- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
Hey! Were you officially diagnosed with OCD? This could be also Illness anxiety disorder and it's more about jumping to extremes. In this case, I think it's more about CBT. If you always find something wrong and alarming, it's a pattern. If there are symptoms though, like bleeding, go check it. Just remember that's it's probably not the worst Case scenario
- Date posted
- 3y
Hi all, i think that is true. I have multiple things and to be sure and make the right plan i need to see t therapist. some things Will respond to erp and some things to cbt
- Date posted
- 3y
ERP is a type of CBT actually. But yes, if you also have an anxiety disorder :) Wish you the best of luck!!
- Date posted
- 3y
Hi, thanks for replying:) not officially. I have mostly health anxiety and not typical ocd with washing hands etc. So maybe ERP is not right for me. What you said about worst case is totally true. That is how I think. But I am also checking a lot and asking for reassurance regarding health issues. So maybe it could be a mix of cbt and erp.
- Date posted
- 3y
Don't get too hung up on theme. ERP works for all OCD themes. OCD is OCD, it doesn't matter what disguise it happens to be wearing. It is also very common for OCD themes to switch or to have multiple themes at once. Talk therapy does NOT work for OCD. Also, just because you haven't been officially diagnosed does NOT mean you don't have OCD. My OCD went untreated for 37 years because I had no idea that's what I was dealing with. It's also very common for people with OCD to get misdiagnosed
- Date posted
- 3y
You didn't mention the reassurance seeking/checking a lot part, that's why I mentionned the anxiety part, although it happens in anxious disorders as well. I think you should definitely see a professional and get officially diagnosed, and sadly, anxiety disorders and depression can go hand in hand with OCD. I'm not unvalidating your self diagnosis in anyway, but you can have multiple disorders and need CBT for the anxiety part. And also, each person's OCD experience is different. Some people deal with multiple subtypes, other don't at all, so please don't worry about it changing or switching and get a professional to help you if you're in a position to do so. Good luck š¤
- Date posted
- 3y
Others* by officially diagnosed, again, I DO NOT mean that it's not OCD, but to know what you have exactly, OCD and GAD, or just anxiety that goes with OCD and get the best treatment plan for you
Related posts
- Date posted
- 22w
Hi all, itās been a while since Iāve posted on here but i have thankfully been getting better with my Health OCD and havenāt felt the need to come on here, however Iāve fallen back into the trap and canāt even function without panicking and worrying at the minute! I was very stressed a few weeks ago over life scenarios when I started seeing a lot of signs and symptoms of colon cancer in young people on social media, I didnāt think too much of it. However of course a few days later I start having the symptoms! Sore stomachs, constipation etc. I have been so worried, I went to my doctor and got constipation medication for a week which I took but since stopping I have the same symptoms and more and I am worried so much everyday Iāve been hyper aware of my bowel movements! I have even been trying to force myself to go when I feel like I donāt really need to which in turn has caused haemorrhoids and some blood, which has made me even more anxious!! (Note: my partner actually thinks Iām going to the bathroom a normal amount and am not even really constipated anymore but Iām convinced I am) I feel like Iām going crazy and no one seems to think my worries are rational - can OCD/ anxiety impact your bowel movements and stomach? Iāve never really had this and Iām petrified of it, I hope someone else has had this scenario before and has came out the other side (edited)
- Date posted
- 15w
I'm going to try and be coherent because I know that sometimes during these moments I tend to babble in fear. I have a mole on the left side of my chest that I've had since I was a kid. Been there for as long as I remember. And I never paid attention to it; it was just a part of my body. I even felt a little sad considering that I might not have it anymore whenever I get top surgery. Yesterday I went down a rabbit hole and landed on Melanoma. Which, of course, prompted me to look at my mole again. And again. And again. It's large, bigger than my other moles. Always has been, at least to my knowledge. I always thought it was cute whenever it crossed my mind. Now...now I'm just scared... I'm not asking for reassurance. None of us on here are medical experts (unless youre an actual doctor) (also insert OCD joke here). I sent a picture to my doctor, and she said that if it hasnt changed size that's a good sign. But she also suggested a follow-up with a dermatologist. And that's what scares me the most. All of this started yesterday, but I sent the message to my doctor this morning. And ever since then...I havent been okay. I can barely eat, and every time I try to I can barely swallow. I've isolated myself in the guest bedroom of my parents house. I cant move. I cant think straight. And...let's just say my thoughts havent been good. Like I said, I'm not asking for reassurance or medical advice. I just...I need help to not feel like I'm dying. I didnt mention that yesterday, in the midst of going down the rabbit hole, I realized how badly I didnt want to be afraid, and yet I also felt like I needed to be afraid. And I realized that that's what ERP is (at least for me in case it's different for everyone). I really did naivietely think that it was just going to be about avoiding compulsions. I didnt realize that accepting uncertainty would feel like a death sentence. And now this has happened. I just...I'm scared. And I dont want to be. I dont want to live in this reality where I'm sick and dying. I dont want to have to tell my family. I dont want to live in that world, but it feels like I'm already in it. My body is just preparing me for it. I dont know. I dont know why I'm even making this post. No one can help me, can they?
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- Date posted
- 14w
Anyone know any ERP techniques or specific exposures that help with health anxiety OCD? Iāve heard such great things about ERP for other subtypes but I canāt think of any for health related OCD. Iād appreciate any advice!
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