The Dangers of “Manifesting” Beliefs for People Living with OCD
“What you think, you create. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you become” – Anonymous
Manifesting is a huge theme in self-help and wellness spaces these days.
According to this approach, you can create your desired future using only your thoughts.
When you hold a clear picture of your goals and vision in mind, those things are more likely to come true. But if you’re constantly ruminating on negative thoughts and fears, that’s the future you’ll probably face.
Many people benefit from paying attention to their thoughts and clarifying what they want in life.
But the concept of manifesting - that what we think becomes reality - is risky for people who experience obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. Because fearing that dark or intrusive thoughts will come true can create debilitating symptoms.
Keep reading to learn more about the downsides of manifesting approaches.
What is Manifesting?
The law of attraction is a long-standing spiritual belief that we attract the same energy we put out into the world. This approach became super popular in the early 2000s with the book, The Secret. And it’s seen a resurgence in the last few years on social media.
A related belief is the law of assumption, where people recommend thinking as if you’ve already achieved what you’re seeking, thus making that desire more likely to come true.
One recent example is the “Lucky Girl” trend on Tik Tok, where creators use affirmations to manifest everything from wealth to career success to romantic relationships.
Is Manifesting about Thoughts or Actions?
Some people who talk about manifesting are clear that you still need to act on your thoughts. From this perspective, focusing our mind on positive outcomes sets the stage, but it’s taking action that brings these ideas to life.
This piece isn’t always discussed in videos and posts about manifestation, though. Especially on platforms like Tik Tok, which are all about sharing quick bites of easily-absorbed information.
Even those who do talk about action usually include it as a side note to the bigger message: That our thoughts have the power to shape our future.
The Power of Thoughts in OCD
Fearing the power of thoughts is a core issue with OCD.
People living with OCD have intrusive thoughts, which are ideas, fears, or images that keep coming into their head, totally unwanted. These thoughts are disturbing and upsetting, and usually go against the person’s true desires and values.
Some common themes for intrusive thoughts include:
Contamination: I could contract a serious illness and die
Violence: What if I suddenly drive into oncoming traffic? What’s stopping me from grabbing that knife and stabbing someone?
Sexual themes: What if I cheat on my partner? I could end up touching someone inappropriately
Uncertainty: Did I really turn the stove off? Now the house is going to burn down
Morality or religion: Maybe I’m a bad person. I have to follow my beliefs perfectly or I’ll be punished
Just right: I won’t feel right until…
These unwanted thoughts trigger waves of negative emotion like guilt, shame, and fear.
People who live with OCD are super distressed by the idea that their thoughts could come true.
They’re afraid that something bad will happen, and that they’ll be responsible. They also worry that having dark thoughts means they’re a dangerous person. And that thinking is as bad as doing.
People dealing with OCD do whatever they can to prevent their thoughts from manifesting.
Like trying to force those thoughts out of their mind. Or repeating certain behaviours over and over again to offset intrusive thoughts.
Sometimes these compulsive behaviours are directly linked to intrusive thoughts, like:
Washing their hands to prevent being contaminated by germs
Checking the stove to offset the chance of causing a fire
Locking up their knives to ensure they don’t do anything violent
At other times, OCD gets people linking random thoughts and behaviours together, in what’s called magical thinking:
If I picture the colour pink, my family will be safe
I must arrange things in this exact order, or something bad will happen
People living with OCD spend a ton of time and energy trying to control their thoughts. And repeating behaviours to prevent unwanted thoughts from coming true.
These efforts can become so extensive that they impair a person’s daily life, like their ability to focus at work or school, or to be present for their friends and family.
The Risks of Manifesting
Messages about manifesting can directly feed into the problematic beliefs that support OCD, including:
My thoughts have a direct impact on the world around me
If I think bad thoughts, bad things will happen
I’m responsible for the consequences of my thoughts
I should be able to control my thoughts
If I can’t control my thoughts, there must be something wrong with me
For people living with OCD, the concept of manifesting can fuel their biggest fears and have them doubling down on unhelpful behaviours.
Not to mention how manifesting beliefs can feed into unwarranted self-criticism. Like when people blame themselves for their circumstances, assuming their thoughts must be responsible for their troubles, without acknowledging their broader contexts. It’s clear that systemic issues like racism, sexism, heteronormativity, ableism, and capitalism can differentially help or hinder a person, depending on their social identity.
Relating to Thoughts in New Ways
Treatment for OCD involves shifting how people understand and respond to their thoughts.
For example, people are frequently taught that thoughts aren’t facts.
Our brains are constantly trying to solve problems and figure things out, and they generate all kinds of information in a given day. Some thoughts are helpful while others are unhelpful. Some are realistic, and others are a bit far-fetched.
Just because we think something, doesn’t mean it’s true.
And some research suggests that we only have so much control over our thoughts.
In one classic experiment, participants who tried to suppress thoughts about a white bear made these thoughts even more frequent.
So trying to push unwanted thoughts out of our minds could actually backfire.
Taking Action that Supports Your Goals
It’s important to be aware of our thoughts. They can impact our emotions and create urges to act in certain ways.
Like if I believe that a friend is purposefully excluding me, I might feel the pressing urge to tell them off. Or if I assume that I’m going to mess up a big opportunity at work, I could feel compelled to turn it down.
But ultimately, we decide how to act.
It’s our actions that move us closer to or away from our goals. That’s what really impacts how we show up in the world.
In treatment for OCD, people are supported in building mindfulness of their thoughts, so they can observe and call out intrusive thoughts.
Then they can decide how to respond to them. Specifically, treatment involves working on gradually resisting compulsive behaviours, even when that feels uncomfortable at first.
This approach gives people a chance to see that their thoughts don’t necessarily come true. And frees them up to act in ways that actually support their desired life.
Conclusion
While many people seem to find the concept of manifesting helpful, it’s important to acknowledge the potential downsides of these beliefs. For individuals living with OCD, the idea of manifesting can exacerbate the distress and anxiety caused by intrusive thoughts. Effective treatment for OCD involves putting less stock into the power of thoughts, stepping back from trying to control what’s on our mind, and focusing on taking action that aligns with our goals and values.
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About Dr. Marnie Rogers-de Jong
My goal is to help people who feel overwhelmed by anxiety and perfectionism overcome their fears, embrace their unique strengths, and feel more content with who they are. I’m a Registered Doctoral Psychologist with a PhD in Counselling Psychology. I’m also the founder of Navigation Psychology, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
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