- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
I have perfectionism OCD as well. What helps me is trying not to avoid it because that could be a compulsion. Just attempting to do it is an accomplishment even if you try to delay the compulsion to constantly fix things so they feel right. I have to try delaying fixing all the things that feel wrong to me. Sometimes I fall for it but I try to pick myself up and don't beat myself up for it. We are in this together you got this.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 3y
There are lots of great books out there on this topic! Many people struggle with this theme. I would encourage you to go to IOCDF.org and you'll find some great resources there for perfectionism OCD. I would encourage you to find ways to reduce our rituals rather than resisting completely since you're saying that "just doing it" is too hard. What rituals are you doing? What are some ways that you can reduce these rituals? Can you put a time frame on certain things and start at this particular time vs waiting? Can you just do the first step of cooking, cleaning, or exercising rather than doing the entire process? Eg for instance you can just get dressed for exercise and just focus on this part of the process rather than focusing on the entire thing. Also if you're worried about doing something perfectly - eg having the perfect workout or having the perfect meal - make the intention to do it wrong. Do it as wrong as you can with the intention of flustering your OCDs feathers. Youve got this
- Date posted
- 3y
Thanks for the support! My big safety behavior in this case is compulsive avoidance, like I can’t get myself to cook or clean or exercise at all, so not many rituals there. I like the idea of just doing the first step, though, I’ll try it!
- Date posted
- 3y
Thanks for sharing your current experience. I would say that you should be very proud of yourself for 1st noticing the anxiety, distress, and discomfort and letting those feelings of anxiety, fear, etc. be there.This is a perfect time to as I like to say "practice" ERP. Practice not analyzing any of those points you mentioned and place your attention on this present moment. Feel your feet on the ground, take a deep breathe, go for a walk, read, go hangout with a close companion, or play a sport. Not avoiding the discomfort, but choosing to do things you want to do and not give any attention to dwelling on that.The most important part being the response prevention. Not easy, but part of the work. When this type of situation occurs and we are in environments in which we are organically exposed to distress, use this as an opportunity to practice doing the work! This allows for two things; showing yourself you can handle and tolerate it, and also letting your body know that although you feel uncomfortable you are willing to keep doing whatever it is you are doing and getting on with your day! This is the foundation!
Related posts
- Date posted
- 22w
I’ve been feeling the urge to avoid intimacy or purposefully engage (for reassurance that I won’t give into a compulsion) because of intrusive thoughts and fear that I’ll “check/test” my reactions. My OCD is making me so scared that I’ll purposefully think of a child and try to see if I like it. It’s so complicated but I guess I’m mentally checking if I would mentally check during intimacy. I’ve even envisioned myself checking and it’s making me so nauseous. I know it’s a compulsion like any other but the sound of “touching yourself to the thought of a child” sounds atrocious and vile. I’m terrified I’ll automatically start checking next time I am being intimate. I truly feel so worried. If anyone has gone through something similar, I’d appreciate hearing your experience. Or if anyone has any advice?
- Harm OCD
- POCD
- Students with OCD
- Mid-life adults with OCD
- Older adults with OCD
- Young adults with OCD
- Real Events OCD
- "Pure" OCD
- Date posted
- 15w
I cannot get over my perfectionism ocd surrounding my hair. The color needs to be perfect without any undertone left of red or orange, or I freak out (due to past experience). I’m a natural brunette, so I dye my hair brown…. Making me have red/orange undertones. I want to get over my ocd completely and the fear I get from dying it/looking at it/constantly checking and comparing to others hair. It’s exhausting. Any tips ? I want ocd to stop taking control of my life. I want to enjoy getting my hair done and not freaking out every second over it.
- Date posted
- 9w
Hi, I’m new to the app as of today. I’m 20 years old, and wanted to get some stuff off my chest about the types of OCD I’ve been experiencing over the years. I’m not entirely sure how or when my OCD was brought up, but I’ve been a perfectionist for as long as I can remember. Anywhere and everywhere I go, if I see things placed in an order/angle that my brain doesn’t approve of, next thing I know I’m “fixing” it to be in the placement I feel looks better. I’m not aware of why I feel the need to do that, but until an object is in the “right” placement, I won’t take my eyes off of it. My eye will even twitch. Another form of OCD I have is in relationships. I spend each day overthinking and over-analyzing every one of the relationships that are important to me. Friends, family, significant other. Another one is what’s considered “Pure OCD” . When I get an intrusive thought of something devilish, whether it’s randomly seeing my great aunt naked bc my grandma considers her “fat” even though she’s not, or it’s seeing something demonic and traumatizing, I immediately tell myself, “I don’t wanna see/think about that” over and over and over until the thought is gone. Or I’ll try to replace one mental image with another. One other form of OCD I face every day, is religion. I got baptized for the first time in my life earlier this year in January. I had finally started to repent for my sins, and now I’m constantly feeling afraid that I’m letting God down due to my depression/lack of motivation and vaping/smoking. I also fear excessively that He’ll banish me from His kingdom, or just turn a cold shoulder. I know that what I’ve just typed up is probably all over the place. That is my brain unfortunately. How do you go from being a mentally disorderly and seemingly erratic young woman, to a more well-established, successful woman? I’m all ears!
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