you have a friend awesome person funny exciting lives life as your friend grows and time passes you notice this person getting skinnier you check up on them and ask if they are okay are they sick do they need to see a doctor  they reassure you they’re fine maybe under a bit more stress then usual ok fair enough   you both get busy with the usual routines of life and it’s a few months since you have been able to hang out you’re absolutely shocked the next time you see them they look sick pale bone thin their skin is snow white so bad in fact you feel like you’re looking at the walking dead   you gasp and start expressing your concern saying they need to get checked in to a hospital something must be seriously wrong   they kind of laugh and say they don’t understand what you’re saying they’re fine they’re the same as they’ve always been you explain they are so thin there’s nothing but bone they start pulling at their skin trying to show you how fat they are   you’re mind can do some f’cked up crap when someone realizes they can’t always trust their mind thoughts emotions reactions it can be helpful to rely on the “average person” standard how would the average healthy person reactthinkfeel if they were you in that moment  my husband had ocd and muscular dystrophy used an electric wheelchair in the movies one night someone walking past him in the aisle stumbled that sent of a whirlwind of mental worries and insecurities that led to an obsession with the lord’s prayer he couldn’t sleep until he got it perfect and quite often it would go on for an hour or more  his therapist fought back with rational thinking did he feel his chair move as the person walked be no when it hit his foot did it hurt no did he even feel the bump no did he see the person hit the ground no would a healthy able-bodied person usually die from tripping and falling onto a soft carpeted floor no did an ambulance arrive no did he see the man dead in the floor no but sorry sometimes there just isn’t a but it’s okay to challenge your thinking it’s healthy for everyone to logically analyze their thoughts feelings intentions and reactions  just because you think it doesn’t mean it’s real just because you feel it doesn’t prove it happened or is going to happen even if the worst case happens doesn’t mean it’s your fault   your mind your thoughts your habits your compulsions for the majority don’t have the power to influence life   it’s sounds harsh but it was one of the best pieces of advice he ever got   you’re just not that important   i know it sounds insulting but for obsessive thinkers it can be very freeing   it didn’t matter what eric did he couldn’t have prevented that guy from tripping sorry but some crip in a wheelchair don’t worry i am not insulting when you’re married to some one the need for political correctness is far less necessary does not have the power to murder someone with their foot dude tripped get over it even if the guy fell and injured himself most likely he’d just need a bandaid for rug burn sorry dude your foot just ain’t that powerful certainly having to repeat the lord’s prayer continuously for over an hour the only life in danger would be his because their wife is gone mad by listening to this for years  lol take that light heartily i never outwardly got mad for his condition but i did insist he switch therapists   lastly for many people i’d say almost everyone biggest change advancing life goals clearing those massive hurdles universally starts with being able to tackle ones fear   don’t run from what scares you face it own it challenge it conquer it never give up   in the end you won’t regret it   only you have the power inside of yourself to beat this losing is not an option so dig down deep and get it done not easy in the slightest but not impossible