Silence Your OCD with This Powerful 5-Word Phrase

Silence Your OCD with This Powerful 5-Word Phrase

What if I told you there is a phrase that could silence your OCD? I know it sounds too good to be true, but here's the thing – it's not just about shutting down those thoughts. It's about changing how you respond to them. And that's exactly what we're going to dive into today.

The Power of Changing Your Response

Picture this: you're about to leave for work and all of a sudden, you have a thought: "What if I left the stove on?" Your heart starts to race. You feel uneasy. Your brain says, "You probably did, even though you know you checked it five times before leaving."

OCD thoughts are exhausting. They pop up out of nowhere and demand your attention right now. They lead to time-consuming behaviors that only give you temporary relief. It's like being stuck on a hamster wheel you can't get off. But what if I told you there's a way to break that cycle?

Introducing the 5-Word Phrase

Stick around because in the next few minutes, I'm going to teach you a phrase that can help you take back control from OCD. It's only five words long, but here's the kicker – it involves agreeing with your OCD. Sounds counterintuitive, right? But sometimes, the most effective strategies are the simplest ones.

The 5-Word Phrase: "I guess it'll happen."

Here it is – "I guess it'll happen." Simple, yet powerful. When OCD throws a "What if?" at you, this response says, "Okay, maybe it will happen, but I'm not going to do anything to stop it." This phrase helps you accept uncertainty instead of fighting it. For example:

• OCD thought: "What if you left the stove on?"
• Your response: "I guess it'll happen."
• OCD thought: "What if you hit someone with your car?"
• Your response: "I guess it'll happen."

This approach breaks the cycle of anxiety and compulsions because you're not engaging with the threat. You're simply acknowledging the thought without reacting to it.

How It Works in Action

Let’s put this into action. Imagine you're about to go to an important meeting, and OCD says, “What if you say something inappropriate?” Instead of avoiding the meeting or keeping your mouth shut the entire time, you respond with, “I guess it'll happen.” This response prevents you from engaging in compulsions like overthinking or checking your behavior.

Thought Defusion: Separating Yourself from Your Thoughts

This strategy is based on a technique called thought defusion. Thought defusion means separating yourself from your thoughts so that they don't control your behavior. When you say, "I guess it'll happen," you're telling OCD, "You're not the boss of me." Your brain learns that you don’t need to react to every thought that pops up.

It Works for All Types of OCD

You might be thinking, “That might work for some types of OCD, but what about mine? My OCD makes me think I’m going to go to jail or hurt someone.” Here’s the thing: this phrase can work for all types of OCD. Whether you're dealing with contamination fears, harm OCD, or moral OCD, “I guess it'll happen” can be your go-to response. It’s a simple way of saying, “Okay, cool. What if it happens? I’ll deal with it if and when it comes.”

Real-Life Examples

Contamination OCD

Imagine you're about to eat at a restaurant and OCD says, "What if the chef didn’t wash their hands?" The usual response might be to go check the kitchen, ask about hygiene practices, or research reviews. But instead, you simply respond with, “I guess it’ll happen.” You’re telling your brain, "I’m not going to waste time trying to figure it out. If there’s a problem, I’ll deal with it then."

Dealing with What You Can Control

Let me share a real-life example. I once went to a restaurant where I saw a worker vaping in the kitchen. I could clearly see the problem, and I knew I could do something about it. But in the future, I can’t guarantee the same thing will happen, so I’m willing to risk it and move on with my meal.

Overcoming the Urge to Control Every "What If"

It might feel strange at first to use this phrase, especially when your OCD thoughts feel so convincing. But over time, you’ll get used to it. By consistently using “I guess it’ll happen,” your brain learns that you don’t need to solve every "What if" because the answer is always the same: you can't solve it until it happens, if it ever does.

Final Thoughts

In the end, this strategy is about teaching your brain that uncertainty isn’t something to be feared. You can handle whatever comes your way, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. So next time OCD gives you a “What if?” response with, “I guess it'll happen,” and let your brain see that you are in control.

Take Control of Your OCD Today

Remember, OCD doesn’t get to choose how you respond. You do. If you want to learn more about overcoming OCD, join me in my Kids Master OCD course where I break down effective techniques to regain control and live a peaceful life without OCD.