Is it obligatory to completely ignore obsessive thoughts, whether they are valid or not? And is it permissible to stop seeking sacred knowledge during a period of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Shaykh al-Islam, al-Izz ibn Abd al-Salam, and al-Haytami mentioned that the cure for obsessive thoughts (waswas) is to completely disregard them. Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin clarified that getting rid of obsessive thoughts is achieved by two things: first, seeking refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan, and second, completely disregarding them in one's heart and not paying any attention to them. As for seeking Islamic knowledge, it should not be abandoned; rather, it is advisable to organize study sessions with colleagues or listen to recorded lectures of scholars to avoid falling into evil thoughts.