How to deal with obsessive thoughts, fears and phobias

The difficulty in achieving success is due to a number of reasons. Someone does not believe in themselves and does not know how to gain confidence in their own abilities. Some don’t make enough effort and lack perseverance, while others, even lying on the stove, don’t know how to overcome their laziness.

There are many reasons that prevent us from achieving our goals. Today we will touch upon a problem that concerns most, if not everyone. And this problem is phobias, fears. People who experience obsessive fear are not always unable to achieve success; the stories of many famous people serve as an example. But it is worth knowing that the degree of fear varies.

Sometimes it can take a lot of energy and strength, and sometimes lead to mental disorder. Fears come in different forms; the topic of fear and fear of success was already discussed in one of the previous articles. In this article we will move away from specifics and look at the problem in general. Man is born fearless. A small child is not afraid to touch the fire, trip, fall, etc. All these fears come later. Together with useful fears, useless ones are often acquired. When they become too strong, they are called phobias.

Phobia (from ancient Greek phobos - fear) is a strong and unfounded fear of something. This is a pronounced obsessive, panicky fear. Almost everyone has a chance of developing obsessive fears. There are a huge number of varieties of phobias. There is even such a type as “phobophobia” - the fear of acquiring some kind of phobia. I decided to consider the main, most common fears and at the end give general recommendations on how to get rid of phobias.

Treatment of obsessive thoughts

The Salvation Clinic treats obsessive thoughts using progressive techniques and proven pharmacotherapy. Our staff includes highly qualified psychologists and psychotherapists who have experience and the opportunity to travel to various international conferences. The clinic provides decent conditions for keeping patients, nutritious food, and leisure. The patients do not need anything. It is possible to install an individual nursing station and rent a VIP room. The clinic has specialized security. No one will be able to enter or leave unnoticed. We strive to alleviate the condition of our patients and bring recovery closer. Contacting our center will improve the patient’s quality of life and provide the opportunity for a full-fledged existence.

Patients are treated individually. The program is developed on the basis of long-term observations of the patient’s behavior, his state of health, tests, taking into account age. The greatest effect of treatment is achieved with a combination of psychotherapy and drug therapy. Medicines (tranquilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics) allow you to:

• correct neurotic symptoms;
• remove anxiety and fears;
• control mood and behavior.

Psychotherapy is an integral part of treating obsessive thoughts. Through individual counseling you can:

• understand the nature of the occurrence of deviations;
• eliminate the cause that led to the disease;
• eliminate fears and anxieties;
• develop stress resistance and self-confidence;
• eliminate depressive moods;
• teach how to manage symptoms;
• help a person socialize.

In their practice, our center’s specialists use the following approaches:

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy. Based on the theory of behaviorism and the cognitive approach. The latter implies that deviations in mental development are provoked by illogical thinking and incorrect beliefs of the individual, by eliminating which it will be possible to get rid of obsessive thoughts and anxieties. Adherents of behaviorism recognize that the main influence on the mental development of an individual and his behavior is exerted by genetic predisposition, but they also attach important importance to environmental factors. By eliminating support for undesirable behaviors and encouraging desirable ones, a person's habits and lifestyle can be changed.
2. Hypno-suggestive techniques. Verbal and non-verbal influence is made on the consciousness of the individual in order to introduce the necessary attitudes and programs. During the session, control is removed, attention is reduced, and the opportunity to program consciousness opens up. As a result of hypnosis treatment, motivation to action, changes in state and behavior are produced. The suggestive instructions given by the doctor penetrate deeply into the patient’s subconscious, which ensures positive dynamics of treatment. When using hypno-suggestive methods, depression, neurosis, phobias, alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction are successfully treated, and obsessions are eliminated.
3. Autotraining. Allows you to restore the function of self-regulation impaired due to stress. The method is based on the use of self-hypnosis, self-education, and muscle relaxation. The advantage of auto-training is the involvement of the patient in the treatment process. There are two stages of training: higher and lower. At the initial stage, relaxation exercises, training of the cardiovascular system, and training in the principles of proper breathing are performed. As a result of treatment, the patient’s general well-being, blood supply to the brain and internal organs improves, the heartbeat normalizes, and headaches are relieved. At the highest stage, training is carried out to induce certain complex experiences by introducing the patient into trance states of varying depth and intensity.

We guarantee the correct diagnosis and improvement of the patient’s condition. The treatment regimen for obsessive thoughts is developed collectively. We focus on the complete elimination of symptoms and a return to an independent active life without worries and restrictions.

Methods for overcoming phobias

Fear of bad thoughts and their materialization is not a serious psychological disorder. But you still need to fight it, because its presence and development can cause the appearance of neuroses against the background of nervous exhaustion.

Therapy is based on two main areas - awareness of the problem and the fight against it. The patient must independently take measures that will help him regain mental health. According to psychologists, the patient needs:

1. Rationalize your own thinking. It is important to realize that these are just thoughts, and the experiences that arise are empty and have no validity.
2. Set boundaries for the development of thinking in order to confront fear in a timely manner. Such actions will help avoid the occurrence of anxiety with accompanying feelings of guilt, shame, etc.
3. Realize that a person is the creator of his own thoughts. Actions (as opposed to thoughts) are controlled by a person.

Learning to control your own thoughts is not so easy. If such methods are unsuccessful, you should consult a psychotherapist. The specialist will review the characteristics of the patient’s mental disorder and identify shortcomings in the methods used to combat fear.

Obsessive thoughts and fears

Obsessions bring significant discomfort to the patient’s life. He cannot get rid of the desire to succumb to them, to correct the situation. What causes compulsions? This is a syndrome that occurs at certain intervals as a result of compulsive behavior. In its absence, the patient experiences a feeling of anxiety. Resistance to urges ceases when a person can no longer resist the obsessions. The most common “rituals” in this case:

• cleansing (a person is obsessed with the idea of ​​bringing perfect cleanliness to the house, this also includes frequent washing of hands and body);
• satiety (the patient has an excessive appetite amid concern about controlling his body weight);
• ensuring security (a person constantly checks whether the door is locked, whether all electrical or gas appliances are turned off;
• observance of rationality (the patient zealously adheres to the regime, places objects in a certain order, steps over cracks in the asphalt);
• bookkeeping (the patient involuntarily monitors the number of things around him).

A person’s behavior during forcibly invading fantasies may look quite ordinary and does not arouse suspicion. However, a person is unable to renounce performing compulsive “rituals” due to anxiety that something terrible might happen. He is simply forced to carry out the actions to which his anxious thoughts are pushing him. Unfortunately, after the ritual, the person does not feel relief. And the fear of trouble pushes him to even more fanatical execution of actions imposed by alien thoughts. With this behavior, obsessive-compulsive disorder develops. The disease progresses mainly between the ages of 10 and 30 years. People with a high level of intelligence are most susceptible to the disease. In addition to this disease associated with obsessions, there are others.

Phobia

Translated from Greek, this term means “unhealthy fear.” It arises as a result of certain actions, situations, objects, people, animals. A person is panicky afraid of an irritant that causes fear. In some cases, phobias cause an inappropriate reaction, leading to aggression. Deviation can occur as a result of severe stress, overwork, nervous tension, or mental disorder. To date, a large number of phobias have been identified. The most common among them are:

• fear of open/enclosed spaces or crowded places;
• fear of swimming;
• fear of blood;
• fear of specific animals, insects;
• fear of loneliness;
• fear of touching money.

Phobias are often accompanied by panic attacks. A person imagines a quick end, as a result of which he may experience:

• numbness of hands and feet;
• labored breathing;
• discomfort in the heart area;
• diarrhea;
• dizziness.

All this affects the patient’s quality of life and requires immediate medical intervention. Treatment for a phobia depends on its type. In this case, he uses the principle of “knocking out a wedge with a wedge.” The patient is allowed to face his fear. However, this technique is associated with a strong emotional shock and does not always pay off.

Neurasthenia

The disease is characterized by excessive irritability, rapid fatigue, and loss of ability for prolonged mental and physical work. Pathology can be triggered by psychological trauma, nervous tension at work, chronic lack of sleep, lack of proper rest, chronic intoxication, infectious diseases, unhealthy diet, and endocrine disorders. The disease is accompanied by:

• frequent headaches;
• disruptions in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• disturbance of sleep and wakefulness;
• diarrhea/constipation.

The most favorable prognosis for treating neurasthenia at the initial stage. A change of environment, work, streamlining of the daily routine, and proper rest can help. In advanced cases, hospitalization in a specialized hospital and the prescription of pharmacotherapy, including restorative drugs, antidepressants and tranquilizers, may be required. With proper treatment, complete recovery can be achieved.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a difficult to diagnose complex mental disorder associated with inadequacy, unpredictability of behavior, insanity, illogical thinking, and detachment from society. The disease is most common in people aged 14 to 35 years. Symptoms include:

• delusional ideas;
• depressive moods;
• decreased mental and motor activity;
• deterioration in concentration;
• persecution mania;
• auditory hallucinations;
• bouts of hysteria or crying for no reason;
• delusions of grandeur;
• slurred speech;
• sloppy appearance.

The disease can be triggered by severe stress, mental stress, and heredity. Although there have been cases of sudden onset of schizophrenia with complete mental comfort.

To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to observe the patient’s behavior for a long time (at least 6 months), communicate with the patient’s relatives, general and biochemical blood tests, a clinical study of the immune status, hormonal profile, magnetic resonance therapy to exclude brain diseases that may cause tumors, abscesses, and viral encephalitis.

Forecast

The prognosis, despite the fact that obsessive-compulsive disorder syndrome in most cases occurs in a chronic form and contributes to the formation of a neurotic personality type, is favorable in most cases. Complete recovery of patients is quite rare. Mild forms of the disease with adequate treatment can be stabilized throughout the year. Treatment of severe forms with the presence of numerous obsessions and complex rituals requires a longer time. In such cases, it is important to prevent/minimize cases of relapses accompanied by a slide into dysfunctional, habitual cognitive/behavioral attitudes. In severe cases, the disorder usually has a negative impact on the patient’s ability to work, which can cause disability.

Causes of obsessive thoughts

It is difficult to establish exactly the nature of the occurrence of alien anxious thoughts. This is most associated with the underlying disease. May also affect:

• heredity;
• hormonal imbalance, due to which there is a dysfunction of the brain;
• psychological trauma;
• severe stress;
• sensitive temperament;
• pregnancy;
• disability;
• the presence of protracted infectious diseases.

A qualified psychiatrist can determine the causes of obsessive thoughts. Required:

• personal consultation;
• conducting experiments to see the overall clinical picture;
• interviewing the patient's relatives;
• observing his behavior;
• use of a neurophysiological test system and neurotest;
• carrying out laboratory tests.

Treatment of obsessions is carried out in conjunction with the underlying disease. Depending on the patient’s condition, it can be performed in a hospital or in an outpatient setting.

Pathogenesis

There is no single view on the pathogenesis of this disease. There are many hypotheses and theoretical studies, but none of them provides a comprehensive answer to the specifics of the development of obsessions. The neurochemical and neuroanatomical theories have the greatest support.

Neurochemical theory

It is based on disorders of serotonin . There is a fairly large amount of reliable data confirming the leading role of serotonin metabolism and disorders in the frontal-basal-ganglionic-thalamo-cortical circle. According to this theory, due to a decrease in the release of serotonin, the ability to influence the mechanism of dopaminergic neurotransmission begins to sharply decrease, which causes an imbalance in the systems and contributes to the development of an imbalance leading to dominance of dopamine activity in the basal ganglia. This mechanism underlies the development of stereotypic behavior and various motor disorders. Since serotonergic efferent pathways go to the structures of the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex (limbic structures and orbital gyri of the frontal lobes of the brain) from the basal ganglia, its damage is responsible for the appearance of various kinds of obsessions. It is assumed that insufficient levels of serotonin, which is based on increased reuptake by neurons, stop the process of transmitting impulses from neuron to neuron (Fig. below).

Neuroanatomical theory

The neuroanatomical basis for the development of obsessions is based on dysfunction of the frontal lobe. Evidence of neurobiological disorders is the connection of this disorder with various kinds of pathologies, which are based on pathological processes in the basal ganglia ( Tourette's syndrome , Sydenham's chorea , lethargic encephalitis ).

How to get rid of obsessive thoughts in your head

Obsessions are a real reason to visit a doctor. Only with the help of a specialist will it be possible to eliminate inappropriate ideas. You should not try to find a way to improve your well-being on your own. Self-medication can lead to worsening of the condition, progression of the disease, dependence on drugs and alcohol, in which the patient seeks solace. However, they only aggravate the situation, as they can cause delusions and hallucinations.

Heart-to-heart conversations help with obsessions. Relatives and people with similar problems will understand better. It may be advisable to sign up for group psychotherapy. However, even the closest people are not always ready to listen. Optimally, contact a good psychiatrist. In addition, you must:

• understand your desires;
• do not forget about self-control;
• adhere to the treatment regimen;
• learn more about your condition;
• accept the problem;
• realize the need for treatment;
• get enough sleep;
• adhere to the rules of good nutrition;
• give up alcohol and other psychoactive substances;
• lead an active lifestyle;
• avoid nervous fatigue and anxiety;
• be distracted by relaxing with family and friends, building a career;
• there is no need to allow obsession to interfere with a full existence.

Our clinic specialists are ready to listen to you right now. We provide on-site consultations and guarantee complete confidentiality. Highly qualified doctors will be able to correctly diagnose and offer an effective solution to eliminate the problem.

Fear of failure

If you want to learn how to remove fears from your head, then be prepared for a long time of work on yourself. It doesn’t matter where these fearful thoughts came from - from childhood, from upbringing or from the environment, but now that you have realized your weaknesses, it’s time to eradicate them. Let's learn how to remove the fear of failure using students as an example.

Many students face problem during exams. When it’s their turn to tell the ticket, most students simply forget all the information they received during their studies. But immediately after the exams, they remember the answers and regret that they could not tell them to the teacher.

The thing is that such students unconsciously project their failure because they are not confident in their abilities. They wait in advance for when they will make a mistake, and after that they simply shrug their shoulders, saying: “I knew it would happen. I don't deserve good grades."

Every night and morning, imagine that the person closest to you is congratulating you on receiving your diploma. Hold an imaginary paper in your hands and thank others for their support. Start contemplating happiness - it will have a good effect on you. Then you will go to each session with the thought that a diploma, a good career, and academic success are worthy of you.

VSD and obsessive thoughts

Against the background of symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia, obsessions can arise out of the blue. The person panics and feels helpless. “Sticky” thoughts are primarily associated with deteriorating health. The patient may be bothered by sharp pain in a specific organ, which quickly passes. There is rapid fatigue, apathy, a feeling of lack of air, heaviness in the heart area. All fears associated with fear for health come down to thanatophobia. This is the fear of death. Because of this, the nervous system is in constant tension, the situation gets worse. A sick imagination can also paint pictures of the death of loved ones. When you are forbidden not to think about such things, a person plunges even more into the abyss of his phobia. Presents a variety of colorful variations. Relatives must take the patient’s complaints seriously, otherwise the gap between them will only grow.

Why does this technique work?

The mind is always open to suggestions and can control them. When you quiet your mind and relax, thoughts begin to sink deep into the subconscious. While your mind is receptive to ideas, a home self-hypnosis session can have a powerful effect on thought patterns and beliefs.

Thus, a person sows positive seeds (thoughts) into the subconscious, where they grow and multiply. As a result, a person becomes balanced, serene, calm and self-confident.

Depression with obsessive thoughts

The disorder can lead to depression. A person is constantly in a depressed mood and loses the ability to rejoice. There are other symptoms of the disease:

• low self-esteem;
• loss of interest in life;
• impaired concentration;
• obsessive feelings of guilt;
• bad attitude;
• disturbance of sleep and wakefulness;
• refusal to eat;
• thoughts of suicide;
• tendency to use alcohol and drugs;

Depression is one of the more common mental disorders. Recent advances in the field of pharmacotherapy and psychiatry make it possible to achieve complete recovery in 96.7% of cases.

Prevention

Since the etiology of obsessive states has not been identified, preventive measures are advisory in nature. Primary prevention is aimed at preventing the development of neuroses of this type, through proper child upbringing, teaching adolescents methods to increase stress resistance, and general strengthening of the body.

Secondary prevention is aimed at preventing relapses, which is achieved through periodic medical correction of the patient’s mental state, psychotherapeutic sessions, following the recommendations of the attending physician, avoiding the abuse of psychoactive drugs/alcohol, and introducing into the diet foods containing tryptophan , which is a precursor of serotonin . It is necessary to carefully monitor the appearance of the first mild signs of the disease. Patients with psychopathic character traits should be periodically/continuously prescribed mild antipsychotic drugs ( Thioridazine , Neuleptil ).

Obsessive thoughts in neurosis

Such a diagnosis can be made when a person has been tormented for a long time by “sticky” thoughts and urges to realize them, feelings of fear and anxiety. Obsessive ideas and actions are observed to be hyperbolic and unrealistic. All this leads to suffering and other mental disorders, including alcohol and drug addiction.

The “obsessed” person constantly thinks that he can become infected with an incurable disease or get dirty. A sick imagination pushes him to perform certain daily rituals. In their absence, a person is sure that something bad will happen. Over time, the situation only gets worse. Rituals are performed with greater intensity and fanaticism. A person cannot leave the house until he has checked several times whether all electrical and gas appliances are turned off and whether all the windows are closed. With obsessive-thought neurosis, other phobias may also arise. For example, fear of one’s death and loved ones, fear of spiders and snakes, fear of the dark, fear of betrayal by a sexual partner.

At first, a person does not give in to much panic at the provocations of fantasies that forcibly invade the consciousness. Then be ashamed of your behavior and attitude towards life. Some patients simply do not know where they can get help. It may take 7-10 years from the time the disease develops until you see a doctor.

You should not delay contacting a specialist if something is bothering you or your relative and preventing you from concentrating on a normal life. Sometimes you just need to talk it out. Seeing a psychologist is a normal practice in the West. Perhaps there is no significant problem. It’s better to play it safe and find out the opinion of a specialist than to drive yourself into the abyss of your fears, depressive moods, or be led by inappropriate thoughts. Contact us, we can listen to you right now and help you cope with stress and anxiety!

Fear of public speaking, stage

Let's find out how to remove public fear. To do this, we will introduce you to an entertaining story.

The young lady was invited to audition. She was looking forward to the interview. However, on three previous occasions she failed due to stage fright. The girl had an incredibly beautiful voice, but she was sure that when it was her turn to speak in front of the jury, fear would consume her and she would not be able to cope.

The subconscious accepted this challenge and did as she asked. In three previous auditions, the girl sang the wrong notes, and she ended up breaking down and starting crying. What the young lady thought about before each performance was involuntary self-hypnosis.

But the girl was able to overcome her stage fright. Three times a day she isolated herself in a room, sat comfortably in a chair, relaxed her body and closed her eyes. The girl calmed her mind to the best of her ability. She neutralized the instillation of fear by talking to herself: “I sing beautifully. I am balanced, serene, confident and calm.” Immediately after this, her stage fright began to gradually decrease.

List of sources

• Batarshev A.V. Diagnosis of borderline mental personality disorders. M.: Publishing House of the Institute of Psychotherapy, 2004. 320 p.
• Svyadosch A. M. Obsessive-compulsive neurosis (obsessive-compulsive and phobic neurosis). // Neuroses (a guide for doctors). — 4th, revised and expanded. - St. Petersburg: Peter (publishing house), 1997. - P. 69-95. — 448 p. - (“Practical Medicine”).
• Dahlke R. Illness as a path. The meaning and purpose of the disease. M.: Ves, 2004. 232 p.
• Mosolov, S.N. Algorithm for biological therapy of obsessive-compulsive disorder / S.N. Mosolov, P.V. Alfimov // Modern therapy of mental disorders. 2013. No. 1. pp. 41-44
• Granenov G.M., Mosolov S.N. The use of antidepressants of various groups in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders // Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry named after. S.S. Korsakov. 2003. No. 7. P. 70-74.