Dear Eric:

Like you said, if you get relief from this worrisome scenario, there will be another… and another… and another.. and etc., etc… and another. I read your “my past actions can’t be undone. How I wished I do that past actions differently” theme of obsessions (as well as other themes) over and over… and over again in your many threads (different accounts) over the years. It is tiring for me to read it again… and again.. and again… and again… and again.

Are you noticing, Eric, how frustrating it is for me to read the same worries-obsessions over and over? When in the past I suggested professional help for your Obsessive Thinking, you rejected my suggestion saying that you were trying to convince your mind- those were the words you used, to convince my mind.

How is this convincing-your-mind working for you?

Here is from Calm Clinic. com/ How to Stop Obsessive Thoughts and Anxiety (the boldface feature is my addition): “Persistent and negative thoughts are one of the most common signs of an anxiety disorder… Obsessive thoughts are the hallmark of obsessive compulsive disorder, but there are types of ‘obsessive’ thoughts that are present in a variety of anxiety disorders that won’t necessarily cause a diagnosis of OCD…

“Obsessive thoughts are required for someone to be diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. These obsessive thoughts are often violent, sexual, or fearful in nature…  Some examples of obsessive thoughts include: *Fear of getting sick….* Worry over little things (did I lock the door, etc.)…  Compulsions are the action that the person completes in order to reduce this obsessive thought. When the person fears germs (obsession), they may need to wash their hands repeatedly (compulsion). When the person fears the door being unlocked (obsession), they may need to lock it 3 or more times (compulsion) to stop that fear…

“Obsessive Thoughts in Other Anxiety Disorders:  It’s also possible to develop obsessive thoughts associated with other anxiety disorders… and you’re unlikely to develop compulsions as a result.. Your psychologist will be the one to diagnose which of the following you have. Some examples of these disorders include: * Panic Disorder … Panic attacks are intense feelings of severe anxiety with shortness of breath, elevated heartbeat, sweating, and a fear that something is terribly wrong. *Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Those with PTSD often find themselves thinking obsessionally and excessively about the trauma they experienced or the belief that the trauma will occur again. * Phobias Those with very severe phobias may start to think about the object of that fear more and more with everything they do. For example, checking your clothes for spiders….* Social Phobia Those with social phobia worry excessively about embarrassing themselves in social situations. In some cases, it may be a thought of something that happened, while in others it may be worst-case-scenario thinking about the future. * Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – GAD is a disorder that’s linked to numerous, general worries. For example, worrying that your son/daughter is in danger after they go off to college, along with worries about finances and relationships”.

Mayo Clinic. org: “Signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder can include constant: * Fear of situations in which you may be judged negatively * Worry about embarrassing or humiliating yourself * Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers *Fear that others will notice that you look anxious *Fear of physical symptoms that may cause you embarrassment, such as blushing, sweating, trembling or having a shaky voice *Avoidance of doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment *Avoidance of situations where you might be the center of attention *Anxiety in anticipation of a feared activity or event *Intense fear or anxiety during social situations *Analysis of your performance and identification of flaws in your interactions after a social situation *Expectation of the worst possible consequences from a negative experience during a social situation”.

Mayo Clinic/ Social Anxiety Disorder/ diagnosis-treatment: “Treatment depends on how much social anxiety disorder affects your ability to function in daily life. The most common treatment for social anxiety disorder includes psychotherapy (also called psychological counseling or talk therapy) or medications or both. Psychotherapy improves symptoms in most people with social anxiety disorder… Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective type of psychotherapy for anxiety, and it can be equally effective when conducted individually or in groups. In exposure-based CBT, you gradually work up to facing the situations you fear most… You may also participate in skills training or role-playing to practice your social skills and gain comfort and confidence relating to others. Practicing exposures to social situations is particularly helpful to challenge your worries…  selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often the first type of drug tried for persistent symptoms of social anxiety. Your health care provider may prescribe paroxetine (Paxil) or sertraline (Zoloft)…”.

– What do you think, Eric?

anita