- Username
- Calove
- Date posted
- 2y ago
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- 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 !
Related posts
- Username
- jakemen20
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Guys I’m struggling. So I’ve been doing erp and my therapist is amazing. She’s supportive and doesn’t reassure me which is good for OCD. I’m so frustrated because I’m not feeling better yet. It’s SO FRUSTRATING. I’ve gotten my reassurance down from 200 times a day to like 5 times a day. It’s unbelievable. At the same time, I still feel horrible. I can go a few days with 0 reassurance, but then it will go back up to 10-15 reassurance a day. I get so bad at 0 reassurance that I give in. My ocd will tell me “you might not have ocd” and “this plan won’t work.” Then I get so discouraged. It literally convinces me I don’t have ocd. I NEED MOTIVATION TO do 0 reassurance FOREVER. I need motivation TO PUSH THROUGH A FEW WERKS OF TOUGHNESS AT 0 reassurance TO BEAT THIS. I also am not ruminating as much and I never avoid anymore. The main fear is that I don’t have ocd. I’m also getting frustrated lately because It will convince me on autopilot that “I can’t enjoy politics” and “I don’t like girls”. It attacks everything I love. I also feel like I’m so out of it sometimes. I’m working so hard. Just need that motivation to keep going. My ocd mainly makes me feel doom and down. That’s why it bothers me. I’m working on accepting it and not doing reassurance!
- 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.
- Username
- AlyssaBuon
- Date posted
- 2y ago
Why is ERP so hard?
It feels like I can never even get to be able to get there. It shakes me to my core and writing out my fears, triggers, and compulsions today for my therapist made my OCD finally feel real and that it’s not just my anxiety. Has anyone else struggled with this? Any tips for newbies who are scared 💩less?
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