For the past two years, I’ve had some anxiety related to spiritual things.When it bothers me, I become obsessive and research constantly for reassurance and neglect almost everything. I see this was a bad habit, so in my second semester, I put it on my hold and decided to deal with research after I graduate from uni and focused on things like my hobbies and social life/grades. I did this well into the summer. However, yesterday, my anxiety started acting up and made me do some research for reassurance and I stumbled on something which disrupted my promise and makes me fear that my question has been answered. Since then, I’ve gone back to my anxiety phase and feel like it’s all over. I’m so frustrated with myself for letting my anxiety take over and feel like I’ve ruined myself. However, school starts in 3 weeks and as I said before, I do not want to waste another years/more year on this as I need to focus on grades/social life and don’t want to waste my youth. I’m freaked out as I feel like I’ve found an unsolvable answer to my issue and have decided no more research as it will make it worse. What advice would you guys give if you have any?
Personally, I think “research” on “spiritual” topics is useless. My bias is that most things labeled as “spiritual” have no basis in fact or reality. So what research is even worthwhile? Just my opinion - especially if it is causing you stress, jettison it from your life. Go get professional help from a secular therapist if it is really paralyzing you.
@NightRogue: I have read through your prior posts & prior threads. Consider talking with a counselor about your concerns. Seems as though you waste a lot of time & emotion on meaningless tasks.
If you insist on not treating your OCD, then focus (if you can) your OCD on productive & meaningful physical activities such as weightlifting, running, swimming or other physical activities designed to release happy juice (endorphins) into your brain.
P.S. You may be obsessed with yourself. This can be unhealthy. Consider volunteering at an animal shelter, a homeless shelter or an old folks home. You need to be aware that others have serious problems with which you can help. Get your mind on something meaningful & productive before you drive yourself nuts.
- I do. I have talked to the school counsellor, who recommended I take my mind off it/put it on hold and gave me tips to deal with anxiety, such as the phrase, my fear is real but its not true. I also plan to do so when school starts, can't now as I'm travelling.
As you can see in my post, my ocd acted up and made me go off what he recommended. I’m super frustrated with myself for ruining my anxiety free years and am ruminating. I was asking, until school starts, how can handle this.
Researching “spiritual” things on the internet without a more knowledgeable other (i.e Pastor, Minister, Priest, Rabbi. Sunim, Imam, and any other teacher I missed) to help with interpretation and/or guidance, is obviously not a good idea if it affects you in such a manner. Seems to me there is an underlying issue(s) that may need to be addressed through counseling, especially if you continue to engage in behavior that upsets you so much.
Its a little difficult to give helpful recommendations without some understanding of the nature of the rumination and disruptive self talk. But it sounds like you would benefit from a CBT - focused therapeutic approach, and read the book “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook”.
If you don’t like my exercise suggestion & don’t want to volunteer at a shelter (animal or human), then read Dostoevsky, Chekov & other Russian authors. Or become obsessed with learning a foreign language–which can make you more social if you join groups which practice together.
I ruminated/tend to research as I feel like eventually, I’ll find what I’m looking for. SO basically, it is sort of a questioning spirituality phase and there’s like a specific question I needed answered. However, I decided to take a break but recently, I fear I might’ve gotten an answer which makes me feel worse. If I try myself not to jump to conclusions my ocd tells me things like 'it’s so obvious, you’re just in denial." I guess I’m asking, for now, should I try and take my mind off it so I can calm down a bit
Exercise sounds good, never said I disliked your suggestions.
Those are fine suggestions. But the most success you will get will be to learn to interrupt, redirect and challenge ruminative thinking.
You can pose your question here since this is an anonymous forum. Most of the regular posters are highly intelligent, sensitive & experienced in life.
OP, I think you need to see a counselor/therapist. You need some professional help with this. It’s a common problem that can be managed.
@NightRogue You’ve received some great, viable options in your previous threads. Have you tried any of the suggestions already given?
@Publisher Well, it’s more spiritually focused but basically, it dealt with a certain text. I’ll try and explain as clear as I can:
So there are two narrator in it and someone wrote if one narrator contacts members of a certain group(hears from them). he makes mistakes. I read info like this narrator lost his memory in his old age and if he deals with one individual/narrator, he is trustworthy, who is present in the text. As well, the other narrator was listed as seperate from this group in a place I read. However, I did research yesterday and fear the second narrator might be part of the group as he was listed as being part of something with the same prefix. Again, the contradictory information I posted above makes me unsure but I feel like I’m in denial/looking pass the obvious of this narrator being part of the group where the first narrator errors due to it sharing the same prefix basically.
I will take up counselling but cannot now as I am travelling currently. I was looking for ways to handle it until then
READ.THE.BOOK.
A simple trick may help. Think of anxiety as energy rather than as a fear, then redirect that energy to something positive & productive rather than to a futile effort into someting exhausting & unattainable.
@Publisher, did you see me explain?
No, I guess that we cross posted.
I have read your explanation twice, but I do not understand it.
As I said, it’s more specific. Sorry for not being detailed.