- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
I had this experience with my niece and nephew. I love babies so much, in general. I obviously loved them that much more! But my OCD was intense around that time in my life (undiagnosed) and it was so hard for me to take care of them on my own even though I wanted to. I pushed through and enjoyed my time with them when they were little and I'm happy you're doing that too! When intrusive thoughts pop up, the first thing I do is recognize that it's my OCD showing up uninvited. See it as something outside of who you are... like it just rolls up on the scene beside you. Acknowledge it for what it is and tell it you're not interested in engaging. You'll still feel anxious but if you focus on the fact (it IS a fact) that the OCD doesn't represent who you are or what you actually want to/will do, that will help reframe it. Thoughts are harmless. Sit with the feelings you have and let them settle without feeding them by engaging in the story that usually follows. Be patient with yourself. It's ok if this is difficult but the less you fight against it and the more you let it be there, the easier it gets with practice. Then pivot away from it. Interact in a silly way with your cousin. Sing and talk to them or read to them! Do something to engage your brain in a positive activity that has meaning in that situation. Beyond that, definitely try ERP around that particular theme so that you can move past it in an intentional way. You can do this!
- Date posted
- 3y
What is an example of ERP for this?
- Date posted
- 3y
Imaginal scenario. This theme is probably good to work with your therapist for guidance. The idea of this kind of exercise (can be used for any theme that you wouldn't or couldn't exposure yourself to in real life like a criminal act, for example) is that you write a story about yourself in the present tense and in detail. It will cause anxiety, of course, but you write it all out anyway. Write out the curcumstance, where you are, what you do, the consequences, trial, conviction, everything. All the way to whatevrr you most fear as the ultimate outcpme. Then you read it over and over until the words begin to lose meaning and your anxiety settles to a manageable level (like a 40 or 50 out of 100). When it is lower, you can stop and resume your regular life activities. You work with that every day or two. Your brain will get bored, the words and the story no longer have meaning. It will stop triggering an anxious response. Given the content, maybe give it a title that makes it clear that it is an imaginal worst case fictional activity for your exposure and response therapy. But again, working with a therapist that specializes in OCD is highly recommended. I also have a workbook that would help "The OCD workbook" by Bruce Hymen which helps guide this kind of work.
- Date posted
- 3y
I get SO incredibly nervous and anxious when holding babies. I'm okay if they are like 6 to 9 months old. But smaller babies, especially newborns. The entire time I will be freaking out. I was terrified that I was going to drop the baby on its head and give it permanent brain damage. It was even worse if the baby started squirming or moving around. I could not give the kid back fast enough.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
its awesome you still babysit even with your thoughts! that is a good exposure in itself. when you start to get your thoughts, don't try to rationalize them. instead, when you get these thoughts around your cousin, just allow the thoughts to live in your mind but continue on with them! you are allowing the obsession to happen without negotiating it with a compulsion.
- Date posted
- 3y
I babysit family too and it makes me sick. I try to be like ANYWAY, and make a whole new different thought. I don't try to rationalize the thought to myself or act like I should convince myself that i won't do something. But i don't know if this is the correct thing to do.
- Date posted
- 3y
I'm confronting my HOCD in the new year by volunteering (through the health care system in my province) to visit parents of newborn twins and triplets for a few hours a week to help out- I get to hold and feed the babies. Burp them. And interact with them gently. I adore babies so I'm as excited about it as I am fearful. But it'll be a win-win-win for the parents, the babies, and for me!
- Date posted
- 3y
Might have used the wrong acronym. I mean harm OCD. I see some people using HOCD to refer to sexual orientation.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 23w
So, if I'm retelling a story or relaying information to someone, after I'm done speaking, my brain will send me thoughts like, "What if you lied? You might have told the story wrong! You're lying!" I've started second-guessing myself, even when I know I'm not lying or telling the story wrongπ This has also bled into twisting my intentions behind certain actions... For example, the other day, I'd been babysitting my younger brothers. I'd gone to use the restroom and thought, "What if the door isn't locked or closed all the way?" Because this has happened once in the past. Turns out, it didn't lock correctly, and one of my little brothers almost walked in on me, but luckily, I shut the door in time, and we laughed it off. But then, I kept getting thoughts like, "You knew that would happen, and you didn't double-check! You wanted that to happen and for him to walk in!" :( I know this isn't true, but it's so annoying! Has anyone dealt with this? If you have, do you have any advice on how to deal with these thoughts?
- Older adults with OCD
- Mid-life adults with OCD
- "Pure" OCD
- Real Events OCD
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- False Memory OCD
- POCD
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- Date posted
- 23w
I struggle so bad with intrusive thoughts. They can be so bad that I'll cry because I KNOW that's not how I feel or want to do. (Too embarrassed to say what they're about) I'll constantly try to figure out why I have them, and constantly figure out what they mean, causing me to constantly circle around and around. I had to get on anxeity meds, which helped a little but the thoughts still happen. How do you help yourself with this? How do you know that you're just not some physcopath? π
- Date posted
- 17w
does anyone else get really vivid intrusive thoughts of the person who you are talking to (or close to physically) just randomly striking you violently? i keep getting them when iβm just talking to my dad one on one in the car & i get a flash of intrusive thoughts of him grabbing my hair & shoving my face in the dashboard. it gets me so anxious :β)
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