- Date posted
- 3y ago
- Date posted
- 3y ago
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 ago
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 ago
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 ago
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
- 15w ago
Does anyone else relate to the above being the go-to mantra when OCD wants to manipulate you? It's a hard one to shake for me personally, if you have any tips for overcoming this particular thought, it'd be much appreciated! The current example: There is a sticky fly trap that hangs from the ceiling above our drying rack. I removed a strainer to strain my pasta and worried it hit the fly trap (even though I have no reason to believe it actually did). At first the voice was saying "better safe than sorry" and I was able to "overcome" it to drain my pasta but now that I have a bowl of pasta sitting in front of me, I can't get myself to eat it. Update: I asked my mom for reassurance and she gave it to me so, now that I'm eating the pasta, I'm worried, what if she was wrong. This is a pretty common version of a spiral for me when it comes to contamination and consumption, it's just very hard to shake the "better safe than sorry" mantra. No reassurance please, just tiprs to get over the "better safe than sorry thought." Thanks in advance for your insight and support!
- Date posted
- 15w ago
I have contamination OCD that causes me to excessively wash my hands/clean items with disinfectant wipes. I know I just need to start with small exposures but how do I do that without spiraling? I tried a while back by just touching the outside of my dishwasher and not washing my hands after and it led to me being unable to even exist in my house. I basically lived on my couch for three weeks as it was the only 'safe' space that I had not touched with my dirty hands. I had to take a week off work to clean my house to make it somewhat liveable. I still haven't got round to cleaning everything though so things like my kitchen are still no-go zones that I don't enter. I just don't know how to start ERP without it making everything worse. Any advice would be appreciated. I am not seeing a therapist at the moment due to financial constraints.
- Date posted
- 9w ago
I don't know what to do, my hands have become so numb and bruised because of constant washing hands, i have started hating each and every furniture around me, beacuse i feel they are not clean although they are being cleaned regularly but i cannot stop these thoughts. I clean my phone, bluetooth, charger with wet wipes each day, i don't touch any object around me, i am not being able to focus on my studies or anything else because of my ocd ihave stopped going out, everyone around me is so fed up of me. I have consulted so many therapists and been taking ayurvedic supplements too but nothing works. It is getting worse and worse, please if anybody can suggest me how to overcome these thoughts!
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