Experiences of a life with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) & Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Here are the difficulties I face and my struggle to overcome them in order to live a full and happy life in spite of them.
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Worry time...
Some of you will be familiar with "Worry Time" which is when you save worries for a certain time of the day each day when you can worry about all the things which usually endlessly and ineffectively occupy your poor, tired and harassed mind for a large portion of the day. You do this for just 10 or 20 minutes (max) each day. It has proved very useful. I had heard if it before but always dismissed it as something which was not possible for me. Because of the intensity of my anxiety I always thought it was useless to even attempt it. However, I learned through one of the modules that I am able to put aside worries even when in intense fear. I had infact done this previously in troubled times. I just needed this highlighted and then to work on it. I now save worries up and it seems effective so far. It not only has the advantage of not worrying the whole time but your worries fade if you don't give them fuel. Worrying has a snowball effect. It grows and becomes stronger the more you think. The more you think the more you add to it so the more fearful you get and the more anxious worrying you do. If you postpone it it is likely it will fade away because you become occupied with other things. By Worry Time I am often not really bothered any more and sometimes don't even use the worry time!
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I just stumbled onto your blog and find this post interesting. I had never heard of "worry time." I am an advocate for OCD awareness as my son recovered from severe OCD a few years ago. If you are interested, you can read about his story at my blog: www.ocdtalk.wordpress.com. I also discuss any and all topics relating to OCD. I hope your CBT is still going well. ERP Therapy is what literally saved my son's life! Good Luck, I will keep following you.
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