- Date posted
- 3y
Self care/love ideas for OCD??
Hey, I'm planning on having a self care day tomorrow and I need some ideas! Feel free to share!!
Hey, I'm planning on having a self care day tomorrow and I need some ideas! Feel free to share!!
For a start, you should only use your phone just to answer texts/calls and music. Focus on stuff that makes you feel nostalgic and comfortable (I listen to music from old school). Help someone out if you can. Get good sleep tonight. If you come across something that triggers you, just note that everyone is capable of overcoming their negative thoughts. Living is a gift, because you are gradually learning that it IS a gift. A lifetime of being strong will make you look back and say, "I wouldn't change a thing not even if I could."
I know I sound like an old fart š, but it's true!
I love everything about this
I aim to give myself what I need: good sleep, good food, good exercise, good relaxation. I remove pressure and expectations and use a lot of self compassion (anything I feel all day is fine and deserves understanding, not judgment or anger or fear.)
Bubble bath š
Self care can look like going the extra mile to pamper yourself with say, a spa day, or a specific luxury you donāt get often. Or, self care can be small, simple acts throughout the day that make you feel joy and gratitude to everyday life. Both are cool, but here are some of my favorite things to do: - I like to read books that transport me to another world. Nothing too realistic itās all about escapism. - I go people-watching in a cafe, or visit a park to feel connected to life around me. - I love bubble baths, getting creative doing my makeup or nails, etc. - I get cozy in my most comfortable pjs and relax in the quiet of my home, alone, with my favorite tea. I like to practice being comfortable spending time with myself as often as possible.
Looking for inspiration
Valentineās Day is a day to celebrate love, however if you are living with Relationship OCD (ROCD) this can be a very triggering day. Relationship OCD is essentially, the fear of being in the wrong relationship, not truly loving your partner, or not being loved by your partner. This makes you doubt the true nature of your relationship and makes you believe that your entire relationship is based on lies. It can make you feel like a bad person and not worthy of love. ROCD will make you believe that you need to leave the relationship just to find some peace. When we think about ROCD we often think that this only applies to romantic relationships, however ROCD can impact friendships and family relationships as well. ROCD will attack whatever relationship is most important to you. As an ERP therapist some of the most common obsessions that I have seen include āIs my partner āThe Oneāā? āMaybe I am meant to be with someone elseā. āWhat if my partner cheats on me or worse I cheat on him/herā? āI find X attractive. Should I break up with my partner and be with Xā? āDo I even love my partner? What if they donāt love me?ā This list could go on and on. The basis of all of these intrusive thoughts is fear and doubt. The compulsions associated with ROCD are vast. The most common include checking feelings to make sure you really love your partner, avoidance behaviors, reassurance seeking behaviors both from your partner and from others and ruminating on the relationship in the hopes of figuring out if this is the ārightā relationship for you. ROCD, as in most theses in OCD, wants 100% uncertainty that this relationship will work out with no conflict or compromise. The problem is this is unrealistic. All relationships will have some level of conflict and compromise in them. There is no āperfect relationshipā. Most of us have grown up with fairy tales where one true love will come and sweep up off our feet. Life and relationships can be messy and complicated, but they are worth it and are a key aspect of what makes us human. The fact is ROCD makes you doubt everything and will take the joy, excitement and contentment out of the relationship. The good news is that treatment is available, and it is possible to have a long, happy, fulfilling relationship despite ROCD fears. It does take time, perseverance and patience. Treatment using Exposure Response Prevention has been proven to lessen intrusive thoughts. You will learn to manage your expectations of the relationships while leaning into your fears and learning to accept the uncomfortable feelings. By doing this, you can bring joy and contentment back into you life and your relationships. I'd love to hear about how ROCD is showing up for you. Share your experiences in the comments below or ask your questions about ROCD and I will respond to them.
Im having a OCD specifically contamination OCD flare up all month and I donāt want to feel this way going into March, Iāve thrown out clothes, towels, stayed up for hours doing compulsions, washed my hands till they crack and bleed, I have washing pilling up cause Iām so overwhelmed by all the extra things Iāve added cause I thought it was contaminated. Itās completely draining me to the point where Iāve become sleep deprived and are avoiding part of my home because they are deemed contaminated to meā¦I only moved in a few months ago, I had a roach problem and using baits and insecticides really messed with my ocd too. anyone have any tips or tricks to make this easier? I wasnāt doing this bad in January :( thankyou in advance :)
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