What is Waswas?
Waswas means whisperings or intrusive thoughts. They can come from a number of sources such as from shaytan, your own self, other individuals, and jinn.
Approximately 94% of all individuals experience intrusive, distressing throughts over a number of topics which might seem unsettling.
Is Waswas OCD?
Since majority of people experience intrusive thoughts, we cannot say that merely having waswas is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
It is possible to have a lot of waswas but not be OCD. On the other hand, depending on the level of impairment, distress, time spent in thoughts and behaviors to reduce the thoughts (safety behaviors, compulsions, rituals, etc), the waswas might be a larger clinical problem like OCD.
When is Waswas a Problem?
Having such thoughts are not a concern except when the the intrusive thoughts (waswas) cause significant distress, affects quality of life such as relationships, work, social, spiritual, or other area.
When intrusive thoughts become impairing, individuals may be suffering from a clinical condition called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
During certain times of stress, individuals may notice an increase in symptoms or notice the themes shift to new or different areas of life.
How is Waswas Cured?
Since we understand waswas as being intrusive thoughts or whisperings, there is no ‘cure’ for them. We cannot stop or prevent thoughts from coming altogether.
What we can do is change your relationship with the thoughts that you have in such a way that you take the power, punch, control, and concern away from the thoughts. Thoughts are not necessarily facts, and we can decide how we react to thoughts.
When we train the brain to react differently to thoughts, we will feel empowered toward wellbeing rather than feeling controlled and bullied by thoughts and the power they seem to have over what we do and how we feel.
Often we will find that when we stop giving serious attention to thoughts by the reactions we give to the thoughts, we will likely find that we may not notice them much and if we do, the impact will be minimal.
Specific Help with Waswas
As a clinician, I utilize specific techniques to help all of my clients relate better to their thoughts because what we pay attention to typically grows stronger and more difficult to manage.
In general, I use exposure-response prevention and acceptance and commitment therapy to help clients manage waswas and symptoms of OCD.
Because I specialize in these areas, I am able to understand all of the ways whispersing, thoughts, and rituals might be showing up in a person’s life.
What NOT to Do with Waswas?
I personally do not advise any person to only ‘ignore’ waswas that is creating distress or taking up a lot of time in their lives. If waswas is creating a lot of distress or taking up a lot of time, it is likely more clinical in nature which may be a disorder.
Whatever creates a lot of distress, takes up time, and impairs life, typically is a disorder as it literally creates dis-order in life.
If you do have OCD, please do not engage in safety behaviors/compulsions/rituals such as to:
ignore, repeat, ruminate, research, analzye, check, ask others, etc.
If you engage in rituals, it sends a message to the brain that the thoughts are truths and must be corrected through actions.