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Being Well Podcast: Releasing Obsessive Thoughts: Rumination, OCD, and Dealing with Fear
April 17, 2023

Forrest and Dr. Rick delve into one of the questions we’re asked most frequently: how we can let go of obsessive and intrusive thoughts. We explore why we tend to get trapped in certain thoughts, the negative effects of rumination, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We then discuss facing our fears and how we can balance getting close enough to a problem that we can do something about it…without getting so close that we become overwhelmed by it. 

Rumination Course: Rick’s 5-week online course Breaking Out of Rumination starts on March 29th. Rumination is a big pain point for many people, and this course will help you learn how to break repetitive patterns of thought. Learn more at RickHanson.com/ruminating, and use coupon code BeingWell25 to receive a 25% discount.

Key Topics:

  • 0:00: Introduction
  • 1:20: What is rumination?
  • 5:00: Why we get stuck in certain thoughts
  • 8:10: Two kinds of obsessive thoughts
  • 11:00: The brain’s attempt to problem solve
  • 13:40: Assessing a hypothetical client
  • 20:15: We all have weird thoughts
  • 25:20: Feeling the hypothetical outcome, or completing the gestalt
  • 31:40: Rick completing a gestalt on psychedelics
  • 33:45: Balancing closeness and distance
  • 39:45: Exaggerating the obsession vs. thought suppression
  • 42:35: Widening your view and surrendering to the worst
  • 44:50: The intrinsic emptiness of a ruminative thought
  • 48:10: Another hypothetical case study
  • 56:10: Doing good in the world as an antidote
  • 59:30: Recap

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