People who suffer from an obsessive-compulsive disorder have excessive, recurring, and undesired thoughts (obsessions) or feelings that lead them to perform repetitious behaviors (compulsions). OCD involves a communication breakdown within an individual between the frontal lobe and the brain’s deeper structures. It can affect anyone or any person of any age to the point where they become enthralled in a vicious cycle of obsessions and compulsions.

It can be challenging dealing with OCD day in and day out as the constant repetitiveness of the actions associated with the disorder can undoubtedly hinder an individual’s everyday activities and public interactions. The intrusive thoughts can be quite distressing for someone to manage throughout their lifetime. The ideas are a constant bombardment combined with the strict behaviors that must coincide with the beliefs’ fulfillment. If the individual cannot adequately perform said actions, it can cause a considerable amount of distress.

Here are some examples of obsessions that cause emotional anguish in those who suffer from OCD:

• Fear of contagion by germs or contaminating other people
• Anxiety over losing control while harming others or yourself
• Extreme attention to precise order and perfect symmetry
• Fear of losing something of great value or not being prepared
• Very superstitious with items that are either lucky or unlucky

Here are some cases of compulsions that would correspond with issues of obsessions from OCD:

• Excessive washing/cleanliness such as hand washing, brushing teeth, or showering
• Frequent cleaning objects or straightening items around the house
• Double or triple-checking things like appliances, locks, or switches
• Counting, tapping, repeating specific words, or other irrational things
• Regularly looking for approval or encouragement

Although intrusive thoughts can cause a chaotic situation for someone suffering from OCD, there are methods that one can use to try and manage the constant invasion going on inside their head. While they can be jarring, you must try to control the situation to maintain some sense of discipline. The tricky part is trying to convince your brain that something is not wrong in a given case that requires you to react to it immediately and compulsively.

Try To Comprehend Why A Particular Invasive Thought Agitates You

Those specific thoughts will fasten onto something that means a great deal to you and affect it negatively. Whatever that may be, this disruption will mess with your nervous system and grab your attention. When an intrusive thought goes against your core principles, that is when you will feel any combination of anxiety, disgust, or panic. Once you understand your values’ essence, you will understand why a particular unwanted thought makes you react resentfully. By identifying the triggers, you may discover the root cause and repair the hidden issue. Hopefully, with enough practice, you will be able to move on with the obsessive thought in a particular situation.

Embrace Coping Skills 

Those who suffer from OCD must learn to problem solve and accept the intrusive thoughts head-on. According to one study, “OCD sufferers need to adopt adaptive coping skills rather than the maladaptive strategies often used such as repetitive, compulsive actions or creating emotional distance from a situation, to effectively manage their condition.” By embracing your coping skills rather than avoiding a particular circumstance, a person is more suited to dealing with challenging situations and inner strife.

Put An End To Changing The Way You Conduct Yourself

There is no need to change who you are when specific compulsive thoughts enter your mind. The invading feelings are not genuine, so altering your behavior to bypass it will not solve any of your problems in the long run. There is no logic to stop doing various projects that could be associated with those intrusive thoughts. It helps to talk it out with friends or family and be as open as you can about your feelings. Your vulnerability might put a whole new spin on your perspective.

It’s Not Personal

Those annoying thoughts in your head are not real. So if you are always apologizing for them because you believe them to be authentic and absolute, they will remain viable. Learn to let go and remember that these intrusive thoughts are just irrational parts of your imagination and have no interest in the real world. Try to achieve positive changes in your daily activities. By adjusting your mindset, you might be able to dislodge intrusive thoughts.

Finding the Right Treatment For Your Obsessive-Compulsive Thoughts

Deciding how you contend with your disorder’s control of thoughts and feelings will define the way you live your life. It would be best to manage these thoughts and behaviors through a treatment strategy that works best for you. Whether through medication or helpful therapies such as deep brain stimulation therapy, there are ways to manage the disorder.

Treatment for intrusive thoughts can vary from person to person, just like the thoughts can affect different individuals. It’s crucial to find a treatment that will help end the intrusive thoughts happening in your daily life. Pulse TMS is a treatment facility specializing in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as an FDA-approved method for treating OCD.

This highly successful method involves stimulating the brain by using powerful magnets to adjust the activity in certain, focused areas. By helping the change of informational flow between neurotransmitters and neural pathways, obsessions, compulsions, and anxiety suffered by OCD patients become exceedingly alleviated.

If you or a loved one is suffering from OCD, our professional medical staff at Pulse TMS is standing by to answer any of your questions concerning TMS therapy. Those who have received the treatment have reported having fewer troubling symptoms after continuous treatment. Contact our team of professionals at (310) 878-4346 to learn more and book an appointment today.