- Date posted
- 6y
- Date posted
- 6y
Thank you for this
- Date posted
- 6y
I’ve dealt with the same frustrating issue and how I try to break the cycle is repeating this mantra to myself about whatever I keep checking, for example if I’m repeatedly checking to make sure the door is locked I’ll say if I didn’t lock the door and someone breaks in, I’ll just have to deal with the consequences but right now I have to accept the uncertainty on if it’s locked. It’s really hard to do but by accepting uncertainty, you are taking the power away from the OCD and using it for yourself
- Date posted
- 6y
Of course, always
- Date posted
- 6y
I’ve been able to slowly change my habits of constantly checking locks, stove knobs and double checking light switches by stopping right in my tracks when I’m doing it. I’ll stop and grab a hold of the light switch and flip it up/down “one time” and say to myself “on/off” or for locks I’ll glance at the direction of the deadbolt lock and see which direction it’s pointing ie. if it’s horizontal it’s in a locked position no need to touch/check it. It takes a little practice but works.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 20w
My OCD is continuing to have me constantly check and check and check! I keep doubting and am very confused! How can I get out of this trap!!!!!
- Date posted
- 18w
I’ve been stuck in this cycle for the last month or two and am not sure how to get out of it. Basically, I will work on ignoring the thoughts and not responding or engaging plus limiting/completely eliminating compulsions. After a week or two of constant work, the amount of intrusive thoughts in a day goes down. The anxiety each thought causes also goes down with some, but not all, thoughts passing without notice like they would for a normal person. The thoughts that do stick cause anxiety and make me want to ruminate or do other compulsions but I make sure to limit them. After a bit, I’m in a pretty good head space. This is usually when it goes down hill. I’ll start to question if I even have ocd because some of the thoughts (once again not all) pass without notice. The difficulty resisting compulsions goes down and so does the anxiety, only increasing the questioning. I spend a while questioning if I’ve ever had ocd in the first place and then something sets me off or the questioning itself becomes a trigger and I get stuck back into the same ocd cycle with constant rumination, anxiety, and other compulsions. This lasts for a week or two before I know I need to stop and try and work hard to get back to ignoring the thoughts. And the cycle just restarts over and over again. Does anyone have any tips to stop this from happening? It’s really harming my recovery as every few weeks I dive back into the same negative place I was.
- Date posted
- 18w
I’ve tried living in the uncertainty today & kept myself busy but I can’t shake this feeling that I’m about to lose control & act on my thoughts. I keep feeling like I need to check in to see how I feel & keep my self safe & when I’m near my trigger it feels like I’m being pulled into doing it & feels like I want to but I’m not using compulsions. My thoughts feel like my own & feeling like I’ll be like this forever. Can someone relate or give advice 😩
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