Started medication for OCD, and now I’m panicking about not panicking. This may sound weird but since I’ve started taking lexapro and it’s beginning to set into my system and in I’ve actually become more stressed. I struggle with OCD and frequently have obsessive intrusive thoughts. Usually when I have these thoughts I’m immediately hit with panic. But since taking lexapro when the thoughts pop in I don’t feel immediately anxious as I usually would. Now that sounds like a good thing but it’s led to a new intrusive panic. Since I’m not immediately panicking about these thoughts my brain has started thinking things like “what if me not panicking means those thoughts are true?” It’s led to me hyper-analyzing these thoughts and looking for meaning. Has anyone else who started taking medication to treat their ocd (or even without medication) experienced this and If so how do you find it best to handle it?

I have been experiencing this exact same feeling, I am currently struggling with depression, and with it, it practically takes away all my emotions and alot of my compassion, Leading to me not reacting at all and then becoming extremely anxious, that these are actually my thoughts and I’m beginning to like them. But that’s exactly what ocd would use in that situation, preying on your fears, you feel like their YOUR thoughts, versus intrusive thoughts because usually you are the one reacting to them so violently and that reaction is although horrible and exhausting, a confirmation of it not being you in a messed up way . I am not a doctor, but when I was on antidepressants I remember feeling dull and numb that can be common with anti-depressants in SOME people not all everyone reacts differently to everything, I really recommend you talk to your psychiatrist though about these concearns.

It’s nice to see I’m not the only one who’s experienced this. OCD was starting to try to convince me that the thoughts are real or have meaning. I am going to bring it up with my therapist though and my doctor next time I meet with her.

@Anony I’m really glad please take care :)

@Forest13 I will, thank you. You take care too!

I haven’t worked out how to cope yet, but you aren’t alone

I'm currently struggling with depression as well and I haven't been reacting to the intrusive thoughts as I used to, because I generally feel rather apathetic... I just don't get as anxious as I used to and it paradoxically makes me somewhat anxious, but the anxiety feels kind of "stuck" at the same time... It's hard to describe, it's hard having OCD...

I know exactly what you mean. And yes OCD is not fun, we can get through this though!