Non-Engagement Responses (NERs)
Non-Engagement Responses (NERs) are a strategy created by Dr. Levine to empower clients to refrain from compulsively ruminating- in an active way. This intervention involves doing something, rather than the effort being focused on trying to hold back from compulsively ruminating.
What is Compulsive Rumination?
Compulsive reasoning/ruminating often presents itself as a kind of back and forth internal dialogue, and can feel like being trapped in an endless game of "mental ping pong." While obsessive thoughts are woven throughout the dialogue, the whole process always involves striving- to figure something out or to reason about something- in order to decrease uncertainty, arrive at a conclusion, or achieve a resolution. It may sound something like this:
There was some silence in the car on the way home tonight. Maybe that means we don't have enough to talk about and shouldn't be together... No, that's silly, it's okay not to be constantly talking... But what if we really don't have much to say to each other?... Wait, that doesn't even make sense; we have lots of great conversations!... But maybe it's better to be with someone who I ALWAYS have something to talk about with; I might be wasting my time with the wrong person...
Clients often describe compulsive reasoning as like being trapped on a hamster wheel, expending a ton of effort, but not getting anywhere. Sometimes, clients feel utterly desperate to stop ruminating, but are at a loss as to how to achieve this.
Beating Anxiety and OCD at It's Own Game
NERs are statements that involve affirming uncertainty (about the fear or worry) and/or affirming the presence of anxiety (about the fear or worry), rather than scrambling to escape or resolve it. Instead of trying to either dispute the worry (compulsively reason/ruminate) or trying not to think about the worry (thought suppression), you are affirming/agreeing that, for example, anything is possible, that you are indeed feeling anxious, and/or that you don’t know what’s going to happen. If this sounds frightening, that is very understandable! But with practice, persistence, and determination, you can get back in the driver's seat, and reclaim your freedom.
It is important to note that NERs must be used in a masterful and strategic way. Agreement is not an act of defeat! By strategically "agreeing" with whatever OCD is trying to get you to compulsively reason about- in a confident, matter of fact way- you learn how to take away it's power to engage you, and to beat OCD at it's own game.
Getting Your Life Back
If you are interested in learning more about NERs, please click on the link below, or contact Dr. Levine for a complementary 20 minute consultation. While compulsive rumination can feel impossible to overcome, with the right tools and support, IT IS POSSIBLE to learn to extricate yourself from the tormenting game of mental ping pong, and to get your life back.