- Date posted
- 3y
Q&A Time!
I’ve recovered from OCD and my 4 other mental illnesses. I’ve had almost all sub-types, so if you have any questions, ask below! 🙌🏻
I’ve recovered from OCD and my 4 other mental illnesses. I’ve had almost all sub-types, so if you have any questions, ask below! 🙌🏻
I feel like I’ve experienced every subtype as well from a younge age and didn’t get diagnosed until 27, so it’s made it pretty hard 😂 but I finally see the light and myself a lot more
I wasn’t diagnosed with Pure O OCD until 2016 🤪
What to do if you find yourself looking at privates and don't want to?
Private parts? If you happen to look at them, just move to another sort of the body or somewhere else. Don’t make a big deal out of it because it’ll only happen more and your OCD will get worse. The more you obsess over something, the stronger it’ll become. It’s the Pink Elephant experiment in a nutshell (I recommend you look up the experiment because it’s really interesting).
@Nica Ok!! Thanks for the help!
how long do ur themes usually last
It highly depends on the themes. The longest wait POCD and it was 7 years. But I’ve recovered from it a few years ago.
@Nica 7 years?😃 i’ve had tocd for 3 months and can’t handle anymore
How did you overcome Pocd? I’m really struggling with this theme. I’m so scared I’ll hurt a child.
I did ERP therapy and I trust my therapist (and past therapists and psychiatrists too). He knows my whole history and I am not what I fear. If multiple professionals have said I am not a pedo, then I follow the professionals’ advice. That’s it. I do not give into my OCD’s whims because it will not take over control of my life again. I gave into it for 6 years and it was a horrible life.
@Nica Thank you, these thoughts feel so real. Very scary, but I’m still forcing myself to go out and hang out with friends. I won’t let this illness win.
Can pocd give actual feelings of desire?
Seeking reassurance isn’t helpful.
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I got my therapy from my current therapist that I’ve been seeing for 8 years 😁
Did you ever struggle with magical thinking? If so how did you successfully get through erp? I’ve been doing erp for almost a year and I have significant improvement but the magical thinking/ thought contamination is so relentless and attaches to everything.
Magical thinking in what way?
have you struggled with voices ? fear based thinking. Not audible voices
What type of voices are you talking about?
@Nica Sort of like something in your head that tells you to do things. Like I’ll hear that if I don’t stop watching tv for example that something bad will happen. Like impulsive thoughts like that. I just like associate it as something that isn’t me I’m not sure why.
@gennu7 Sounds like intrusive thoughts. If you haven’t, I suggest looking into getting diagnosed by a professional.
How long have you been recovered for?
3 years.
Also how expensive was therapy?
It highly depends on where you live and your insurance plan.
what’s your biggest piece of advice for recovery?
Work hard on your ERP, practice mindfulness every single day, and learn coping mechanisms but don’t take your mental illnesses so seriously. Thoughts are merely thoughts; they do not matter. Actions matter and will define you.
what do you recommend when you have thoughts like about past events affecting future? I know acceptance is key but I’m having a hard time not ruminating
I pretty much hit rock bottom in September 2023 and it’s been so hard to climb out of. Especially with PTSD, Depression and undiagnosed ADHD. But I did it. And you can to. There is hope and as someone who has rebuilt herself back from OCD, I want to support others on their journey. Ask me anything 💜
I want to write a book about faith and the cross of ocd. And how that looks with faith. I myself am Catholic but I am going to be writing open to all denominations. Because we are all brothers and sisters carrying our cross of OCD to get to heaven. Could you please comment a question you have? A struggle you have? or something may be a good topic to bring up in a book to represent or help those with ocd and searching in faith. Thank you.
Hi everyone! My name is Tara, I’m a therapist here at NOCD. Before becoming a therapist, I worked various jobs in arts, textiles, prop styling, I worked in restaurants... I basically did what I could do with an undergrad in art living in Brooklyn, with a secret hope that I might someday pursue a career in mental health. Fun fact, I held onto that hope for 10 whole years before I decided to take a risk and apply to grad school! I wanted to become a therapist because I just knew that this was a field where my mind could work at its best and do the most good. Anyone else here with ADHD may understand. I simply cannot retain long term focus on something if I don’t absolutely love it, and I absolutely love this work. Having a job where my sole purpose is to connect with others and help them tap into their inner strength is an actual dream come true. I specifically love working with Exposure and Response Prevention and treating OCD, since the whole point of ERP is to show you you’re braver than you think you are. And it works so, so well. If you have a fear, and you think you “can’t” approach it, know that you most likely can. It might take some time to prove that to yourself, but with time and a steady dose of discomfort, you’ll get there. I’m sure that “discomfort” part didn’t sound appealing but let me ask you this - does OCD make you feel uncomfortable? Why not put some of that discomfort to work, in your favor? If you’re struggling with OCD, or you think you might be, know that you probably already have what it takes to thrive in ERP. You’re here. You recognized that you were struggling, you decided to find help, you downloaded the app, and you started reading through posts. I’m sure somewhere along the line, you felt at least a little uncomfortable, and you decided to take the next step anyway. That’s ERP in a nutshell :) Please ask me anything about OCD, your current symptoms or ERP. I’ll be responding over the next 2 days to questions.
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