- 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
- 16w 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
- 12w ago
I started dealing with OCD when I became fixated on health issues, particularly the fear of contracting a life-threatening disease. If I experienced any kind of medical symptom, no matter how small, that even remotely hinted at something potentially fatal, it would drive me crazy, and I couldn’t stop obsessing over it. Then one day, I started having intrusive thoughts about accidentally hitting someone with my car, and I would end up driving in circles to check if I had. Eventually, I found myself overwhelmed by a flood of new obsessive thoughts and compulsions. One day, while I was at the park, a squirrel came near me, and for some reason, I felt like it attacked me. I Googled it and learned that squirrels could carry rabies, which spiraled me into a deep fear of rabies. I became consumed with the thought I received a bite from a squirrel, raccoon, or bat any time I’m in areas that trigger me. It started off only being inside then transferred to even being in my own home. This made me obsess over every physical sensation in my body, compulsively checking to make sure nothing was wrong. One compulsion that I hated the most would to be putting rubbing alcohol on me to make sure that I had no open wounds. Every day feels like I’m walking around in a fog of anxiety, constantly worrying that I won’t even make it to old age. Sometimes, it gets so overwhelming that I just want it all to end. It stresses me so bad at times to where my brain feels like I’ve been studying all day.
- Date posted
- 10w ago
so I need to get back into ERP, but it’s so hard to manage these thoughts and learn to deal with them. like I swear my mind has to make everything about it. Like every time I clean my room, my mind’s like yup make sure it’s clean so when your parents find you, or something so stupid like if I get a headache, my mind convinces me that I like the pain and that that’s why I get my thoughts because I actually want to do it. It’s so exhausting. Because I know I would never want to take my life and I treasure my life so why does it do it to me? It’s hard to comprehend the fact of these thoughts too because I don’t know many people with this exact theme. It’s such a scary feeling. And I’m constantly questioning whether I have actual depression or if it’s just my OCD. Yes I have been diagnosed with suicidal OCD, but my mind still tries to convince me otherwise. I just don’t know how to let these just sit and pass without panicking.
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