- 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 π, 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 π
Self care can look like going the extra mile to pamper yourself with say, a spa day, or a specific luxury you donβt 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 itβs 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.
I have to visit a place tomorrow which triggers my contamination ocdand false memory ocd really bad, can anyone help me in this panic situation. Tips needed!
As a 20+ year OCD vet and OCD conqueror. I wanted to share some tips and tricks that help me. 1. A thought is not the same as a belief. You can think something, and not believe it in the slightest. 2. Thoughts DO NOT represent ANYTHING. They are not indicators to who we are as people, they are pop up ads for the brains computer. 3. We DO NOT control our thoughts! The average person has about 60,000 ( yes, 4 zeros) a day! NONE of which are controlled. 4. We DO have control over which of those 60k thoughts are important. i.e. thought A. I could murder my entire household- survey says? not important ( because yea, sure, you could, but you probably don't really want to) thought B. i need to do my laundy-survey says? important... unfortunately, i hate laundry. which brings me to number 5. 5. Emotional reasoning ( where you let your feelings impact your decisions) is a COGNITIVE DISTORTION. It is a flawed thought process and should NEVER be used. "wanting to do something" does not mean you SHOULD do it, same and sometimes NOT wanting to do something doesn't mean you shouldn't do it ( picked what is important) my brain might tell me i WANT to break up with my husband, ( unimportant) and it might also say i don't want to get up and go to work in the morning ( important). 6. YOU-ARE-IN-CONTROL. Not to be confused with HAVING control. We don't control our thoughts, we control which ones are important, we don't control our feelings or emotions, but we control how to react (or not react) to them. We don't control our OCD, but we can control how it affects our lives, and that can mean that is has all the power, or none. 7. If the action you want to do ( confess, get reassurance, check, analyze, avoid, re-do) are to gain relief from anxiety, IT IS A COMPULSION. DO NOT DO IT. Sit with the anxiety and train your brain to realize its not dangerous or important with ERP ( this takes time, but practice makes perfect) 8. Know your enemy. NOCD has a HUGE amount of articles and information on ALL subtypes of OCD and how to respond and how to treat them. OCD is MUCH easier to combat when you understand how it works. 9. BE PATIENT. BE KIND to yourself. Prioritize healthy habits, a healthy body is better equipped to handle OCD. Good sleep, whole foods, sunlight, social interaction, exercise ( walking especially). When the mind feels weak, make the body strong. 10. You are not alone. OCD is classified by the World Health Organization as one of the top 10 most distressing disorders. Reach out to people, seek medical help. Medication is not evil, it can be life-saving, TALK to people. Bonus Tips * if the question is " What If" its OCD. * Total certainty does not exist, be content with 99%* *"But this feels different, this feels like its not OCD, that its real*- emotional reasoning... its OCD. Hang in there. You got this. Im here for any advice, questions, or support. Today is a great day to have a GREAT DAY.
Earlier today I did some pretty high-level contamination exposure, inspired by my therapist, and now I'm listening to a triggering song on repeat β the very song that kicked off my first serious bout of OCD in high school. There is a part of my brain that is telling me I can't handle the song and that I should find a compulsion to do, but my goal is to have it in the background while I go about my self-care tasks. I'm already starting to get used to it πͺ How are y'all challenging your OCD today?
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond