West Hartford Counseling Center
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Five Strategies for Managing Worry and Obsessive Thinking

1. Thought Stopping

  • When the worrying thought or image comes, shout “STOP” to yourself.
  • Then, picture a big, red, stop sign.

2. Attention Grabbing Tasks:

Tasks must be active and engaging, not passive. Examples include:

  • Artwork
  • Crossword Puzzles
  • Playing a musical instrument or singing
  • Build models (e.g. model trains, airplanes)

3. The “Worry Box”

  • Set aside specified time to worry.
  • Limit worry and obsession only to those times.

4. Write it down!

5. Schedule Compulsions and Worry-Related Behaviors

  • Don’t wait until anxiety builds; plan specific time for compulsive behaviors.
  • Steadily increase the period of time between worry-related behaviors.

WHCC Services

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
  • Psychodynamic Theory
  • EMDR
  • Gestalt Therapy
  • Sandtray Therapy
  • Expressive Movement Therapy
  • Life Coaching
  • Play Therapy

Helpful Readings

  • Informational Readings
  • Inspirational Readings

Resources

  • Cinema-therapy
  • Favorite Ted Talks / Videos
  • Helpful Links
  • Book List

"Make yourself a door through which to be hospitable, even to the stranger in you."
-- David Whyte

"Where you stumble and fall there you will find true gold."
-- Carl Jung

"People start to heal the moment they feel heard."
-- Cheryl Richardson

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