Mindfulness as a Tool for Resilience with OCD
Mindfulness helps us accept unpleasant experiences, especially when dealing with intrusive thoughts like anxiety and compulsions. By practicing mindfulness, we can more easily regain a sense of inner peace. When added to ERP,mindfulness has been shown to further decrease OCD symptoms,depression,and anxiety while increasing self-compassion (Key et al., 2017).
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of directing our awareness to the present moment and accepting our experiences as they are. For instance, when watching a movie, the actors' lines and visuals come to life, evoking genuine emotions. Similarly, when enjoying dinner with loved ones, we can savor the flavors and fully engage in the lively conversations around us.
In contrast, when we are in a state of mindlessness—often referred to as being "spaced out"—our minds become cluttered with worries, making it difficult to focus on our current experiences. During these times, we may find ourselves eating without tasting the food or merely going through the motions of conversations, missing the meaningful connections. This state of being can cause us to lose sight of what truly matters to us.
Mindfulness Training
Mindfulness training is a practice that helps us return to what we genuinely want when we experience anxiety or compulsive thoughts. It allows us to break free from the grip of these thoughts and redirect our focus to the present moment.
By engaging in mindfulness training together, we can learn to address compulsive thoughts while still focusing on what is truly important to us.
