How I learnt that “thoughts are just thoughts” by “risking” death.

As a CBT therapist, I often ask my patients to face their worst fears to prove they will be fine and can cope. Therapist can often forget how much of a big thing this is to ask. And I feel that no therapist should ever ask a patient to do something they wouldn’t do themself.

So, two days ago I thought I would step into their shoes and do something most might consider scary.

Many of the people I work with, especially those with OCD or Emetophobia have something called “Thought-Action Fusion”. This is the idea that just having an intrusive thought or thinking about a negative outcome can influence reality or increase the likelihood of that outcome occurring.

So, I decided to put this belief to the test in a real “life or death” situation. This week I had an operation and just before being put to sleep, I intentionally focused on thoughts of my own death. I imagined it, pictured it, repeated to myself that I was going to die, not because I wanted it to happen, but to prove to myself (and my patients) that thoughts alone do not have the power to cause events.

And guess what, I am still here! And I can say for sure that “thoughts are just thoughts”, not predictions or causes of terrible events. This is actually my second time doing this, just to prove that surviving the first operation was not a fluke.

So, if you’re struggling with intrusive thoughts, know that you’re not alone, and that you can face them safely. It just takes courage to test out your fear.