Episode Overview
Podcast: OCD Recovery
Host: Ali Greymond
Episode Title: You Need To Passively Ignore OCD Thoughts
Date: November 27, 2025
In this concise episode, Ali Greymond discusses the vital but often misunderstood skill of passively ignoring OCD thoughts. Drawing on her own recovery experience and her work with thousands of clients, Ali explains the difference between passive and active disregarding of intrusive thoughts, clarifies common mistakes, and emphasizes the value of nonchalance in the recovery journey.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Importance of Passive Disregard
- Ali stresses that the way individuals ignore or disregard obsessive thoughts is pivotal in the OCD recovery process.
- Active, effortful attempts to dismiss thoughts can inadvertently reinforce their significance.
“You cannot be in the mindset of, 'Oh, my God, I have a thought, I’ve got to disregard.’ If you act like this... you create a state of emergency.”
— Ali Greymond [00:24]
2. The Harm of Hypervigilance & Over-Attention
- Reacting with urgency or alarm to intrusive thoughts ("a state of emergency") communicates to the brain that these thoughts are important or dangerous.
- Ali cautions against scrutinizing thoughts, timing one’s responses, or constantly monitoring progress.
“If you start to disregard from the state of emergency in your brain, what actually happens is you’re making the situation more relevant because your brain sees you are on guard.”
— Ali Greymond [00:37]
3. Cultivating a Nonchalant Attitude
- Recovery requires a passive, almost dismissive attitude to OCD thoughts: acknowledge them, but don’t engage.
- It’s not about making the thoughts go away instantly or never having them, but about showing the brain these thoughts are not important.
“You want to do it very passively. Like, yeah, okay, I have this thought. I have it every day. Whatever. I'm going on with my day. Thanks, but no thanks. I don't care.”
— Ali Greymond [00:48]
4. Common Pitfalls in Attempting to Disregard Thoughts
- Many people believe they're “disregarding” but are actually obsessively monitoring themselves or striving for perfection.
- Using rigid routines or excessive research (watching videos all day, using timers) can escalate anxiety.
“A lot of the times, what I see is that the person is obsessively trying to disregard, trying to do it in a perfection way. They're using a timer. They’re thinking about it all day... which, again, underlines it.”
— Ali Greymond [01:34]
5. The Analogy of a "Parade in My Brain"
- Ali uses vivid imagery to normalize the persistence of intrusive thoughts and the value of carrying on with daily life regardless.
“You are just going on with the day and ignoring the fact that there is literally a parade in your brain.”
— Ali Greymond [01:06]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“Yelling at the top of your lungs, saying, ‘When are these thoughts going to go away?’ is not passively ignoring. That is underlining it, making it important. That’s why it will come in tomorrow stronger.”
— Ali Greymond [01:16] -
“Like, this passiveness in disregarding – just please remember this, because this will make a difference in your recovery, I promise you.”
— Ali Greymond [02:17]
Important Timestamps
- [00:24] — Key distinction between active and passive disregarding begins
- [00:48] — Ali describes the mindset and attitude for passive ignoring
- [01:34] — Explanation of common mistakes and pitfalls in disregarding
- [02:17] — Emphasis on the "small nuance" that makes a big difference for recovery
Tone and Style
Ali Greymond’s approach is conversational, empathetic, and motivational, blending direct advice with analogies and personal insight. She frequently reassures listeners that recovery is possible and emphasizes practical, sustainable strategies over perfectionism or urgency.
Summary Takeaway
Ali Greymond’s central message: For true OCD recovery, it’s essential to passively disregard intrusive thoughts, adopting a nonchalant and dismissive attitude without urgency or over-analysis. This subtle shift makes intrusive thoughts less relevant and paves the way for lasting improvement.