20 years of OCD cured in 2 days!

~ Michael Kinnaird

I often write about my friend who has “OCD” — obsessive compulsive disorder. Because the issues he faces are the same ones we all face.

His are just more extreme, more obsessive but they’re the same. Just two days after giving his full effort to just one simple technique he called me…

“I’m cured,” he said.

This was after months of severe anxiety states. He was shaking a lot of the time, sweating heavily at night. His thoughts were racing constantly and he couldn’t control them.

He had to stop work several times and his life was grinding to a halt as he avoided as much as he could and withdrew into his private world of pain.

The reason I’m telling you all this is to show you the amazing power of attention. The technique is simple — distraction…

Attention is where your power is. Attention is the volume control for thoughts — as I’ve told him a thousand times.

The “cure” lasted ten days. Ten days of almost complete normality with no sign of OCD. And it took only two days to go from gibbering wreck to happy and enthusiastic using only distraction. Amazing!

Old habits die hard

And his cure would have been permanent but for the fact that ten days later after burning the candle at both ends, he had some little twinges of anxiety that triggered the old way of thinking. Slowly for a further 4 days, he ramped the whole thing back up again.

Again, this has powerful lessons for all of us. “Old habits die hard” as the saying goes. After making changes, we need to be sure to bed them in well.

It’s like riding a bike

“This OCD” I tell him, “is just like riding a bike. You’ll always be able to do it. Just DON’T GET ON THE BIKE.” Unfortunately he did — despite the most severe warnings. I talk to him for hours and hours and hours. “I can’t do this without you,” he says.

The truth is that all this talking is really unnecessary in the sense that it has only one purpose. To convince him that distraction IS the answer — to explain to him that his way can never work, and to get him to commit 100% to the simple method of distraction. Once he commits; two days. He is normal after two days. Twenty years of OCD gone.

If you stick your hand in the fire… it ALWAYS burns

So… round and round we go. As I speak he’s fallen back into the old way. Now he needs me to talk him out because it’s very foggy in there. He can’t see his own way out. I hope and pray that this time he’s learned and he won’t need to stick his hand in the fire one more time to realize… IT ALWAYS BURNS!

Thoughts are… just thoughts

The lesson for you and me is that thoughts aren’t us. They are for the most part conditioned reactions that we believe in and identify with. Once you can see thoughts as just thoughts, you have the power to remove your attention from unwanted ones.

Now you have a choice — to pay attention or not. Whether it’s because you want to stop a bad habit or stop a thought loop about a girlfriend that just dumped you, the process is the same. Distract from thoughts you don’t want (ie. ignore them) and their power is gone.

The amazing power of attention

Once you know this simple process, you’ll find a thousand ways it can serve you. Someone says something hurtful? Distract. Worried about tomorrow? Distract. Craving unhealthy food? Distract.

This one simple technique ALONE can have a massive impact on your health and happiness because you always have choice. There is always a choice of where to put your attention. You can stop reacting to everything in the same old conditioned way — the way everyone else reacts — predictably.

Master the process

Now you make your decisions consciously. You are in charge — not old habits, old ways and the same old reactions. If distraction can end 20 years of misery in only 2 days, what can it do for you?

Learn and master the incredible power of attention and you’re going to get happier and happier.

It’s been 8 years I am searching for a cure. Just to tell you thank you so much, I started the attention (distraction) method and my OCD is fading away. Many thanks!!

— Jad, Canada

Update: I received this feedback from the friend I talked about in the article:

Sometimes there’s things you don’t want but it’s a reality. But I now know thinking can bring nothing but more suffering. I don’t do OCD anymore. Thanks to you. Love you brother x

— Paul Attwell, UK

Best wishes,
Michael Kinnaird

249 thoughts on “20 years of OCD cured in 2 days!”

  1. One more thing james ,
    the thoughts which I generally had though sounds interesting but actually are disturbing.sometimes when I cant find answer to my thoughts I suddenly starts crying..do u think its healthy/normal..??

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    1. It sounds like your overall state could probably use some attention. Are you generally in a relaxed state? Are you looking after yourself? ie. are you getting enough sleep, eating healthy food and so-on? Do you have any worries or stresses in your life? Issues such as unwanted or disturbing thoughts are often born out of an anxious/worried/worn out state. It’s also much harder to control our attention in that state.

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  2. Hi james
    here’s my problem..
    I actually don’t know weather m actually suffering from from ocd or not…its a matter of 6 months back when I started to have unwanted thoughts..like how our brain understands things,how our brain is able to store things on its own, why different people have different level of IQ’s..its like I obsess on everything the human kind the universe,science, maths who invented these things, y our body is like what it is now, y do we have thoughts, how one is able to understand what m saying to him, how m I able to understand what the other person is speaking to me..I consulted the psychiatrist he told me that m having ocd and provided me with meds..But do I really have ocd.??

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    1. Hi Arbaz, wondering how our brains work, why we all have different IQs and so-on — that sounds like a healthy interest in humanity and the universe to me! It’s entirely natural to be curious about these things. Michael and I certainly are.

      What matters here is if you feel out of control. If the thoughts are disturbing, or if you’re “obsessing” about them, then make a new choice. We choose with our attention so remain aware, and when they pop up, distract / ignore as Michael advises in the article.

      Based on what you’ve told me, I’m shocked (but not entirely surprised) at how quickly your psychiatrist decided to throw meds at you.

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  3. Hey Mike/James,

    It’s teddy from last year. OCD isn’t really a problem in my life anymore and it never really affects me, however I have a new problem and I have turned to you guys for help, because I know you’ll have the right solution.

    So recently I have thought about how I am kind of a 1% person, and I have this bad feeling about all the people that aren’t rich in the world and suffer. I used to not feel bad about this but for some reason I do. Also someone told me that “we are all gonna die some day, so what’s the point of doing anything” and I don’t think that’s right (of course there is purpose to life!) but for some reason I obsess over it and feel bad also!
    I also am just not confident. I worry my jokes won’t be Funny, I worry that if I don’t talk then I am unsociable, and if I do talk a ton and get energetic than I am crazy. When I used to be energetic I never thought I was being crazy.

    Do you have solutions to all these problems? I would be very grateful for a quick response because these things are making me feel bad/guilty/anxious and I want to just be my confident happy self but these things are in my way!

    Thanks,

    Teddy

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    1. Hi Teddy, glad to hear the OCD isn’t a problem anymore, that’s great!

      “I have this bad feeling about all the people that aren’t rich in the world and suffer.”

      It’s natural to empathize with others like this, and it shows you’re not lost in your own mental world anymore, which is great. The feeling isn’t a problem, it’s normal :-) Just let it guide you. Just “listen” to the feeling and let it guide your actions. Maybe it doesn’t prompt you into action right now, that’s fine.

      But maybe one day you’ll walk past a charity shop and feel compelled to donate something. Maybe you’ll feel compelled to give up an hour or two a week to a worthwhile cause in your area. Who knows? Don’t make a problem out of it, just acknowledge the feeling and see where it takes you, if anywhere.

      “We are all gonna die some day, so what’s the point of doing anything?”

      The answer is for the JOY of it :-) Of course, whether or not we feel joy mainly depends on our state, our biochemistry. That’s why health and peace of mind should always be our top priority. We get happy first, and then *see* what we do. The person who said that to you was in a tired / low-vitality state at the time. I can almost guarantee it :-)

      “I also am just not confident. I worry my jokes won’t be funny, I worry that if I don’t talk then I am unsociable, and if I do talk a ton and get energetic than I am crazy.”

      It’s not “real” and conducive to happiness to live through a mental filter like this. Use the Live in the Moment chapter of Happy Guide to stop this kind of habitual thinking. When you put it into practice, you will act and re-act to all situations completely naturally, without thinking.

      Best wishes,
      James

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  4. Hi james,

    Thanks for your reply!!!
    I wilk definitely follow book..
    And I have faith that I will come out of this with your help…today I have decided that I am not my thoughts…thats it..
    I am going through your articles read one wonderful sentence ..the solution is impossible when there is no problem..

    I want to you to write on stuttering and anxiety…if you want I can share my experience. .i don’t want to see people waste there time in doing same thing I have done .
    Please write separate article…

    Thanks again :) :)

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      1. Hey james.. i was confused so wrote a wrong comment.I dont want to write something else,thank you.

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    2. Hello ashu,m n ocd patient too,once i got away completely with one ocd fear,n my experience says that different ocd fears hv different solutions which happens automatically in our mind.In my case,the solution came automatically in my mind.

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      1. Oh sry.. i wanted to say it to ashutosh.But still i want to make correction,i wanted to say something else n i wrote it completely wrong.

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      2. Hi

        I have ordered book , waiting for it!!

        Now here is my story..

        I am suffering from OCD and depression from last 7.5 years.

        When I was in 11th standard I watched one movie with gay character..and random thought came in my mind is that I am gay..and lots of more thought I cant describe here…at that time no help is available to me..so for six month I was in terrible anxiety…i have tried many time to prove by doing some nonsense thing to prove that I am not gay..I have too many thoughts regarding suicide too..one day I told it to my mom..and then we went to one normal doctor..doctor told me to ignore it..

        I have started ignoring it..it was very difficult initially..than I able to ignore it..but at same time I was not sure whether I am gay or not…so that thought is there but I was just running away from it..trying myself to running from that thought…i got some temporary relief..And than I entered in college.

        However it was then converted in depression..negative thoughts about future my self ruined my life..thoughts regarding homosexuality were also there..I have accepted that now this is my life..so I was living very sadly..no happiness at all..trying to escape from family function..no friend..stay home all day..that what I have done for 4 year…just think not a single happy day…in this way I completed my graduation..i got distinction but you know it does not make any sense until you are depressed and unhappy..I also suffered from lack of self confidence,self esteem and stuttering..all this thing mad me crazy..i had no idea what to do..but yes I have completed my graduation..

        Than I got one job..i was there with so many girls…that depressive and gay thoughts are there..i was in anxiety ..one day one random thoughts came in my mind that I am transgender…at same time I am in love with one girl..i am totally confused what to do…i have tried to ignore it..but it was not possible..24*7 I am thing about same thing…no other thought…this thing was there for 1 year. i have tried so many thing for distraction like study more,playing,helping needy people..but nothing helps me..actually it has make situation more complex.. I have decided to talk to one psychiatrist..

        He told me that I have ocd. .I even don’t know what it is..i have done some research and yes..i believed what he said..we started psychotherapy and medication..and my situation become more worse ..initially.. later I found some relief…but that was temporary..yes I was depressed and ocd patient..but I had a hope that thing will become better..i have started to read some positive books and watching inspirational video on you tube..it gave me some boost..now I had very less transgender thoughts..but now again homosexual thoughts started..I was staying in boy hostel ..so now this thoughts are so powerful that I have believed that yes I am gay..but again that thoughts are there..its coming more and more..even doctor is helpless..eventually I have accepted it…and as I have accepted it become less..

        now I was able to handle both gay and transgender thoughts..with less anxiety..yes I am not happy with this thought but I believed that this is my life I have live like this…now as I have excepted this thoughts..another thought started in my mind about relation ship..that he is not good..she is not good..they are ignoring me..no one is giving me importance..etc..i was again in anxiety….i have even excepted this thought too..and started in living isolation..with no friends..it gave me temporary relief..but again it was there…

        Now I some what able to live with this gay,transgender and relationship thoughts..again one new thought came in my mind is that I am very weak in my job performance..i dont know anything..all are better than me…i wont be able to do anything in life..others are considering me as weak…this thought has ruined my life..i have decided to give up..decided to left the job..

        I just want to say that I have very good job career ,family and awesome friends..but one thing I am missing is happiness. yes I am doing all the thing but forcefully..no inner satisfaction…
        Yes I am doing good things like reading books about happiness,spirituality and inspiration..but its not working that much..

        However I have decided to fight back..and started to live new life..I am on medication..
        I have stared to do mediation,mindfulness which has given me temporary solution..now I am less anxious ..but still I am not happy..I have fear that thought will come again. and yes sometimes many thoughts are there..so always worried. sometime worried about my career sometime worried about sexuality..some time worried about my happiness…sometime worried about depression.

        My question is why this thoughts is coming back again and again..what is the reason..where I am missing..do I have to live all my life in this situation…is there is any hope for improvement..

        I need your help to come out from this trauma..
        I have FAITH that I will come out of this with your help!!!
        Please help me…I will be thankful to you..

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      3. Hi Ashutosh, you are not your thoughts. You need to learn to still your mind and no longer be identified with your thinking. Happiness is not about life circumstances, it’s about your “state” and the big causes of happiness are health and peace of mind. The book will go into more detail about this. In the meantime, check out these articles, which explain how thinking, fear and attention can cause the kind of issue you’ve described…

        Am I gay?

        The big picture of unwanted thoughts

        Have a read-through and if you have any questions, just leave another comment.

        Best wishes,
        James

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