How do I stop my obsessive thoughts created by anxiety? Do I avoid the triggers or get used to them?

Distract yourself, take it one step a time

If you avoid the triggers you are faced with all the time, it may be harder to enjoy your day. Instead you should try to slowly come to terms with these triggers and become more acceptant that they do trigger you.

Sometimes triggers are unavoidable. Try to find things that settle your anxieties. For me, I listen to podcasts to take myself out of my own mind.

Personally, I try to avoid the triggers. Obviously not every trigger can be avoided but understanding the triggers is a huge step and in turn allows you to try and avoid them.

It might be best to do things that keep your kind on happy thoughts to reduce or eliminate your anxiety. Avoiding the triggers if possible may be the best options. There are also medication if it is something that affects your quality of life. So talking to a professional would be the best course of action.

Avoiding the triggers could help, personally i'd rather avoid the triggers than try to get used to them, but if you want to try and desensitize yourself from the triggers, thats a valid option as well. with desensitizing tho, make sure you go slowly, dont push yourself too hard, and dont beat yourself up if it feels like it isnt working, getting used to stuff that once triggered you can be a long process but it can work

I do not think that avoiding anything is helpful, but 'getting used to it' is not the term exactly either. The best way to stop one's obsessive thoughts is to first recognize that it is indeed obsessive and irrational. Then with the help of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) techniques, one can shift these irrational obsessive thoughts to rational ones by making use of role-play. To decrease the affect of the trigger on anxiety, CBT also makes use of desensitization, which is where the person is exposed to the triggering stimulus for a number of times that its affect has subsided and one has apparently 'gotten used to it'. It can also make use of exposure therapy where one is flooded with the triggering stimulus but most people might feel extremely uncomfortable later on. Relaxation techniques such as guided imagery where one's mind and body is brought in sync, or progressive muscle relaxation techniques can also be useful to alleviate symptoms of anxiety. Hope this post has helped answer the question! :)