Forgive and Forget Hood (FFH): Can it help people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Abstract

It happens to all of us that we think about something we would rather not think about. Our brain constantly makes billions of neural connections, and some of these may emerge in our consciousness as intrusive thoughts. This is a normal phenomenon for most of us [1], as it allows us to maintain focus on a task or goal in order to accomplish it (such as that of our partner in the early phase of romantic love, a typical example of intrusive, albeit physiological, intrusive thought). However, patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) cannot let go of these thoughts that invade their consciousness against their will and generate intense suffering. As a result, they feel increasingly unstable and insecure as they become entangled in a web of doubt and uncertainty [2, 3]. The Forgive and Forget Hood (FFH) is a ReAttach technique that is remarkably patient-friendly, simple, and can be offered remotely [4, 5, 6]. From ReAttach's perspective, it is a first-aid psychological intervention for patients who have a strong need for control. By providing the FFH as a first choice before therapy, we validate the need for self-control. What makes the FFH so promising for patients with OCD is its potential to stop rumination, a key symptom of the disorder.  In this article, the authors describe a single case study of a 48-year-old man with OCD and the effect that using the FFH as a self-regulation tool had on his symptoms and self-confidence.