for the feedback, wishing you all the best

[@arunagreen8119]

Thanks for this. Ive struggled with ocd for decades. Now in my 50s. Ruminating wears you out definitely.
Ive recently had a knee surgery and a bereavement. Felt very vulnerable and ruminating more. Yep my hubby just distract himself and doesnt loop on these topics.
Whats really helped me is getting into the Indian philosophy of Advaita vedanta and theb concept of non doership.
I think talking to others who as you say dontvreally think abput all these things, can make me me feel worse because they can minimise how i feel so i dont talk about it to them.
I like the analogy to auto immunity.
Ive discovered not believing my thougts has helped. And as you say practically looking at the usefulness of things helps.
Defo i relate to feeling envious that some others dont think of these things!

[@jonnysaytherapy]

Thanks for the feedback. Sometimes people find spiritual practices and philosophies like Adaita Vedanta helpful, other times this becomes part of the existential rumination and coming back to values in action in life is more helpful. Whatever works well over the longer term is key and glad you found something supportive

[@GuillaumeDenry]

I found out that struggling with more concrete threats like a possible new world war, climate change or ressource extinction is difficult to handle, at least for now, I wonder if there is a special kind of OCD about existential threats

[@mlove1257]

Thank you so much for this video ❤️

[@jonnysaytherapy]

I’m glad you’ve found it helpful and thanks for the feedback