Full OCD Recovery: Are You Trying To Stop Or Get Rid Of OCD Thoughts? - OCD Recovery

Summary3 min read

Podcast Summary

Overview of Episode Theme

Episode Title: Full OCD Recovery: Are You Trying To Stop Or Get Rid Of OCD Thoughts?
Host: Ali Greymond
Main Theme:
Ali Greymond addresses a core struggle for people with OCD: the instinctive urge to stop or eliminate intrusive thoughts. She emphasizes that trying to suppress or control these thoughts only increases their frequency and intensity. Instead, Ali urges listeners to practice indifference and allow intrusive thoughts to exist without engaging with them—an approach central to her recovery method.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Paradox of Thought Suppression

Trying to eliminate OCD thoughts is counterproductive.
- Ali draws an analogy: “It’s kind of like the don’t think of a pink elephant thing.” (00:04)
- The more one tries to force thoughts out, the more persistent and distressing they become.

Letting Thoughts Be

Accept the presence of intrusive thoughts.
- Don’t judge the content or meaning of any thought.
- “Let the thought be however it is. Scary. Not scary. Let it have a place in your mind. Continue on with the day again.” (00:09)

The Normalcy of ‘Nonsense’ Thoughts

OCD leads to a high volume of thoughts, many of which are meaningless.
- Ali notes: “People get 50 to 70,000 thoughts a day. I’d say people with OCD get the higher end of that. So out of 70,000 thoughts, all kinds of nonsense can go through your mind.” (00:14)
- The actual content is irrelevant; it’s the reaction that matters.

Breaking the OCD Thought-Reaction Cycle

Reacting to thoughts reinforces them.
- “If you start to react to any thought that’s running through your brain, your brain takes notice, it will send you more of the same thoughts.” (00:24)
- Increased attention equals increased frequency, making the thoughts feel constant.

Challenging the Meaning of Intrusive Thoughts

Many with OCD mistake the recurrence of thoughts for proof of guilt or being a “bad person,” but this is just the brain responding to repeated focus—“No, you’re just flagging it all the time.” (00:38)

The Power of Indifference

Indifference weakens the grip of OCD.
- “Start showing indifference. The more you show indifference, the better it’s gonna get.” (00:45)
- Make it a personal mantra not to ruminate, no matter how disturbing the thought.

Refusing to Ruminate

A practical mantra for everyday use:
- “No matter how brutal the thought is, no matter what it says, I’m choosing not to ruminate all day long.” (00:50)
- Consistent refusal to overthink or engage helps retrain the mind.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"Don't try to stop OCD thoughts. Allow them to be like they be." – Ali Greymond (00:00)
“The more you try to stop the thoughts, the stronger they’re going to become.” (00:03)
“It doesn’t matter what the thought is about or how horrible it is. Doesn’t matter. All we care about is your reaction.” (00:18)
“Start showing indifference. The more you show indifference, the better it’s gonna get.” (00:45)
“You have to make this your mantra, that no matter how brutal the thought is, no matter what it says, I’m choosing not to ruminate all day long.” (00:50)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:00 – 00:09: Introduction; Allowing OCD thoughts to exist
00:14 – 00:24: Volume and variety of thoughts; reaction is what counts
00:24 – 00:38: How reacting creates a cycle of recurring thoughts
00:38 – 00:45: Addressing guilt and mistaken meaning
00:45 – 00:56: The power of indifference; adopting a anti-rumination mantra

Conclusion

Ali Greymond delivers a concise but powerful reminder: recovery from OCD hinges on refusing to engage with intrusive thoughts, no matter their form. By allowing thoughts to come and go without reaction or rumination, listeners can start breaking the OCD cycle. Her advice is practical, compassionate, and based on her extensive experience helping people reclaim their lives from OCD.

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[00:01]
A
Don't try to stop OCD thoughts. Allow them to be like they be. Because the more you try to stop the thoughts, the stronger they're going to become. It's kind of like the don't think of a pink elephant thing. Let the thought be however it is. Scary. Not scary. Let it have a place in your mind. Continue on with the day again. People get 50 to 70,000 thoughts a day. I'd say people with OCD get the higher end of that. So out of 70,000 thoughts, all kinds of nonsense can go through your mind. It doesn't matter what the thought is about or how horrible it is. Doesn't matter. All we care about is your reaction. If you start to react to any thought that's running through your brain, your brain takes notice, it will send you more of the same thoughts. They're still meaningless, but now you'll just get more of them. And if you keep reacting, you'll get them all the time. Still meaningless, but now you're having them all the time. And that's the situation that most people with OCD are in. They're getting this thought 24 7. They're like, why am I getting it? This means I'm a bad person. This means this is true. Blah, blah, blah. No, you're just flagging it all the time. Start showing indifference. The more you show indifference, the better it's gonna get. Don't let yourself ruminate. You have to make this your mantra, that no matter how brutal the thought is, no matter what it says, I'm choosing not to ruminate all day long. Emergency session is available. The link is in the description.