Brain Lock: Free Yourself From Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior (35 page)

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Authors: Jeffrey M. Schwartz,Beverly Beyette

BOOK: Brain Lock: Free Yourself From Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior

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You learned in Step 2 that the bothersome obsessive thought is caused by OCD and is related to a biochemical imbalance in the brain. In the Acceptance substep of Reattributing, you realize that truth in a very deep, perhaps even spiritual, way. Do not get down on yourself; it makes no sense to criticize your inner motives just because of an imbalance in the brain. By accepting that the obsessive thought is there despite you, not because of you, you can decrease the terrible stress that repetitive obsessive thoughts usually cause. Always keep in mind, “It’s not me—it’s the OCD. It’s not me—it’s just my brain.” Don’t beat yourself up trying to make the thought go away because in the short run, it will not. Most important, don’t ruminate and don’t fantasize about the consequences of acting out a terrible obsessive thought. You won’t act it out because you don’t really want to. Let go of all the negative, demeaning judgments about “the kinds of people who get thoughts like this.” For obsessions, the fifteen-minute rule can be shortened to a one-minute
rule, even a fifteen-second rule. There is no need to dwell on that thought, even though it lingers in your mind. You can still go on—indeed, you must go on—to the next thought and the next behavior. In this way, Refocusing is like a martial art. An obsessive thought or compulsive urge is very strong, but also quite stupid. If you stand right in front of it and take the full brunt of its power, trying to drive it from your mind, it will defeat you every time. You have to step aside, work around it, and go on to the next behavior. You are learning to keep your wits about you in the face of a powerful opponent. The lesson here goes far beyond overcoming OCD: By taking charge of your actions, you take charge of your mind—and of your life.

CONCLUSION

We who have OCD must learn to train our minds not to take intruding feelings at face value. We have to learn that these feelings mislead us. In a gradual but tempered way, we’re going to change our responses to the feelings and resist them. We have a new view of the truth. In this way, we gain new insights into the truth. We learn that even persistent, intrusive feelings are transient and impermanent and will recede if not acted on. And, of course, we always remember that these feelings tend to intensify and overwhelm us when we give in to them. We must learn to recognize the urge for what it is—and to resist it. In the course of performing this Four-Step Method of behavioral self-treatment, we are laying the foundation for building true personal mastery and the art of self-command. Through constructive resistance to OCD feelings and urges, we increase our self-esteem and experience a sense of freedom. Our ability to make conscious, self-directed choices is enhanced.

By understanding this process by which we empower ourselves to fight OCD and by clearly appreciating the control one gains by training the mind to overcome compulsive or automatic responses to intrusive thoughts or feelings, we gain a deepening insight into how to take back our lives. Changing our brain chemistry is a happy consequence of this life-affirming action. True freedom lies along this path of a clarified perception of genuine self-interest.

QUICK SUMMARY OF THE FOUR STEPS OF COGNITIVE-BIOBEHAVIORAL SELF-TREATMENT FOR OCD

Step 1: RELABEL

Recognize that the intrusive obsessive thoughts and urges are the RESULT OF OCD.

Step 2: REATTRIBUTE

Realize that the intensity and intrusiveness of the thought or urge is CAUSED BY OCD; it is probably related to a biochemical imbalance in the brain.

Step 3: REFOCUS

Work around the OCD thoughts by focusing your attention on something else, at least for a few minutes: DO ANOTHER BEHAVIOR.

Step 4: REVALUE

Do not take the OCD thought at face value. It is not significant in itself.

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BRAIN LOCK
. Copyright © 1996 by Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

EPub Edition © OCTOBER 2009 ISBN 9780061961878

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