Reddit mentions of You Are Not Your Brain: The 4-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life

You are not your brain.

Real talk:

This book was written by a doctor who specializes in helping mental health patients deal with OCD. It is a watered down version of another famous book of his known as "brain lock".

Basically.. What you are describing are known as "intrusive thoughts"... thoughts we don't want, but our brain has thought about anyways. By us consciously identifying these intrusive thoughts as "intrusive", rather than just naturally occurring, healthy thoughts passing through our brain, our body starts to enter "fight or flight" mode because the thought is perceived as a threat. How people deal with this perceived threat is different, but it usually manifests itself in some form of a "compulsion", or "check".

For example, if you or I were to touch something that was "dirty". Our brains would say "that was dirty, you are dirty, you should clean yourself when possible", and we would reply "ok thanks". Whereas someone who has obsessive thoughts about being clean's brain would respond differently... they have alarm bells ringing in their head, and the only thing they could do to alleviate the feeling or stress (because their body is now in fight or flight mode from the perceived "threat" they are under) is to wash their hands. Constantly. Every time they think something is "dirty", which is all the time, because their brain is now constantly scanning for "threats". People literally start to fear their own thoughts... and the "scarier" the thought, the harder it is NOT to think about it.

Its a vicious cycle if someone's brain gets caught up in this thought pattern, but completely normal... and not a big deal if dealt with. The longer you're caught up in this kind of thought pattern, the more deeply embedded in your day-to-day way of thinking it can get.

By the way... I'm by no means a doctor... but I have dealt with mental health issues in the past, and can honestly say this book saved me from myself.

>I can read the above and think that it all makes sense but my brain is trying to convince me otherwise!

I know exactly what you are saying. I recently got this book called You are not Your Brain. It talks about how the brain transmits deceptive messages about yourself and the techniques you can you to combat them and put your brain to work for you. A lot of bad habits stem from taking the deceptive messages seriously and succumbing to to self-destructive habits as a result. I will post a review from a porn addict's perspective when I am done with it.

Thank you man, I'm also going to start reading this book http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Not-Your-Brain/dp/1583334831

Thanks for the advice :)

You know, your brain is always making suggestion, but you don't have to listen to all of them!

A good read (or listen, if you like audio books!)
https://www.amazon.ca/You-Are-Not-Your-Brain/dp/1583334831

I found this one helpful:


https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Not-Your-Brain/dp/1583334831

To be honest: I'm not a great fan of weed. It amplifies psychological problems like anxiety or depression. I had my fair share of them and one important step to recovery was to quit (If you are interested r/leaves).
If it hinders the process? I don't know to be honest and frankly there could be no answer on this question, because it could depend on the person.

What you could do about your thoughts is pausing Transformation Mastery for a while and reading this book: Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy .
This book will help you get rid of these thoughts and will give you a jump start.
Another one, which is not nearly as important as this amazing book is: You Are Not Your Brain.
And if you're really really ambitious this one The Happiness Trap too.

If you can't afford these books pm me.

Is this the book you're reading, and do you recommend it?

Do you have racing thoughts? Do you get anxious or panicky? Sometimes those symptoms don't respond well to exercise alone. You should talk to a doctor. But definitely do light cardio every day as suggested by jimbosz07. Even a walk on your lunch break is sufficient. That will help your general sense of well-being. Also, check out this book, You Are Not Your Brain:

http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Not-Your-Brain/dp/1583334831

And this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Erroneous-Zones-Step-Step/dp/0060919760

If you see a psychiatrist, you might get prescribed an anti-anxiety med or an antidepressant. Be open-minded but steer clear of any doc that wants to give you more than one med at once or suggests a huge dosage.

Finally, if your thoughts are relentless and draining you, it's probably linked to depression or anxiety; you're not "going crazy."

Hang in there.

Yes, lots. These are the ones that have worked best for me:

• Distract yourself mentally. Distraction techniques might include: counting backward from 100 by sevens; naming animals that start with the letter A (or similar - think road trip games); reciting a prayer or a poem in your head, etc.
  
  
• Run cold water over your wrists or splash it on your face. This activates your diving reflex, which can help to short-circuit anxiety.
  
  
• Relax your entire body, especially your abdominal muscles.
  
  
• Try breathing exercises.
  
  
• Try practicing mindfulness. The trick is to practice when you aren't in an anxious state of mind, then apply what you have learned when the anxiety does arise.
  
  
• Don't fight the panic, but let it wash over you like a wave. Tell yourself that this is a temporary feeling and that it can't harm you.
  
  
• Write down each of your anxious thoughts, then write a rebuttal for each one - basically a "script" that you can use to counter these thoughts when they arise. Think of it as pairing your "junk thoughts" with "facts" about the situation, i.e., what you know to be true (even if you don't feel it) - that you will be okay, you don't need this person from your past, etc. Reread your list of facts whenever you are feeling anxious.
  
  
• Try your best not to leave the situation that is making you anxious, if you can. Stay with it for as long as possible. When you are anxious, you go into "fight or flight" mode. Your body (erroneously) senses that your life is in danger and triggers the release of adrenaline and other chemicals that help you to deal with an impending attack either by fighting it or fleeing. However, this response can only be sustained for a short period of time - it will go away if you wait it out. If you give in to the urge to flee, you are basically confirming that your life was in danger and training your brain to respond in a similar fashion the next time it is in a similar situation. If you stay in the situation and your life does not end, your brain "learns" that there is nothing to fear from this situation and will adjust accordingly.
  
  The key idea here is that neurons that fire together wire together. Right now your brain has certain entrenched habits and thought processes, which make it difficult for you to get out of a cycle of negative thinking. The more you work to counter negative thoughts with facts, and anxiety with relaxation methods, you will create and then strengthen new neural pathways in your brain. You can't just turn off anxiety - you have to teach your brain to react differently.
  
  If you still find yourself suffering from anxiety attacks, I'd definitely recommend seeing a therapist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy. It's best to nip it in the bud. Anxiety responds very well to treatment and you will have an easier time the faster you get it treated. If therapy isn't possible for whatever reason, there are books on CBT that can help you to learn the techniques.
  
  The Anxiety Coach is a really great online resource.
  
  You Are Not Your Brain is the only book on CBT I've read and IMO the only one you really need.
  
  Hope this helps, best of luck.

Are Not!

Believe it or not, you are more than halfway there. Not because you happen to have a girlfriend, friends, a good life, etc., although those are indeed important trappings. But because you understand that you have it good; you understand that your anxiety and poor self-esteem is irrational; you understand that thinking that the world is miserable for short folks is bullshit; you want to change.

I think doing something that will give you more confidence like lifting, martial arts (just for exercise and confidence when your or your girl's life is in danger; do not become someone who fights, including because someone "said something to her," because of this), dancing, or whatever, would be a great start.

You are almost home because you already know you must think of yourself as a person with a self-esteem problem, not really different from anyone else with one for any reason. You don't have to be convinced--at least on some level you don't--that your problem really is your height. You know it's bullshit. Really, I can't emphasize how hopeful your situation is.

I recommend a book called You Are Not Your Brain, which is a guide to breaking bad habits in general, not about "positive thinking" so to speak. Your irrational thought process, at its core, is just that--a bad habit--and you know it, and you should train yourself to break it as you do any other. But your biggest "good habit" should be being constantly on the lookout for trying different methods of self-improvement that look good to you. Be a student.

Oh god yes. I confessed all the time. I went on my mission without a whole lot of conviction but during it did my best to obey so I could be worthy of the spirit and a testimony. Boy, was this a perfect recipe for psychological distress. I constantly wondered whether my thoughts were prompting from the spirit or not and I always wondered why I wasn't getting the testimony and burning conviction I'd been promised. "Well, better step it up," I'd think. Probably because I spent 45 minutes instead of 30 minutes writing email. Probably because I thought sexual thoughts. Probably because I had Josh Groban on my iPod. And later, probably because I have an iPod. I kept stepping it up. I wanted so bad to be worthy of god's prompting and dod everything I could to merit it. When I didn't measure up to these unrealistically high expectations, I would step it up. I was ALWAYS confessing and whenever I felt a huge wave of relief, I would think it was the spirit. Nope. Just OCD. I would "sin" like maybe seeing something scandalous on late-nite TV that was sexually arousing. But I wouldn't feel guilty about it, true contrition. So I took seriously D&C " 42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them." So I would confess in order to create embarrassment, shame and guilt so that I could feel godly sorry and truly repent of my seems because after all "...our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence." (Alma 12:14)

OCD/Scrupulosity can be a real bitch but it is possible to overcome.of this, I testify (without hesitation). : ) It will take work. Expect to do a lot of reading. In addition to these books below, I recommend finding a therapist.

Learning about mindfulness really helped. I recommend this book: https://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Eight-Week-Finding-Peace-Frantic-ebook/dp/B005NJ2T1G.

I also recommend this: http://www.amazon.com/Wherever-You-Go-There-Are/dp/1401307787.

This: http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Not-Your-Brain/dp/1583334831

This: http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Fold-Marlene-Winell/dp/1933993235

And this one:http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Shame-Binds-Recovery-Classics/dp/0757303234

That Mormon Stories podcast really helped me. I think there's a few of them. It put a name to something I'd just thought was normal. I just remember thinking "That's me!" If only someone had had the wherewithal to say "Young man, all this confessing isn't ok. Let's get you some help." I was consumed by guilt and shame all the time, never measuring up. So I'd step it up. The idea of "worthiness" was incredibly harmful to me. We are all worthy of love, of respect, and acceptance.

I also struggled with assertiveness so for what it's worth here's a discussion and some book recommendations and a discussion from last week.

Recovery is possible. I have completely gotten over all that guilt. I learned o get over that nagging guilty feeling or even that feeling like "oh shit! I left the stove on". I've had so many of those. But now I don't. I just started ignoring them. "Fuck it. Let my house burn down." What I once thought was the spirit, I now know was just my brain. Now I don't feel that. My brain has rewires so that those feelings don't come up anymore. And now I have done everything I always feared and "far worse"--I've had sex outside marriage (I was never married) and so broke my "covenants" from the temple, I've smoked weed, drank (though I don't anymore). No guilt, no shame. I'm not saying you need to do those things to get better, I'm just saying that if you'd known me a decade ago, you'd have not believed I would have ever done anything so "wicked".

My point is there's nothing objective about that guilt and shame we felt. It's only because it was instilled in us from an early age. It's a learned response and can be unlearned. We just took the Church and its truth claims and hell and punishment seriously.

Best to you. Feel free to PM me any time. Know that there's hope.

You Are Not Your Brain