Accepting Disturbing Possibilities

A quick tip for managing intrusive thoughts and disturbing possibilities that enter your mind. Learn how to use acceptance to respond to thoughts in a way that stops the cycle of trying to eliminate unwanted thoughts. This video is helpful for people struggling with OCD and anxiety, as well as people without a diagnosable anxiety disorder. If you like what you see, be sure to like and subscribe.
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[@100videos4you]

The fear of “losing it all” is a common reoccurrence for me. Sometimes the only thing that makes it feel better is to consider voluntarily “throwing it all away”… it seems like a crazy idea, hence the negative feedback loop.

[@OCDspace412]

Thanks for checking out my videos. Be sure to check out some of my newer videos on the Inference-Based CBT, including the concept of Obsessional Doubt, which involves doubting the reality that exists in the here and now, and exploring 'what if's' in the imagination. It's a new way of conceptualizing the main problem with OCD!

[@matthewdavy293]

Definitely works for a lot of themes, health, death, etc etc, the sticking point for a lot of people is when they try to forcefully accept they could be let’s say be a cannibal or purposefully harming their loved ones etc.
I think with those themes, it’s important to see that people without OCD don’t accept uncertainty around these things, if asked, they know intrinsically they aren’t these things, not with 100 percent certainty, but with as ICBT would term, functional certainty.
It’s like having functional certainty that I know how to walk, am I ever 100 percent certain every time I go to walk that I’ll still know how to walk? I guess not, but I also have nothing in the here and now to cause me to doubt my walking ability, therefore I don’t even need to think about it, I just get up and walk!

[@OCDspace412]

I completely agree. I have definitely shifted some of my thinking on this since initially making this video and immersing myself in the I-CBT approach. I think there are certain themes where it can be helpful to face the possibility. In particular, when we stop accepting all bad outcomes in a certain area to the point of not even accepting reality-based possibilities (when in the social sphere the goal becomes for everyone to like us!). But it is so true that we shouldn't have to walk around accepting possibilities in order to function and live. Certain possibilities, particularly in the OCD sphere, are not relevant and not in need of acceptance. Nice work putting the I-CBT approach into words. I think you said it perfectly!

[@matthewdavy293]

@@OCDspace412 agreed, I absolutely agree we have to accept every day possibilities, car crashes, cancer, job loss, basically, uncontrollable negative events that could up turn our lives, there’s zero point trying to control these!
But as for identity based themes, ICBT really does help to teach self trust, and noticing your true self again, something which OCD at times can cause us to lose sight of.
Love your content by the way, it’s appreciated!

[@OCDspace412]

@@matthewdavy293 Thanjks for watching! I'm devoting myself more to CZcams, so hoping to keep the content coming.

[@alifleih]

This is particularly challenging to do for anything supernatural. Existential anxiety, anxiety about possibilities of harm after death, these do not dissipate as easily. It can feel easier to get rid of a fear of spiders or riding an elevator than a fear of being in the Matrix, since in vivo exposures are more effective than imaginals. I've been doing ERP for existential OCD for the past 9 days, and although my anxiety has steadily decreased, there remains residual anxiety, and often my worst anxiety episodes come outside of exposures. So depending on the nature and severity of the fears of these possibilities, ERP can be more or less effective. I'm still trying to find my way out of this. Maybe there is a way to fully and radically accept these thoughts, even when they involve the worst imaginable outcome.

[@OCDspace412]

Yes. To be honest, this is an older video of mine rooted in the ERP approach. I don't give this advice that much anymore. My newer videos are rooted in the ICBT approach. This approach helps those with OCD see how obsessional doubt leads to a distrust of the senses, and the exploration of possibilities in the imagination. You might find this one helpful to start: czcams.com/video/Fk-P9TPu4k4/video.html

[@sissi9100]

I’m struggling with the same thing, I don’t know how to deal with these anxious thoughts. It’s like I wish I could just know what will happen and stop worrying.