soldiers on parade and thought suppression

[Guest guest]

I am reading 'Acceptance and Mindfulness Workbook for Anxiety' (Forsyth &

Eifert) and I have previously read your book 'ACT An Experiential Approach to

Behaviour Change' (, Strosahl & ).

I am chronically anxious, panicky and have obsessive thoughts and am trying to

apply ACT to my life.

I am really confused though, and this confusion keeps getting in the way of me

trusting the approach. There is one aspect of ACT that confuses me and it is

this. I don't understand how you can advocate willingness and acceptance of all

thoughts, feelings etc but at the same time advocate the soldiers on parade/

leaves on a stream practices? You say that thought suppression is a problem but

when I practice soldiers on parade (just impartially observing thoughts) and I

get hooked on a thought and feel compelled to carry it through, it sure feels

like i'm suppressing thinking about this thought in order to get back on the

reviewing panel and continue to just watch the thoughts flow by? Do you see what

i'm saying? Maybe I have misunderstood but I am thoroughly confused...

I would really appreciate your thoughts.