Forrest and Dr. Rick delve into a frequently requested topic: how we can let go of obsessive and intrusive thoughts. They explore why we get trapped in certain thoughts, the negative effects of rumination, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). They also discuss facing our fears, which allows us to get close enough to a problem that we can do something about it…without getting so close that we become overwhelmed by it. 

Watch the Episode: Prefer watching video? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:

0:00 : Introduction

1:20 : What is rumination?

5:00 : Why we get stuck in certain thoughts

8:10 : Two kinds of obsessive thoughts

11:00 : The brains attempt to problem solve

13:40 : Assessing a hypothetical client

20:15 : We all have weird thoughts

22:35 : Reality testing, naming thoughts and not feeding them

25:20 : "Completing the gestalt"

31:40 : Rick completing a gestalt on psychedelics

33:45 : Balancing closeness and distance

39:45 : Exaggerating the obsession vs. thought suppression

42:35 : Widening your view and surrendering to the worst

44:50 : The intrinsic emptiness of a ruminative thought

48:10 : Another hypothetical case study

56:10 : Doing good in the world as an antidote

59:30 : Recap

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