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About Richard Niemeyer
Expertise
I can answer questions related to obsessions and compulsions, troubling and intrusive thoughts, and treatment techniques and relevant OCD research. I can answer questions related to the causes of OCD and intrusive thoughts and other related OCD theories. I can answer questions regarding the neurological mechanisms of anti-anxiety medications. I can also answer OCD questions of a religious nature (Christian). I cannot give suggestions on which medications to take, as I am not a medical doctor. I cannot answer questions related to hoarding.
Experience
I have experience working in the mental health and mental rehabilitation field. Intrusive thoughts and OCD were a primary area of study for me during graduate school.
Organizations
American Psychological Association
National Association of Social Workers
Education/Credentials
Master of Social Work- University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science in Bible- Philadelphia Biblical University
Licensed Social Worker- State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors (Pennsylvania)
Past/Present Clients
I have worked with clients diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive disorder and other anxiety disorders
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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Mental Health > OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder > REPEATED INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS
Expert: Richard Niemeyer - 10/23/2009
Question
DEAR SIR, i have been getting these repeated thoughts for the last 2 yrs.my age is 25 yrs male. i get conscious about my hands ie where my hands r and what i am doing with them most of the time in a day. i am preparing for higher studies(md entrance) so i cannot concentrate on my study at all because of this problem. i become very upset at that time. No doubt it has decreased in intensity as compared to earlier but still it troubles me n i cant focus on my study. plz help PLZ.
Answer
Hi Raman,
Thanks for your question. Here is something you can try. It's going to take some time and dedication, but I think it really might help you. You are going to have to trust me a little on this too.
For a half an hour each day, no more, no less, Find a quite, distraction free place in you house or apartment where there is no one else around. For that half an hour I want you to do 1 of several things. I want you to stare at your hand, think about them as hard as you can, think about them in different scenarios. Come up with the most troubling thoughts about your hands and think about it. If you catch you mind wondering onto a different topic, bring your mind back onto your hands. Find a journal that you can use to write in. During that half hour write in your journal all about your hands, where they are, where they have been. . . all the while being fully conscious of your hands. Do not take your mind off your hands for one minute during that half an hour. You must do this every day.
This is one of the most effective techniques for getting over your particular kind of obsession. It most likely sounds strange and maybe even a little bit troubling, but here's why it works.
You are constantly thinking about your hands because you are constantly trying to avoid thinking about your hands. When people try to "not think" about something it creates a paradoxical effect and causes them to think about the very thing they are trying to avoid. If I tell you that over the next five seconds, "I Do Not want you to think about a pink elephant" are you successful? Probably not. The way to defeat this kind of obsession is, likewise, to use a paradox. If you welcome and invite thoughts into your mind about your hands. . . and during that half hour force yourself to think about your hands, the power will be taken away from your obsession.
Expect your intrusive thoughts to increase for the first several weeks. Expect to feel anxious and feel like it is not working. But has anything else you tried worked for you? Don't give up on those half hour sessions. If you stick at it, and deliberately think about your hands and don't avoid thinking about your hands. . . in time your intrusive thoughts will decrease and probably go away all together. Even when you start to get better, don't stop the deliberate times of thinking about you hands. Even when you are completely better, still take some time, every now and then, to think about your hands.
If you want to learn more about these kind of techniques check out the book, "When Panic Attacks" by David Burns or another book called, "Knowing Through Changing" by Giorgio Nardone and Claudette Portelli. Good Luck in medical school. Let me know how things work out for you. Rich
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