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Problem solving moves toward an action. Looping leads toward more uncertainty.

Our "solutions"—overthinking, rumination, reassurance, replaying—keep the loop going in the long term.

Learning to allow the discomfort and stop the behaviors moves us forward

You know the feeling. Something happens—a comment lands a little off, a text goes unanswered, a thought slips in sideways. Suddenly, your brain is off to the races and the same thought keeps circling back. You think you're problem-solving, but an hour later you're no closer to an answer and feel worse than when you started.

What you’re experiencing is a thought loop, and if you've ever encountered one, you know it can feel impossible to break. If you have obsessive compulsive disorder, you know this cycle all too well. It may even be distressing enough to disrupt your life.

I want to help you understand why this happens, and more importantly, what you can do about it.

What Does It Mean to Be Stuck in an Obsessive Thought Loop?

Because I primarily treat people with OCD, I hear a lot about being “stuck in a thought loop.” Usually, they’re describing compulsive rumination—replaying a situation, trying to figure something out, or overthinking. They get caught in rituals, trying to relieve the distress evoked from their obsessions.

Here's an example. You're wrapping up a playdate with a friend, and you start worrying that their child was exposed to something dangerous while in your home. With each "what if," more........

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