If allowed to continue over a period of time, negative thoughts and feelings can turn into obsessions. Obsessions can be brought about through painful childhood experiences and trauma that we haven't yet dealt with.

Dealing with our experiences

It is important to look at, and think about and understand our experiences and how those make us feel. We have got to be able to cope, and move on with our lives. it is important to deal with all our experiences, past and present. Taking baby steps helps makes what we deal with more manageable and achievable.

Tackling obsessions

So that we can tackle obsessions, it’s important to expose ourselves to them, because that helps us challenge our fears. To subject ourselves to the fear is to work through the challenge. It is important we deal with the obsession.

Learn to live in the moment, but first deal with the issue. Facing our demons will always be difficult. In the beginning you’ll probably feel uncomfortable, you’ll want to back off, you may even feel a little panicky, but those feelings will dissipate the more you stick at it and work things through.

‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’. Even if you take one or two steps back before you move forward during the process, one small step at a time, should help you feel less anxious and more in control.

Choose to keep a journal, putting the obsessions that cause you less anxiety at the bottom of your list, with the more pressing and challenging ones at the top.

Take the first obsession and begin to practise working through it, until you notice you’re feeling less fearful. To break the cycle, fight any urges that tempt you back in and try not to give in to your obsessive tendencies.

The important part is that you’re finally getting to the point where you’re beginning to feel comfortable around tackling your obsessions.