In this blog, we will learn how to challenge another unhelpful thinking pattern that can occur in OCD. The belief that one has an exaggerated sense of responsibility. This can play out when one has an intrusive doubt about whether one has locked the door. The compulsion could include checking the lock repeatedly until one is satisfied. This is accompanied by the thinking error that one is responsible for not locking the doors and for any breakthrough of the building and ensuing theft. When one is left feeling that it is 100% their responsibility, this distresses them more and leaves them wanting to ensure that, for example, ultimately, there is no doubt that one has locked the door.
The core of the OCD doubts and beliefs include guilt. Having an intrusive doubt that you may hit someone while turning left might lead to an excessive need to check that you haven’t. The underlying thought pattern is the excessive sense of responsibility. If safety and compulsive behaviours are not engaged, there is a powerful sense of guilt, responsibility and shame. Another way a sense of exaggerated responsibility is meted out is when one believes that their thoughts determine if they are a good or a bad character. When there are intrusive thoughts of harming others, as might happen in Harm OCD or assaulting children, the OCD sufferer might feel excessively guilty and might label himself as a wrong person. As a result, he will keep engaging in excessive reassurance-seeking or compulsive behaviours.
By addressing these intrusive doubts, you can experience a sense of relief and hope for the future. Engage in the following exercise to challenge this thinking error and actively participate in your recovery. Reflect and write about how a burglar can enter the house instead of just entering via an unlocked door. What other factors could be responsible for a robbery in the house? Can it be attributed to insufficient policing around that area, lack of a proper security guard or lack of CCTV monitors? The burglars also have a responsibility for breaking the law. Other people in your house will also have to take responsibility for not securing their valuables in a safe place.
Consider amongst all these factors how much your responsibility lies in leaving the door unlocked, paving the way for a burglar to enter. You might experience an intense and irrational belief that you’re responsible for preventing harm or adverse events. You might know that it is beyond your control when you experience these intrusive, repetitive and anxiety-provoking thoughts about your heightened sense of responsibility. This could include fears of causing harm, the belief that you can prevent disasters through specific actions or thoughts, or compulsive behaviours. You might have an exaggerated concern about moral responsibilities.To cope with these distressing thoughts, a person might engage in repetitive, compulsive behaviours such as repetitive locks, seeking reassurance from people around them, or performing rituals to prevent perceived harm.
Next, reflect on what you might advise a friend struggling with a similar thought pattern. Would you reassure them differently? If so, reflect on why the standards would be different for you.
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