Hey! I’m a teenage girl who has fully recovered from Harm OCD. Feel free to ask any questions and I’ll do my best to answer them!!

oh everything you can think of. comparing, researching, ruminating, analysing, avoiding... my main issue was worried about being a bar person or impulsive harm

it did. i didn’t look up criminals really but it helps so much to disregard your thoughts, it’s technically erp. it’s so so hard, believe me. i was convinced i was a sadistic monster, but it is the key to recovery

also go out and do things. it sucks but if you’re gonna hurt someone, at least people will see it and stop you. i know it’s a bad thought but going or in public will show your mind you’re truly not a bad person and there’s nothing to be anxious about. plus, distracting your mind and giving it different stimuli helps you move past the worry

if you're confortable answering, what were your main obsession and/or compulsions?

did ERP help you recover?

Do you take medication? What helped you? I’m in therapy and nothing is working because I can’t go weekly. I live two hours away. There is no one in my area that specializes in Ocd

believe it or not, i haven’t taken any medication or worked with therapists. i did watch a lot of videos though. a few tips: - don’t research anything. it won’t help you. you may research how ocd works but under no circumstances should you look up anything for reassurance. - don’t avoid anything that makes you uncomfortable. that isn’t to say you should actively seek anything out by if you see bad news, suck it up and continue to go about your business. - when you notice yourself getting anxious, take a breath and force yourself to keep doing whatever you’re doing, but don’t be afraid to take a break - allow yourself to be you. i know right now you become withdrawn and don’t want to touch anyone or do anything because somehow your mind twists it to scare you. - when a new scary thought pops up, let yourself feel anxious and let it exist, but leave it be. that’s not saying to agree with it though. just tell yourself “i accept and allow this anxious feeling”. you will get better and your thoughts will get clearer. - try not to ruminate, it’s what got you here. don’t try super hard to resist since that obviously makes it show up more but just say “i’m not dealing with this right now. my mind is too anxious to work right so i’ll deal with this later” (even if you won’t) you can ask for more, i don’t mind

I just found out my ex boyfriend gave me herpes and I’m so depressed I haven’t been eating. I’m also so terrified I have hiv too and they want me to wait six months to get tested again. I can’t think straight and I don’t know what to do. I just cry so much and panic... I haven’t been getting my work done

I have been on medication for seven years and I’m not sure if it does anything

i’m not an expert in this ocd but i have had things like this before. again, don’t let the anxiety consume you and push through the bad days. i recommend checking out videos by ali greymond or mark freeman. disregard the thoughts