9 AprWhy Can’t I Stop Worrying? by Dr. Konstantin Lukin, Ph.D. “Pure O” Some people just think… and think… and think things over (and over) again. That’s what we would call an “intrusive thought,” an unwanted thought that comes out of nowhere that creates anxiety or guilt. If that thought continuously sticks around over time, without any reassurances (whether internal or external) or any compulsions, we’d call that “Pure O.” Pure O is a type of OCD, and it’s one that most people don’t potentially see because it doesn’t have the behavioral compulsion component tied to it. With Pure O, a person won’t stop thinking the thought until they’re literally exhausted from all the worrying. They’ll either fall asleep, or they’ll distract themselves by doing other activities. But often times, if they have some idle time, the ruminations return. The intrusive thoughts could be about anything — germs or diseases — And they can change or morph over time. For example, common childhood/adolescent intrusive thoughts might be about separation or thoughts about death and infinity. As you age, the thoughts could morph into ruminations about STDs and other specific diseases. Read the Full Article on Psychology Today Author Dr. Konstantin Lukin, Ph.D. Dr. Konstantin Lukin is a psychologist, author, speaker, and researcher specializing in men’s issues, couple’s counseling, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He is the Director and Co-Founder of the Lukin Center, northern New Jersey’s premiere evidence-based psychotherapy practice. The Lukin Center emphasizes evidence-based treatments such as emotion-focused therapy for couples, and cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapies for children, adolescents, and adults. Since its inception, the Lukin Center has grown to include testing and assessment as well as medication management services. As a therapist, Dr. Lukin focuses on providing support and practical feedback to help clients effectively address personal life challenges. He integrates complementary modalities and techniques – including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), schema-focused therapy, and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) – to offer a personalized approach tailored to each client. With compassion and understanding, he works with his clients to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth to which they are committed. Dr. Lukin has extensive experience in private practice, conducting outpatient therapy with children, adolescents, and adults. He also has extensive clinical and research experience with people of all ages and their families, including those diagnosed as severely and persistently mentally ill, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He has co-led groups for children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with OCD in an outpatient setting. He is trained and experienced in administering a variety of psychological test batteries including neuropsychological, cognitive, and personality assessments, and he has conducted diagnostic and intake interviews and prepared evaluation reports. Dr. Lukin is a graduate of the Honors College at SUNY at Stony Brook, and earned his doctorate from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
