Stopping Obsessive Thoughts with Bipolar Disorder

Obsessive thoughts and chronic worry can make it difficult to relax, sleep, enjoy relationships, or even stay present in everyday life. But what does it actually mean when someone says they’re having “obsessive thoughts,” and what can they do to break the cycle? In this episode, Gabe Howard (who lives with bipolar) and Dr. Nicole Washington explore the difference between everyday worry, excessive worry, and intrusive thoughts — and why that distinction matters when seeking help and choosing coping skills. Together, they share practical strategies for getting out of the “roundabout of worry,” including coping skills like cognitive diffusion, reframing catastrophic thoughts, and thought postponement. Gabe also explains how he has used these strategies in his own life and how they helped him lead a more well-balanced life. Listeners will learn: why thoughts can feel true without being facts why making a “plan B” can reduce catastrophic thinking how to use the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique to reduce worry You don’t have to believe every thought your brain produces. Learning to step back from worry, focusing on what you can control, and redirecting your attention can help break the cycle. Listen now to learn practical strategies for managing obsessive thoughts and worry with bipolar disorder. Pull Quote: “Just because I think it doesn't mean it's true.” ~Gabe Howard, Host Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning podcast host, author, and sought-after suicide prevention and mental health speaker, but he wouldn’t be any of those things today if he hadn’t been committed to a psychiatric hospital in 2003. Gabe also hosts Healthline's Inside Mental Health podcast has appeared in numerous publications, including Bipolar magazine, WebMD, Newsweek, and the Stanford Online Medical Journal. He has appeared on all four major TV networks, ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. Among his many awards, he is the recipient of Mental Health America’s Norman Guitry Award, received two Webby Honoree acknowledgements, and received an official resolution from the Governor of Ohio naming him an “Everyday Hero.” Gabe wrote the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are available directly from the author with free swag included! To learn more about Gabe, or to book him for your next event, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Our host, Dr. Nicole Washington, is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she attended Southern University and A&M College. After receiving her BS degree, she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to enroll in the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed a residency in psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa. Since completing her residency training, Dr. Nicole has spent most of her career caring for and being an advocate for those who are not typically consumers of mental health services, namely underserved communities, those with severe mental health conditions, and high performing professionals. Through her private practice, podcast, speaking, and writing, she seeks to provide education to decrease the stigma associated with psychiatric conditions. Find out more at DrNicolePsych.com.