Okay so I’m sitting here trying to relax and read my book. Sometimes I feel like it’s almost impossible to get through more than five pages without some sort of intrusive thought. I need the courage to practice my erp right now no just keep reading and not rereading the same sentence. Ugh OCD sucks.

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

Date posted: 2y 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.

Username: CaloveCalove

Date posted: 2y 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.

Username: Morpheus 75Morpheus 75

Date posted: 2y 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?

Username: CaloveCalove

Date posted: 2y 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.

Username: Morpheus 75Morpheus 75

Date posted: 2y 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.

Username: Peter !Peter !

Date posted: 2y 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.

Username: OCDMMOCDMM

Date posted: 2y ago

I know. I feel like I spend 100% of my time distracting myself.

Username: OCDMMOCDMM

Date posted: 2y 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.

Username: CaloveCalove

Date posted: 2y ago

Thanks for all your comments. Really helps not being alone in this !

Username: joeyharringt...

Date posted: 3y ago

Anyone else find ERP incredibly difficult? My OCD does not want any part of it. I feel helpless because I keep giving into compulsions and a small part of me knows that the only way out is to stop compulsions. My OCD says otherwise, however. It has even gone so far to convince me that I actually cannot ever accept uncertainty and I find it so hard to not believe it. I know I will only ever find out if I stop compulsions but it is so damn hard and now OCD is getting in the way of my school work. One week I'm highly motivated and ready to fight, then the next week I'm so low and cannot stop ruminating. Then when I want to try again I know I'll just give in again. Much love for anyone suffering from this nonsense.

"Pure" OCD

Username: Anom321

Date posted: 1y ago

Finding it impossible to sit with thoughts

I find it very difficult to sit with thoughts or just let them be there especially when my OCD is purely based on mental rituals. For example, if I try to let a thought (that is causing me stress) come into my mind it’s almost impossible for me to let it sit there without my brain automatically trying to solve it or gain relief. It’s as though my brain does this without me really realising - probably from years of training it to do this - I’m just wondering if anyone knows of any other things I could try? I think this is why I find ERP quite difficult as I really try to let the thought sit there but my brain automatically tries to solve it no matter how much I’m trying…

Username: MeredithMcD

Date posted: 1y ago

Having an episode the last few days

These last few days my ocd had been maybe the worst it’s ever been. Currently, I am trying to do schoolwork assignments but I’m having a hard time reading because my mind is reading too fast and just skipping over the words then I feel frustrated like I have to go back and read the words carefully one by one with the same brain effort put to each word. Then I feel like I need to go back and look at how much I’ve read up to now and how much I need to read still and compare and it’s a never ending cycle of frustration. My mind is also racing about negative past events on top of that

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