ABSTRACT
EVERY parent has scary thoughts. Many parents recognize these thoughts as brief, passing irrational thoughts. However, some parents experience these awful thoughts on a repetitive loop (obsessive thoughts) and will find whatever means necessary to manage the distress from these thoughts, such as avoiding stressful situations. However, the ways they manage the distress may become unhealthy or unhelpful. For example, a woman may avoid certain situations entirely or use compulsive behaviors such as cleaning to control their fears of germs. Some mothers experience the obsessive awful thoughts without the accompanying behavior, but regardless, feel equally as distressed and helpless. In Chapter 8, readers learn about obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and what makes them so pervasive and “sticky”. The “paradoxical effect” is explained about why, when people try to fight and avoid the thoughts, the thoughts seem to magnify and linger even longer. Exercises are provided for the reader to list what obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive maladaptive behaviors they are currently experiencing. The reader explores how often this is impacting them throughout the day. They then learn skills that help them become desensitized to the once powerful obsessive thought.
