Video 2

Location, Location, Location

This system uses two ancient memory techniques that have been modified to help us remember everything is safely off, locked and closed.

These mnemonic techniques work by associating things we want to remember and storing them in real locations (Loci) through vivid, unusual, bizarre, interactive imagery.

We can use real locations in our house for example.

In my imagination when I stand in the doorway of my main bedroom I can pick out different loci.

Although I don’t need to stand in the actual doorway, it is more useful to pick out real locations rather than create imaginary ones.

So just to my left is a set of drawers, then working in a clockwise direction in my wardrobe, then my chair, then bedside table, then my bed, then finishing just to my right is my television.

I now have five locations (loci) on which to store (or file) information on.

All I need to do now is attach what I want to remember to these loci in an unusual, vivid and interactive way.

So if I had a shopping list to remember and the first thing on the list was a carton of milk, I could imagine a cow next to my set of drawers with suction cups drawing milk from its udders and the draw’s acting as a vat.

The image of a carton of milk sitting on top of my set of draws is too normal and not unusual enough.

Body Image

We can also store (or file) information we want to remember on our body.

This is a key component in helping our clients overcome their Security-Based OCD Checking.

For example, if I want to remember to ring my best friend and organize the footy for the weekend then all I would do is imagine putting slippers made out of football’s. Then I could visualize myself stomping on a pile of i-phones.

The phone reminds me that I need to ring someone and the football slippers indicate that it’s my best friend as I always watch each match with him.

So the next question is what (or how) does this help with OCD Checking?

Living with a Label

With the Loci system, we use real locations to place information we want to remember on.

With the Body List, we store information we want to remember onto our body.

But with Security-Based OCD Checking, there are real things we need to check or we feel an uncontrollable urge to check…

…so here’s how we use this to our benefit.

With the things that we feel compelled to check with our OCD, why don’t we use that as our Loci.

And instead of attaching random information why don’t we apply specially coded imagery to it as we’re checking it.

Then we attach that specially coded information to our body….

…if we start to doubt ourselves then all we have to do is review our body part with the coded information. This will remind us that everything has been safely checked.

Here a Quick Recap

1. We physically look at the thing we’re checking (our Loci)
2. We place unusual, vivid, bizarre, interactive and yet logical (memory systems-coded imagery) onto the thing we’re checking
3. We place the same coded imagery onto our body (Body List)
4. We stop physically looking at the thing we checking and walk away…

…if we doubt ourselves and feel the need to recheck then we simply scan the body part with the coded imagery and continue on our way!

The Golden Rule: We place this coded information) at the same time we’re checking with our real, physical eyes.

Have fun and see yah in Video 3…