- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
You've done all the right things by getting yourself diagnosed and starting ERP. What kind of compulsions do you have ? Try to delay them as much as possible at the beginning and ERP is progressive, try to tackle the things that are less scary to give up first and then work your way up. It's not easy but you're on the right path! Lots of luck 🙏
- Date posted
- 3y
Thanks, my compulsions are mostly seeking information and reassurance that I am not at risk of things (usually things that are an almost non existent risk).
- Date posted
- 3y
@Nick!777 I see. Well, it's already great that you have good insight, by recognizing that the risk is almost non existent :) ERP is about "rewiring" your brain, and since you mentioned you've always thought it was anxiety and phobias, I guess you've been in this hypervigilant/reassurance and Info seeking mode for a while, so your brain needs time to readapt. It's scary at first. It's terrifying even. And one questions it and whether or not one will be able to take it, but it DOES get better when you start gradually and find the balance between too much/not enough, and what's great is that you have a therapist, and they'll help with this part, and start with the less scary things. I've done with two therapists, one went too fast, and traumatized me, the other was very slow, starting with imaginary scenarios, I thought it was too slow, but those sessions helped me in the long term and when I think that it helped me hug my loved ones again, and it now seems almost normal again, I'm so so happy. ERP works, you've got this, delay, resist, resist, resist. The anxiety will slowly go away faster and faster, and your brain will have new habits. And keep in mind that it's not linear, sometimes symptoms are more intense, and it gets harder to deal with, don't get discouraged by "small relapses", as long as they get further apart, and you keep evolving. It's worth it 🙏
- Date posted
- 3y
@Anonymous* Some how even though logically it feels like low risks I still feel like I am dying, I guess repetition is the only way.
- Date posted
- 3y
@Nick!777 I understand completely, been there, still am for a couple of things. This is the definition of good insight, you KNOW it's excessive and not based in reality, but the brain goes to the 0.0000001% chance it's actually the case. Just resist or at least delay as much as you can
- Date posted
- 3y
Thank you so much these words are like a lifeline right now. I am terrified and telling my brain just to ignore it is very very counter intuitive.
- Date posted
- 3y
Happy to hear it helps a little! I understand completely, you've been thinking this way for a very long time, it's a habit, almost a reflex, and you're actively trying to stop yourself, it's not easy and there will be resistence. But you've got this !!! At the beginning, it's very hard and distressing, this is very normal, but it will get better with time
- Date posted
- 3y
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUA-De6v6tR/?utm_medium=copy_link this post from a licensed OCD therapist helps understand it better, if you wanna check
- Date posted
- 3y
Hopefully it doesn't count as reassurance, I'm seeing it more as motivation. You've got this!!
- Date posted
- 3y
@Anonymous* Yes, I feel like reassurance would relate to my perceived fears - where as this is encouragement not to engage with them.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 16w
I will preface by saying I am not diagnosed OCD, as I can't afford to see therapists or psychiatrists at this time. But given the things I've gone through, I'm pretty much convinced it's what I'm dealing with. I never really saw it coming. As a kid I always had health issues. Sick all the time, spent a lot of my very young years in and out of hospitals. In recent years as I've become an adult, health anxiety started creeping in. I spent my teenage years depressed, anxious and suicidal, both passively and actively. I engaged in self destructive behaviors in an attempt to end my life quicker. I left a toxic home environment and began my journey to improve my life, as I have a significant other that I want to stay on this planet for. I began lifting weights and exercising, eating better, and attempting to improve myself day by day. I didn't even realize it happening, but over time I started caring more and more about my health. Avoiding certain foods, making my diet stricter, and ensuring I did the right things. While it was good for my body in the short term, long term it seems it really affected my mental. As I started to feel better, I noticed that the times where I wasn't feeling 100% were very stressful. I'd start to worry about developing diseases. Diabetes, appendicitis, cancer, any number of rare and deadly diseases i could discover on Google. It got worse and worse as time went on. I'd spend money on things to test my body. glucose monitor, thermometer, supplements to ensure I was healthy. mental compulsions began (which i didn't know where compulsions at the time). Well, it all culminated at its peak in the last few months. Every minor bodily symptom, no matter how normal or common or frequent, became a life threatening warning. Constant googling, ruminating, checking and reassurance seeking, which at the time I didn't know was what I was doing. Then, at the end of May, I did get sick. And suddenly all of my obsessions and compulsions solidified themselves as real and premonitions that were true. I started spiraling. Avoiding social events, or anything that was outside of my room. Barely managing to go to work some days. Bringing my compulsions to work as well, sneaking them in when I could. Every day was anxiety riddled. I became exhausted. Sleeping for 10 hours, waking up still tired, coming home having no energy to do anything. It convinced me even more that I was getting sick again. I was getting suicidal again and contemplating it very often. I then noticed my Instagram feed getting filled more and more with OCD related posts and ads, I guess i was unconsciously finding and engaging with them. They described exactly what I was going through, and still am going through. I'm on day 4 of my recovery after learning some ways to help myself. I'm catching my thought patterns, learning to allow the uncertainty, and avoiding my avoidant tendencies. I removed the batteries from my compulsions and put them out of sight. I still am learning my mental compulsions and how to deal with them. I'm engaging with the things I would avoid now despite how I feel. I'm still riddled with anxiety and the OCD thoughts are very loud and frequent. But I'm feeling more in control and like I can handle the thoughts better. I'd love any advice people can give as well. I want my life back.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 10w
I recently got diagnosed with OCD back in May of this year. What started it was a month prior, I took an SSRI which triggered an extremely intense couple of days due to panic attacks I’ve never had before. I’ve never had panic attacks but pretty intense anxiety. That’s when I started experiencing DPDR and hyper awareness. I’m good some days, but other days it’s so so hard. Especially because I have no one around me that understands. The DPDR and awareness of every feeling, thought, and just overall awareness of my existence gets really overwhelming. I feel like I’m losing my mind. It’s really hard to sit with my thoughts especially when they’re on a constant loop of every little thing I’m thinking and doing and on top of that feeling like I’m in a dream. I desperately just want to go back to how I was 4 months ago, but I know that’s just not possible right now. If anyone has experienced this and is doing much better now or even currently experiencing this please let me know! I need someone to relate to lol
- Date posted
- 10w
Just stumbled across this app/community. I've been struggling with just right or perfectionist OCD for several years. Im 47 and I've had a pretty successful life, ironically because of some of my OCD traits; attention to detail, organization, perseverance, etc. But about 4-5 years ago, without any specific trigger, I started noticing more... let's call them errors. Errors in just about everything. These errors led to compulsive behaviors to "fix" them. Place the can down again, "right" this time. That piece of trash didn't land "right" in my trash bin, take it out and do it again. But really it started happening because of me physically touching or manipulating things, or really anything that involved fine motor control. Picking things up/placing down, turning switches, knobs on/off, opening/closing doors, cupboards, cabinets, using a mouse, putting on and taking off clothes, brushing teeth/hair, drying my body after a shower, pressing buttons on my phone, buttons on my shirt, pants zippers, etc. I mean, you name it. I've never had the type of classical OCD where I obsessively washed bc I was worried about germs or intrusive thoughts about my family dying. I had anxiety about the compulsing itself, or specifically avoiding certain actions so I wouldn't start compulsing. So I was kind of lost for awhile. Then I'll never forget reading this article about just right OCD and getting tears in my eyes. It was a point of some validation that others had similar symptom clusters or patterns. Not that I'd wish these compulsions on anyone! I've started seeing a therapist and taking an SSRI. Don't really like the therapist and I don't really feel like the medication works. Plus I don't like the side effects. Night sweats and sexual side effects. But, I have had some moderate success with different types of mental tricks. Essentially some self taught ERP. Little mantras I use like "not down, but forward" as in stop slowing down and laser focusing on every step, every detail and move forward, physically and mentally. Remembering that compulsions come with the idea that they provide comfort or a good feeling, when in reality, moving through a chore or task without compulsions or repetitive behavior is f**king amazing. Remember and chase that feeling. Watching the uncomfortable feeling float away or specifically identifing that feeling where my mind wants to stop and restart a motion of or an action and ignoring it to "rewire" my thinking. And distraction. Distraction is a big one too. Those are a couple of things that have worked for me. Im by no means better... I still struggle every day. And it's exhausting. This disease makes me feel so stupid and it's embarrassing and frustrating. But I've had some glimmers of hope lately and i KNOW that i can overcome it. Get back to the ass kicker in life, and with my family, and in the gym, and at work, that i know is inside of me still. Anyway, I think typing some of my journey out has been helpful so thanks for reading.
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