- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
Yes, to a point. I think we should support and encourage each other. But the problem is that so many of the people who post on here are seeking reassurance. You try to encourage and support them, and they reject it. Another thing I've noticed is there are a lot of people who will make a reassurance post and then get all ticked off when no one responds. Or they will ask people to respond to their posts.
- Date posted
- 3y
I second Lms526 and excalibre - support and encouragement are good, reassurance is not. That said, I do kinda feel like there's a difference between wanting a second opinion and seeking reassurance; I don't normally ask for reassurance because I know it won't really help, but if I'm facing a conundrum or life-related challenge and I feel like I'm in a stable place emotionally, I'll sometimes look for another perspective to obtain an idea of how my stance compares. Once I've done that ONCE, however, I'm done - even though it doesn't feel compulsive, I never allow myself to ask the same questions twice because it's difficult to distinguish between OCD-related doubt and a desire for another viewpoint. I don't ask community members to read my posts either, although I am happy when they do.
- Date posted
- 3y
Sounds like a good approach.
- Date posted
- 3y
Yeah. Yes to all of this. It’s like if you can tell someone’s having a really really horrible day I’m not sure if reassurance is the right word but seeing a little bit of something is immensely helpful.
- Date posted
- 3y
yeah there's a difference between reassurance-- "your OCD fears aren't true, you're a good person"-- encouragement-- "you've got this, you will beat this, I believe in you"-- commiserating-- "I'm so sorry you're going through this. You deserve better."-- and advising-- "You need to do some self-care." The last 3 are gooodd
- Date posted
- 3y
there's also tough love. "suck it up. do your erp. and go to sleep."
- Date posted
- 3y
yes, i think helping people see more clearly ab a situation is different than reassurance in some instances possibly
Related posts
- Date posted
- 25w
I hope everyone is doing well today, and for those of you who are struggling my thoughts and prayers are with you. Just know your moment of peace is coming soon. I think it’s important that we post / come on here every now and again even when we are not in a moment of pure panic and fear. Remember that we are not our thoughts as hard as it is to understand. Remember that OCD makes it feel “real” and that OCD will always make us think the most inappropriate things and the most inappropriate times. Remember that all humans, have thoughts that come and go and as hard as it can be to understand you are not alone in your thoughts that feel so unique. For me I get a lot of anxiety from thoughts I used to have , which of course makes them return in full throttle. The more I push them away the more they come back. And those thought makes new connections to those things in my life I value. OCD is a pain but it’s important that as much as you hate it you learn to be compassionate and understanding that it’s there to “help” you no matter how bad it does it job sometimes. Stay strong everyone
- Date posted
- 20w
I’ve heard it’s not good to seek reassurance or give it because it lowers your tolerance to uncertainty. But how do I avoid seeking reassurance when my thoughts and doubts are so bad, I genuinely just don’t know anymore if I’m a bad person or if it’s just OCD? I know I’m supposed to sit with the uncertainty, but how can I do that when the uncertainty has me unable to trust my own brain? Especially when the OCD is real event and POCD? How can I not seek reassurance when I feel so alone and so abnormal and just don’t wanna feel that way anymore? In turn, I see so many people on here struggling so bad and my heart breaks for them. How can I give advice to towers without giving them reassurance and hurting them in the long run?
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 19w
I see a lot of posts and comments here along the lines of... "the thoughts/urges aren't you -- they're just OCD." Though this is often true and comforting, isn't this just a form of reassurance? The way to beat OCD is by accepting that the distressing thoughts MAY be true/real, a.k.a. "from you" or "not just OCD." By brushing distressing things off as "just OCD," you excuse the thoughts and therefore feel reassured. Obviously it is good to be aware of what OCD does to you and know when you're experiencing a spiral, but crediting all distressing thoughts to OCD is a way of finding certainty about them. What do you guys think of this? Am I right or wrong? This is just the way I think about it, but I see the "this is just OCD" thing so much on here and I often wonder if that is a form of reassurance.
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond