OBSESS NO MORE

I don’t know about you, but when I was younger, and by younger I mean from my teens to my early 30’s, I obsessed a lot. I tend to think that’s a normative part of development, maybe even more for girls than boys. Girls are naturally more emotional and emotive, and we tend to think a lot. I have a t-shirt that says “hold on, let me overthink that”. It’s very common to become overwhelmed, feel anxious, and then stay focused on thoughts and feelings that represent the anxiety. This is particularly common in regard to relationships or the relational aspect of something that may cause you stress and/or anxiety. However, at what point do thoughts become obsessions? The answer? When they become intrusive and they are hard to control or distract from. Words like spiraling, rumination, and fixation may resonate with you. Obsessing can be overwhelming, and certainly unwelcomed. There are ways to interrupt the unwanted thoughts and you can manage them. You can use distraction, mindfulness techniques, and self-talk. And of course, therapy. What does this look like? Check out WWDMD episode 92 and take control of those thoughts that feel like they are controlling you. ​

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