What I think, will happen

[whiteraven]

This is a HUGE problem for me. I am sure that if I think about something, if I entertain a notion, it will happen. For example, if I think about somebody dying, they will (and, by extension, it will be my fault).

It's been something I recognize thinking for a long time. It doesn't matter that it never happens; the anxiety associated with it is intense. It's become a major issue in just the last week because my cat was diagnosed with lymphoma. I start to think about pre-planning for her and I have to force myself to shut my thoughts down because if I don't, she will die sooner (ugh. Look what I did there).

Anybody else?

 

[Keming]

Sometimes. It's called "magical thinking." Several disorders share it, including OCD.

my solution: "Mindfulness", rational thought, and medication.

 

[Friday]

Anybody else?

Ditto Kemming...

It’s also the foundation for prayer & a bazillion and one superstitions designed to break the power of a thought (crossing yourself, spitting 3 times, touching wood, don’t jinx it!) &/or to ward off evil that’s been attracted by words or thoughts (both bad AND good; it’s incredibly bad manners to praise children in some cultures, for example, because it invites their death or maiming.)

The whole ‘disorders are just normal human traits/behaviour taken to extremes’ thing. Most people perform rituals dozens of times a day that make them feel safe, but when those rituals impede daily life? Then it’s become a problem.

So... you and very nearly everyone else on the planet believe -to greater or lesser degree- that your thoughts have power. How MUCH power, spans the range from perfectly normal to magical thinking to obsessions and all the way up to delusions & psychosis.

A little superstition? Ain’t really a problem. Rising to the level of obsession and/or compulsion? Problems abound.

But wherever you fall on that spectrum? You’re hardly alone.

I’d say the real question is where do you want to BE on that spectrum?

 

[Deanna]

This is a HUGE problem for me. I am sure that if I think about something, if I entertain a notion, it will happen. For example, if I think about somebody dying, they will (and, by extension, it will be my fault).

It's been something I recognize thinking for a long time. It doesn't matter that it never happens; the anxiety associated with it is intense. It's become a major issue in just the last week because my cat was diagnosed with lymphoma. I start to think about pre-planning for her and I have to force myself to shut my thoughts down because if I don't, she will die sooner (ugh. Look what I did there).

Anybody else?

Yes.. I use to see all that stuff but I put my foot down, ( I had PTSD but didn't know it at the time) went to the doctor and was prescribed medication that would make me sleep the full night.

At one point I even saw a spirit man by the bed asking to see boyfriend ( beside me) 10 years ago. Boyfriend was there.. Thought I was a little nuts. We went to bed. This spirit old man was holding his neck like he couldn't breathe on my side of the bed. I could only describe him as someone that was older and had grey hair. The next day.. Boy friend ex father-in- law passed away of a heart attack. He and boyfriend were close.

Knowing something that happens before it happens doesn't pay well. It also emotionally wrecks you. Whether its coiencidense..or real... Nobody cares

 

[Innordinate]

the real question is where do you want to BE on that spectrum?

but when those rituals impede daily life?

Yeah- these.

And I would strongly caution against trying to rationalize them. To find proof or look for proof of whether they actually cause something OR not cause something.
Doesn't matter.

Ultimately they're just normal thoughts- they come, they go- just like the other millions of normal thoughts everyone has every day.
Even the thought that your thoughts can cause stuff to happen- totally normal.

 

[Ronin]

Knowing something that happens before it happens doesn't pay well. It also emotionally wrecks you. Whether its coiencidense..or real... Nobody cares

Yea, hard as hell...

But also does not make it your fault, unless you were direct causing it (and I dont mean believed, survivors guilt, causing it, but physical actions).

Ever considered you got the heads up on what the hell is going on because you need to be there, or be there for someobody, for the after?

Need to be the one who gets through... Regardless of what goes down.

 

[whiteraven]

Sometimes. It's called "magical thinking." Several disorders share it, including OCD.

my solution: "Mindfulness", rational thought, and medication.

Mindfulness helps with everything else. But I think I struggle with it with this, because I'm just not ready to even notice this.

But wherever you fall on that spectrum? You’re hardly alone.

Maybe I need to go back to that avoiding sidewalk cracks thing. LOL But seriously, for me, that stuff feels like avoidance I really want to be able to think rationally.

Actually, I do notice that being mindful about other things seems to bleed over into this. I was able to make pre-arrangements for my cat - which was a worry - and I'm more easily able to talk about her.

But also does not make it your fault, unless you were direct causing it (and I dont mean believed, survivors guilt, causing it, but physical actions).

Thanks for this, @Ronin!

 

[Deanna]

Yea, hard as hell...

But also does not make it your fault, unless you were direct causing it (and I dont mean believed, survivors guilt, causing it, but physical actions).

Ever considered you got the heads up on what the hell is going on because you need to be there, or be there for someobody, for the after?

Need to be the one who gets through... Regardless of what goes down.

Yes.. and more things like that have happened all my life. I just couldn't handle being bombarded every single night. Sheesh.. I even ralked to Ishmael. His energy about knocked me over. I couldn't understand him because I'm "country" and he talked Arabic. Not knowing what to do, I asked him " what's your name" three times.. And he said his name. I barely understood him. He talked very fast ( no face) come to find out , the love of my life would die in 6 months. He was baptised in the Sea of Galilee and went to Isreal.. Jerusalem. ( sorry if those were typos) the pain for me would equal 7 years of deep depression. I was sleeping beauty. Worked and slept on the weekends. That's all I did. Anyway..I placed rocks on his casket ( as he requested) from all over Isreal.

Anyway.. That energy was something. It took my breath away...But bottom line.. I just couldn't handle the interruptions anymore. There is nothing you can do with them. As I said.. There is no money in it... No one believes you.. So its useless but may be personal at times