- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
Fill your days with the actions that you love, And have a purpose, And exercise really has helped me.
- Date posted
- 3y
I will try this also! I could definitely use the exercise haha
- Date posted
- 3y
Hey! You are not alone! I had harm ocd, it was really really bad, i almost wanted to kill myself. I decided to do therapy, i found someone very very pro in my city, and in 1 month he helped me to get rid of it. You have to do ERP exercises, its not simple, but you have to do it step by step, daily. The goal here is to do a list with all the things that you are affraid of, and work first on the one that triggers you the less. You can find a nice channel on Youtube, is called: "OCD and Anxiety" . That guy has a website also, and you can download all the materials you need
- Date posted
- 3y
If you want, i can give you some good advices. Im waiting for your questions
- Date posted
- 3y
Yes please! What kind of exposures helped you? I’m always terrified of driving anymore and it’s just become debilitating for me.
- Date posted
- 3y
Meditation works as it helps you to see being present with your thoughts is ok and also not have the expectation that your intrusive thoughts will go away because they may not. I had the expectation that to feel better I had to get rid of the thoughts and that’s not the case we have to learn to live with them and not see them as threatening. Also erp is essential as I do my exposures at least 4-5 times a week.
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 3y
I’m sorry you are struggling with this. I agree with many of the comments on here about doing some exposure work on your own. You can start with smaller exposures that cause less anxiety and then work your way up to the bigger exposures. I would also suggest finding a good ERP therapist if you are able to be in therapy.
- Date posted
- 3y
I'm so sorry you're having a rough time right now. You are so not alone, though I know one of the hardest parts is feeling so isolated. ERP is very helpful at managing the distress and working with a therapist will help you see how to implement it on your own, too. The bottom line is that we can't control our thoughts, so acceptance is key. Remember that acceptance does not equal agreement. Just because you accept that a thought is in your head does not mean you want it there. In fact, OCD tends to work counter to our values because that's what gets the reaction. In addition to accepting the thoughts, we also accept the discomfort. When we ruminate on how we're feeling (disgusted, shameful, afraid) it inflates the feeling and keeps us into the OCD cycle. When we recognize what we're feeling and stop arguing with it or trying to make it go away, it often loses steam. Again, in ERP you watch this wave peak and fade which is a powerful cue to your brain that it is possible to feel distress without staying there. I encourage you to check out some support groups, too. OCD is so hard and can be so scary, but there are so many other people like you who are battling it. You've got this! https://www.treatmyocd.com/support-groups
- Date posted
- 3y
Related posts
- Date posted
- 23w
Sorry, I know I keep posting on here but it’s like a diary for me. The people on here seem to be the only people that understand what I’m going through. With my obsession about death, the afterlife, and whether or not there is a God, I’ve been going crazy with the compulsions lately. My brain keeps saying things like “If [insert random insignificant event, ex: a red car drives by] within the next 30 seconds, it‘s a sign from God that he is real.” Or there’s the ruminating, where I try to comfort myself by saying that there has to be a God, and that we have to have a greater purpose, and I’ll think about it for hours. I know it’s illogical and ridiculous but regardless it’s absolutely dreadful to feel this way. I have hope after seeing some people say they’ve learned to cope with and have recovered from that feeling of existential dread and the compulsions that can come with it and still be able to find joy in their lives. I hope that soon I can find that joy again. The past three days I’ve lived in a constant state of anxiety and misery. I’ve completely lost my appetite and I physically have to force myself to eat (and I’m a big binge eater that only recently went into recovery for BED so that’s saying a LOT.) The only time I feel at peace is literally when I’m sleeping, or those rare fleeting moments where I somehow am not thinking about it. I haven’t really felt any emotions in depth except for this feeling of utter hopelessness. I hope I can move past this, find comfort in restoring my relationship with religion again without using it as a compulsion, and just live my life accepting that there are some things we’ll simply never know without letting it ruin my life.
- Date posted
- 16w
i am nearly constantly extremely anxious and i don't want to live like this. my family and friends are so done dealing with me to the point that i feel that i'd be better off completely alone. every small twinge or pain in my body sends me into a panic, and if it's not that it's something else i manage to be worrying over. i'm fairly certain my stress has caused an ulcer to form. i try to sit with myself and not seek reassurance/check myself for issues but it is genuinely agonizing at times. most days i sleep 12-14 hours a day because it gets to a point that i cannot deal with it anymore and i take something to sleep. sometimes i do feel that i would be better off just not around so i wouldn't have to feel this any longer. i do a lot of unhealthy things to cope (drinking, smoking, and otc sleeping pills being the main culprits) and those habits end up hurting me in the long run and making me more anxious. i do have a counselor and she is great but i'm having a really hard time finding a medication provider under my insurance. i really really do want to get better because this is the most miserable i have ever been and i hate being like this and exhausting myself and the people around me. i've been told a big part of the healing process is to make yourself sit with your thoughts and deal with the uncertainty and fear as it comes, but it feels torturous to do that. sometimes reading through these posts does make me feel better knowing that i'm not alone but lately i have been unable to pull myself out of this frantic state. what are some healthier ways to cope/distract yourself that you guys find to be at least semi-effective? i am genuinely willing to try anything to make this terrible feeling go away
- Date posted
- 15w
I wanted to share with you guys some of the things that have helped me in the past few weeks! If you’re open to it, maybe try a few and see how you feel! First I would really recommend leaning on God. If you’re not a believer you may be skeptical but if you’ve never tried to read the Bible, prayer or even just talking with God, I would recommend so much! My relationship with God has gotten so much better through this terrible illness and in turn I have noticed a lot of positivity, I feel substantially better since I’ve been trying to bring this to God instead of worry about it myself. If you can give your worries to God and learn to have faith that he is with you, loves and forgives you. You have a great step towards recovery and even just a more positive life. Next, try going outside! I know it sounds kinda dumb but I mean it! Some of my best days started with just going outside, reading a book and or listening to music. I went out and tanned, ate some fruit with some lemonade and read “Girl Wash Your Face” it was a great book! I would spend HOURS and it helped me so much! Take a walk, hike, etc.! This leads into the next thing…READING! I recently bought the new book “don’t believe everything you think” and the workbook and it is amazing! This also applies to reading your Bible and other books, specially ones targeting self help and things like that! Another thing is fitness! Try out the gym, I know there is days that you just can’t bring yourself to get up but in those days, make yourself go to the gym! Even if you just go walk on the treadmill or bike! Anything is better than nothing! Keep yourself active, I promise it will make you feel better! Find a good podcast! I have been listening to (The OCD Stories on Spotify), sometimes I’ve even listened while I was going to sleep and let it play through the night! Go on YouTube and follow Chrissie Hodges, NOCD and look for other people who help! Go on instagram and follow Chrissie Hodges, NOCD, iocdf, sincerelyocd, recoverocd, letstalk.ocd, my lovely ocd and there are so many more! Find good music! Again I’m going to bring up worship music some of my favs being ( I Thank God, Move of God, Hard fought Hallelujah, The Truth, Made for more, Thy Will, and there is so many more!) if you would like I can share my playlist! But overall music is so helpful and if you are not a believer or want something different I would recommend songs by Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Kesha, Rihanna, Demi Lovato, Kelly Clarkson, even Billy Joel, Queen, Beck, and things of that nature that are gonna get you PUMPED UP! Lastly, hang out with PEOPLE! Don’t let OCD rule your life, put your ocd in a box best you can and go live your life! Get lunch with a friend, join a bible study, go get a massage, even just meet up with a friend and talk in a parking lot while shoving your face with fast food! You NEED interaction as much as you don’t want to! I know some of these are hard, some is triggering or you’re nervous that you’re gonna spiral, but step out of your comfort zone! That’s the way to get better! Do things that make you feel uncomfortable, the things that are unknown, the things you used to do before this! You can still live and love your life you don’t have to keep just “surviving”! And this isn’t a fix all, trust me I still have my days where I’m like nope I’m staying in bed and crying, but you need to push yourself! No one is coming to hold your hand and walk you out of this, you have to want to help yourself too! And you can do that! I know it’s scary and uncomfortable but you got this! We’re gonna kick some OCD butt! I hope you find this helpful and I wish you the most luck! Comment if you have questions and whatnot! 🫶
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