Tuesday, April 9, 2013

OCD: Redirect Your Thoughts

I've been dealing with obsessive thoughts for years. I've learned and I believe that we can't control certain thoughts from entering our minds.

However... we CAN choose to REDIRECT our thoughts and think about something else.

Joyce Meyer taught something along those lines and I believe the concept can be very helpful to people suffering with OCD, as well as others.


"... think about something else" - Joyce Meyer

Just because a thought comes in does NOT mean we have to dwell on it. We CAN choose to think about something else.

I can't control certain thoughts from entering my mind, but I don't have to dwell on them!

Just because you have a thought doesn't mean you have to ruminate on it.


Shift your focus.

Redirect.

If the thoughts keep coming... keep redirecting.

It's not about trying to control thoughts from coming in.


"Concentrating on not trying to think wrong thoughts can actually increase them..." - Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer also talks about the following verse:


and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. - 2 Corinthians 10:5b (NIV)

Beth Moore writes:

"Taking thoughts captive to Christ doesn't mean we never have the thought again. It means we learn to "think the thought" as it relates to Christ and who we are in Him."

"... when I relate the thoughts to Christ, they will cause me less and less despair."


Something I've been trying to do is: When an unwanted thought comes in, rather than dwell on it, I call it what it is: a lie. I ask God to forgive me for it. I have God take the thought (maybe I should ask rather than tell... I don't know, but hopefully you get my point). Then, I shift my focus, move forward, and think about something else.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. - Colossians 3:2 (NIV)

It might be difficult and overwhelming at times. I'm not saying it will be easy. But, you CAN do it. Don't give your thoughts power. Don't give satan power.


We need to make a conscious effort to think about things that are good on purpose. And, not just during difficult OCD moments. At all times. I saw the following verse this morning in another blog post regarding thoughts:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. - Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

"If you stay busy thinking about right things, the devil won't be able to fill your mind with wrong things." - Joyce Meyer

Side note: Ladies... If I were to ever recommend a Bible study workbook that I believe could be helpful in regards to obsessive thoughts, it would be Beth Moore's 'Breaking Free' (Specifically Week 9 - Days 4 and 5). I did that study a while back, but I want to go over those two days again sometime and I would also like to watch the videos for those two days, as well (which I haven't watched previously).

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nor do I work in the health field. I am not an expert in anything faith-related, nor do I work in a faith-related area. The things I write are things I've learned and/or things I believe. I learned them from sermons, Bible teacher(s), Bible study, life, and/or etc. I take things I've learned and see how I believe they could be applied to OCD based on my experiences, etc. with OCD. I am not saying to use any of the things on this blog as treatment. Maybe you'll find some things in my blog posts to help you on top of whatever treatment method(s) you have chosen/choose to use or not use for your OCD, but you do so at your own risk. I am not responsible for any of your choices, actions, decisions. I am not responsible for any of your results, nor your lack of results. I have read something similar or the same as this in the past from a Bible teacher: If anything I ever write doesn't line up with God's Word, please throw it out.

NEXT POST:
OCD: Temptations

OTHER POSTS:
List of Posts


6 comments:

  1. I have found the whole concept of redirecting my thoughts and not engaging with certain thoughts so freeing. I used to try to stop the thoughts, but, as you say, that doesn't work. My therapist helped me to imagine my thoughts as a river. I can watch the thoughts go by, but I don't have to give my attention to all of them.

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    1. It does help me realizing I don't have to obsess over a thought just because it enters my mind. Thanks for commenting, Tina!

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  2. Thank you. I struggle with OCD and keeping my mind free. Knowing the difference between reality and lies can be difficult - and lies they are.

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    1. Thank you for leaving a comment! I pray your OCD gets better.
      Cari

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    Replies
    1. Hi. Thank you. It was quite a while back when I started this blog, but I think I added the pic of the daisy. I went through Blogger to begin with. They have a lot of designs to choose from for a blog. There are also advanced options within where you can change the font color, etc.

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