- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
Hey DBurch13, I feel like I should preface this by saying I am not a therapist, but I have been struggling with OCD and would like to share the perspective I have been developing that has been transformational to me. I have felt how you feel as well, and I am sure I will feel this way again in the future. I have found a way to get my feet back on the ground; it is difficult, confusing, and often challenging to have hope. The combination of consistent work, using ERP (if we can at least understand the basics to practice), and developing mindfulness through meditation has helped me see my thoughts and feelings differently. This metaphor helped me see why I was struggling so much with my OCD; "The Elephant and the Rider." The rider is the conscious mind with its rational functions and volitional power. But the elephant is everything else: all the internal presuppositions, genetic inclinations, subconscious motives, and layers upon layers of uninterrogated, raw experience. The elephant is bigger (more powerful) than the rider. If the elephant wants to go somewhere, it will take the rider with it! To me, this means, with practice, we can build a healthy relationship with thoughts and feelings - I am not trying to control them - it just first requires us to forgive ourselves - to treat ourselves as our best friend. In one of the live Q&As, Dr. Patrick suggested treating yourself the same way you treat a friend. For example, if a friend made a mistake or had an intrusive thought, I bet you would tell them it is normal, we all struggle with that, but if WE had that thought we would instead turn against ourselves. Maybe just for one day, treat yourself like you would your best friend. Try meditating for five minutes a day - there are some great apps that provide guided meditation, be gentle with your mind. If we feel tension, we resist something in our mind; we can learn to allow these things to unwind naturally. We think we can use our conscious thinking to fend off thoughts and feelings, but it is a trap - it will only create tension. Small challenges each day will build a foundation you can stabilize yourself onto; however, it needs deliberate work to get there. ERP reminds me that I should not avoid the things that trigger me, but be mindful to not get overwhelmed. Meditation reminds me that I am not in control of my mind yet I can observe what it is doing and strengthen my control over what I am focused on. Be well and good luck to you.
- Date posted
- 3y
Thank you. I appreciate the support. I just want to be around family and friends and spend as much time with them as I can and I’ve always wanted to be a writer, lol. Finally got the courage to try it and hopefully my OCD doesn’t mess it up for me.
- Date posted
- 3y
Same honestly. I too am trying to be a freelance writer. Do you have any tips by any chance?
Related posts
- Date posted
- 24w
I went online today playing a social game & couldn’t rlly talk to anyone. there was this one girl that started talking but then my wifi started acting up. it’s rlly hard to talk to ppl online bc it’s tiring having to put up with rude ass people. yeah, I can do in person but I also struggle with that too. the online friends I have don’t rlly talk much and I guess it makes sense bc everyone is busy with life but man. I’ve been feeling quite lonely as of late and idk how much I can hold on. it’s like I’m losing touch with the online ones. I don’t have any irl since 17 & I am tired. idk man I just wanna disappear and spawn in another world or jus be happy. I think I might quit my job and pursue a design job at home depot thru networking bc that’s a plan B I have. that’s if I can even land the job. I think I might take a break from college bc idek what I want atp. I feel like I’m slowly dying inside from this loneliness. I am trying everyday. this feeling is soooo ass
- Date posted
- 22w
I’ve come to a point in my life where I can be very happy. I have a safe environment, a loving community. Yknow I’ve really healed through or moved on from a traumatic past and as I say to my boyfriend from time to time like a broken record: I feel like nowadays the only thing bringing me stress or at times misery is myself. I am a fairly joyful person, when I’m comfortable I’m very goofy and like to sing dance and have fun. I find that I relate to so many amazing people I meet that are the nicest, most fun, elevating individuals, who also struggle with the hardest sometime debilitating things. It truly sucks because when I find those moments of peace I see the power of what an ocd mind could be as a person. We are people who may over analyze, but I myself also always find the good in people. And aye if in a moment I don’t think anything is doomly wrong and if I don’t try to understand it I may parish 😅 then that moment feels like the best one in the world. But on the other side of that when I’m not in a quiet mind moment and I’m left with myself to take control of what life in front of me looks like in or around me. I almost have been crumbling. Like I said at the beginning of this story here, the life around me is not so situationally stressful. And it’s also fairly simple. My boyfriend and I live together in a small cozy trailer with our two cats, he works full time very hard and I work part time where I spend as much time as I can working and then have a few days around the house. We’re saving for a home and are quite content with our lifestyle at the moment with work and being “lazy”, or resting and going out for fun now an then on our time off together. Most times though I do have day or two off during the week by myself, which usually goes one of only two ways. Like I said before I do like to work hard, especially now that I have a part time job that’s fairly easier than others I’ve had in the past. So I work 6-7 hours then drive home, air up my tires and wash my car sometimes because I like doing something after work while I still have energy.Or I go to the store. Come home make food, prolly nap and not really worry about too much because I’ve worked all day. But on my days off. I find myself waking up with a lot of anxiety. I usually fight it off by going back to sleep. But my OCD is heavily circled around shame. Even though I only sleep in till 10-11, 12-1 at the latest. I find myself thinking about how wrong (in nice terms) it is to do that. And the funny thing is the older I get (I’m a 21F). I’m not as pressured by this thought, even though it’s still stressful it literally just feels like a thought I can’t escape from. To put things in simple terms. I truly psycho analyze my actions breath by breath and my intrusive thoughts are critiquing those actions bit by bit. I’ve recently have started medication and it was a tremendous difference in the beginning and it helped me cope with the acceptance and letting go (f it or just care less) of those thoughts. But let’s say I forget to take it, or I wake up one morning by myself all day and I’m super tired or unmotivated. That day will feel truly debilitated. And now I’m definitely to the point where I’m battling that, but also have a thin vale behind that where I now know what is going on. And the thoughts are shameful for “not trying to get better or be better” Because I do Like I write a lot, and it truly is one of the best coping mechanisms for working through intrusive or obsessive compulsions. I could also write all day, and if I don’t listen to that ease of the anxiety from writing. And try to keep going the writing will turn into a compulsion itself I feel like I should not stop or critique it as well. But luckily I’ll hopefully find my place in explaining the cycle of what I do when my brain is very loud about things. The next time it’s too loud:)
- Date posted
- 20w
I’m irrationally terrified of being found somehow by someone who knows me but I’m trying to post anyway. Not sure if I qualify as young adult or mid-life at this point because I’m about to be 30. Hi, I’m new here and I’m in the process of getting a diagnosis. I’m already diagnosed with autism, GAD, and probable ADHD, and I believe I’ve had varying subtypes of OCD since childhood. My worst OCD-related issue right now has been constant reassurance seeking. I’ve fallen into a trap of constantly doing it and without reassurance I’m terrified to make decisions in my new job. It’s causing me to ask too many questions I already know the answers to which makes me not look competent. Even though I’m somewhat experienced in my field of work, starting this new job has me feeling like I’m starting in the field all over again because I’m so bad these days with working independently since I can’t reassure myself that what I’m doing is correct. I’ve been stressed out of my mind and have come close to losing my job because the stress has exacerbated my autistic struggles such as meltdowns and social issues and I’m also battling the ADHD and GAD on top of it. I’ve also been pushing away people who are close to me with my reassurance seeking because I have problems with not being satisfied with any piece of advice or reassurance given to me by friends and family. They can say things will be okay a thousand times and even though I’m the one who asked I will fight them on it and I’m getting tired of my own difficult behavior and obsessive thoughts. I finally got into therapy again to try and save my job and my relationships from the clutches of my various mental illnesses and I’m just looking for community here.
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