Cognitive Defusion: Learning to Untangle Yourself From Anxiety and OCD

Have you ever noticed how quickly a thought can start to feel like a fact?

One intrusive thought — What if something bad happens?, What if I made a mistake?, What if I’m a bad person? — can spiral into hours of anxiety, reassurance-seeking, overthinking, or compulsive behaviors. And if you’re someone who struggles with anxiety or OCD, you know this experience all too well.

One skill I teach my clients who struggle in this way is something called cognitive defusion.