- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
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
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
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
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
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
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
I know. I feel like I spend 100% of my time distracting myself.
- Date posted
- 3y
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
Thanks for all your comments. Really helps not being alone in this !
Related posts
- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 24w
No matter what task I’m doing. If I have an intrusive thought I have to redo the task or just just completely move on to something else. I’m Christian and I struggle with scrupulosity. I feel like I have to repeat task to keep everyone safe. I’m tired of this. I know ERP is the key and I have to stand up to the thoughts but they are just so scary. I know God is with me and I’m suppose to have faith but again I’m just so scared. I can’t even fully go into detail about my theme because I don’t want to type it out. I’m in therapy and I’m told to lean into the discomfort but it just seems like an impossible thing for me to do.
- Date posted
- 13w
Hi - just for some context, I have OCD and ADHD. I hate bringing this up, but with these diagnoses, when intertwined, there is ALWAYS a thought. I never stop thinking. This is really hard, especially because I feel like I always need to be talking to someone. Whether it’s my friends or family, talking to people brings me down to earth from certain kinds of thought spirals. However, when I’m alone it is the hardest. When my friends don’t reply I have this compulsion to text again or I need to constantly check my notifications so that I have none left to check. But then to them or new people I talk to, this behavior probably comes across as overwhelming or too much. I’m trying to control it and use erp, but also, I have my moments where I’m just vunerable and give into the compulsion. It’s genuinely so embarassing and maybe not as big a deal as I’m making it out to be but, how do I manage? And how do I relax?
- Date posted
- 10w
So I am a practicing Catholic, and I've gotten into reading the Bible this year, praying the Rosary, things like that, and while I love to do that, my OCD has been seeming to take over, in ways such as like I have to read the Bible for a certain amount of time before I'm satisfied with the time read, or something along those lines, and it's starting to make the thought of praying and reading the Bible unenjoyable, which is really hurting me inside, because I used to and want to enjoy it so bad, but now this is making it really hard to, because it feels like I don't have control over my own thoughts, and little things trigger the thoughts, it's just so annoying. If there's anything anyone thinks I can do to combat this please let me know.
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