- Date posted
- 3y ago
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Is the rereading a compulsion? Just remember a thought is just a thought and not reality. When I get intrusive thoughts and try to not do compulsions for them I start thinking about lots of good things that I want to happen like “I have a million dollars” “I have a chocolate cake in front of me” etc etc to prove thoughts aren’t real, or I even think thoughts like some crazy scary thing that’s different from the one fear I’m focusing on will happen right now, to also prove the thoughts don’t actually do anything.
- Date posted
- 3y ago
That’s a really good way to look at it. OCD has a way of tricking your brain otherwise it’s so bizzare but I am really trying to push through and just not give any reaction to my thoughts.
- Date posted
- 3y ago
I relate on this one. I think you re-read something because the moment you read you had a bad thought about yourself or someone you care about don't you?
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Yes sometimes the thoughts don’t even make sense, and I’m not even sure what I’m afraid of but it’s sometimes even a sensation. Usually when I push through it it goes away. Somedays are harder than others. I’m almost finished with my book though so I feel really accomplished. I’m trying to use reading as part of my erp now.
- Date posted
- 3y ago
TBH I'm not even sure there's a real way to pass get through this except by understanding that the moment we get obssess we're literally owned by OCD. I try to focus more on myself to better understand how to manage my energies. When I read something if I'm triggered I try not to pay attention, when it works I keep on reading but if I'm too triggered I know it's over and I'll end up wircling round and round so I stop and listen to music for example (it really helps). I assume there's no real escape as aforementioned and the only way to get better, maybe at some points, is to stop putting ourselves under pressure by willing to feel "normal". Try to manage and understand and yourself more than changing who you are because that's often when the mess begins.
- Date posted
- 3y ago
I have this issue too! I’m too afraid to read my book because then I will be alone with my thoughts and my imagination, and that’s a frightening experience.
- Date posted
- 3y ago
I know. I feel like I spend 100% of my time distracting myself.
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Ugh, I love to read and OCD has stolen the joy from me. When I went on more meds it got better but I lowered because of side effects and now it’s back.
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Thanks for all your comments. Really helps not being alone in this !
Related posts
- Date posted
- 14w ago
I have a lot of thoughts about the universe, and they’re overwhelming—like being caught in a rip current, except it’s all inside my head. Most of the time, they’re about how small we are, how there really isn’t a “we” because our bodies aren’t truly ours—we’re just bacteria, cells, and microbes. The thoughts spiral, deeper and deeper, smaller and smaller, coiling until suddenly, I’m pulled under, drowning in a whirlpool. I’ve never felt like this before, and I’m convinced I’ve been faking it somehow. For the past few weeks, my OCD has been worse than it’s ever been in my 20 years of life. Or maybe I’m just more aware of it now. Has anyone else had their OCD suddenly get really bad? Does it ever end—if it even can? I’ve convinced myself that my intrusive thoughts aren’t actually intrusive, that my OCD is a choice, and that everything I do is intentional. As for compulsions, I don’t have the typical “If I don’t do ____ then ____ will happen” kind of thoughts. Instead, my brain simply commands, “Do ____,” and I always give in. It’s so loud in my head, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m an imposter. Like I don’t belong here—like my presence on this app is an intrusion, invalidating everyone else’s struggles just by downloading it and daring to post. If anyone feels that way, if you think I’m intruding, I’m sorry. I only came here because I have no one to share my diagnosis with. Pouring my thoughts out, hoping someone might understand, feels less suffocating than journaling. Journaling is like letting a wound fester—each word burying the thoughts deeper, leaving them to decay in silence, for nobody to ever read but myself.
- Date posted
- 9w ago
I’ve noticed that I’m somewhat happier also ignoring my thoughts than I am instead of doing compulsions (I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired atp) but I’ve heard you’re technically supposed to do erp rather than pushing under the rug. But idk if I have a thought I just refuse to think about it again and im fine even if I want to do compulsions
- Date posted
- 6w ago
Sometimes I notice my intrusive thoughts cause me to spiral and sometimes not. I've been practicing ERP for quite a while so it's a bit easier for me to not spiral. But I wonder why that happens. Does anyone else have it? Also I'm on medication idk if that plays a role.
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