How not to be afraid of OCD coming back after you recover? I've already done that, but I can't find strength to do it again.

It’ll most likely come back. Recovery and waking does not mean cured. It means you have way less anxiety and other symptoms whenever OCD (and other mental illnesses) pop back up. And you also have coping mechanisms to deal with it coming back up.

In my case ocd was bad when my father had first stroke, then I recovered, then my mom died and my father had second stroke and my ocd has since doubled from what it was when I first had it.

@Vesna Aw, yeah. That’s extremely tough and I’m not surprised your OCD popped up in full force. Whenever I’m extremely stressed, all my mental illnesses will get worse. But with recovery and healing, I know I can get through it and in the meantime, I have a bunch of coping mechanisms to help me.

@Nica Thanks for your answer and sorry if mine was "too much". Sometimes I feel my ocd is actually helping my family be ok and that's why I can get rid of it again :). It's silly I know.

I think for me it helps to try and live my best positive life. I know that it could show symptoms again but I have to do my best to be happy until that happens bc it could be years

Sorry to pry but does anyone know if the same subtype can come back in full force? As in, can we relapse with the same subtypes?

Yes subtype is irrelevant

@Justmesadly I’m so scared from that. I’m still working on it for the past 2+ months. Hard to stay positive

@WhyMe? It’s hard as hell , it seems like it’s never ending and in a way it is never ending! But you can get to recovery

@Justmesadly Haha “hard” can’t even convey just how difficult this process is! But I’m trying, just some days I’m more hopeful than others. Really does seem never ending at times. Wish we can all get different brains at times. I hope you’re doing well! ❤️

Yes, but don't get too hung up on subtype. OCD is OCD. It doesn't really matter what disguise it chooses to wear. ERP works for all subtypes

@Lms526 I totally agree but subconsciously I haven’t accepted my type of subtype yet. No matter how much I say I’ve accepted it, I still have not & realized how my brain continually continues to try to “solve” it. My therapist says I need to grive. I still have faith that ERP will click for me :)

@WhyMe? Acceptance is tough, but necessary. One thing that really helped me when it comes to ERP is to remember you are learning a new skill. Its no different than learning a new language. At first, it will feel strange and awkward. But the more you practice, the better you against. Eventually, if you work hard, you will become fluent. Your second language will become as natural as English. It just takes time and ALOT of practice. The same is true for ERP. You will get there.

@Lms526 Thanks for your input. I’m still learning to accept it. I’ve been doing ERP for almost 2 months now.

@WhyMe? Ok girls but how to convince myself that OCD is not good? With magical thinking OCD person believes that she or he is preventing bad things from happening and that's why she or he is ready to accept pain that ocd causes..

@WhyMe? One other thing. Acceptance is NOT the same as approval. Accepting the intrusive thoughts does not mean that you like or even agree with them. It just means acknowledging they are there. It can be as simple as saying "This is an OCD thought"

@Vesna Basically, realize that you are not that powerful. OCD wants to keep control over you. It wants you to believe that you have the power to keep bad things from happening to other people, but its simply not true. Your thoughts do not have the ability to cause harm to another person. Everything OCD tells you is a lie. Just because it feels true it doesn't mean it is.

@Lms526 Ahh makes total sense. Any tips on how to accept my subtype? My major one is SOOCD & I can’t accept that it’s going to be me never being confident with my identity.

@Lms526 Thanks for your words

@Vesna Just try to remember that you are not powerful and your thoughts are not powerful enough to make things happen. I used to have that but has overcome it. Take the chance that anything can happen but you do not control what happens.

@Lms526 I think I remember your nickname and that we already communicated - you wanted to finish some schooling and become OCD therapist. Just read your comments here - I think you're more than ready for that!

@WhyMe? Thanks my dear

@WhyMe? People with OCD want 100% certainty. But 99.9% of the time it simply isn't possible. For example, I lived kind close to an airport. Planes fly over my complex pretty frequently. Can I say with 100% certainty that a plane will not burst into flames, fall from the sky and kill me as I sit outside on my patio or refill my bird feeder? No. But is it something that is likely to happen? Also no. I am straight, but I have had conversations with people who identify as gay or lesbian. They have told me they knew from a very early age that they were same sex attracted. Is it possible that you will wake up one day and realize you are attracted to women? Yes. But is it likely? Even if there is 0.1% change, that is still technically possible. Bottom line is that you will never know with absolute certainty. The best way to accept that is to say "Maybe, maybe not" Dont try to prove it to yourself, don't Google issues related to sexual orientation. Don't try to argue or reason with OCD. Don't seek reassurance from other people. Just sit with the uncertainty and let your anxiety go crazy. If you don't do any compulsions, it will peak and decline on its own. Acceptance doesn't mean you like or agree with the intrusive thought. Its basically just acknowledging the thought is there. Acceptance can be as simple as saying "This is an OCD thought"

@Lms526 Thank you for that, I guess I really needed that as a wake up call. It’s funny, because all of that I know and logically I know that I am 100% straight, but my brain decided to mess with that. Really started with me over analyzing out of nowhere for saying that someone looks pretty in a movie 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’m guessing that overtime with ERP and maybe with mental stress, I started losing attraction to the opposite sex. Even if I find the opposite sex as attractive my ocd jumps in and decides to ask, “are you sure?”. That for sure puts me in a little of a panic. Really it’s just the feelings that are affecting me. Mental compulsions are the hardest thing to stop and spot. I’m still learning. It’s hard to not focus on the fact that I’m going through this throughout the day.

@WhyMe? Yeah....mental compulsions are the worst. 95% of my compulsions are mental. They can be so sneaky. Hard to recognize and even harder to stop.

@Lms526 For sure they’re hard and sneaky! 95% or even more of my compulsions are mental, they’re so annoying 🤦🏻‍♀️ how long have you been in treatment?

@WhyMe? I started treatment in August of this year at age 45. But I started having intrusive thoughts when I was 8. OCD was never even on my radar until I heard a podcast where a woman with OCD shared her story and I realized I could relate. The crazy part is it wasn't even a mental health podcast. Like most people, I thought OCD was liking things neat and organized and washing your hands a lot. It was when I learned about the different subtypes and started researching OCD that things fell into place. I actually ended up reaching out to the guest and we have become friends. She has been an invaluable resource to me. We are similar in so many ways. I honestly don't think I could have made as much progress as I have without her encouragement and support.

@Lms526 Wow your story is truly amazing, I’m so proud that you started treatment. I also thought that ocd was about organizing and having things symmetrical. I’ve had all of those but never thought it was “dramatic” enough to seek help. It was very much manageable. However, I learned that I also have ROCD & depression OCD all throughout my life (I’m 28), as I learned more about OCD. I’m so glad you have such an influential support system! A great support system is so important during the recovery process. I truly wish you the best and I am so glad that you replied to my questions. I’ve seen you around here so maybe we’ll cross line again.

@WhyMe? Thank you so much. I appreciate that.