Anonymous
- Date posted
- 3y
thereishope:)thereishope:)
- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 3y
Hello Anonymous! That's a fantastic question - and I would consult with an expert like a psychologist first and foremost over anything I say (since i'm not an expert haha) - but in my experience with OCD, "intrusive thoughts" are those distressing / repetitive thoughts that continue to pop up in your mind leading me to have the desire to compulse in order to "get rid of them." Personally though, I would recommend not to over-analyze what is "intrusive" vs. not though because that's something OCD generally thrives on. For example, I remember running on the treadmill and I had the thought "I should push myself to run an extra minute over my goal" followed by another thought that "well you are a perfectionist - so it would be better to stop at your stated goal so you don't give into any perfectionist tendencies." The point here is in this case - there was no right answer! OCD wanted me to analyze these thoughts all day and choose the "right" one, but in reality - they were just thoughts - they had no power over my actions in their own right (their just images / words produced by my brain), and it was up to me to quickly make a decision based on what I thought was best with me - and move on with my life. Sometimes when it's not clear what is an OCD obsession vs. not, and therefore what would be a compulsion vs. not - it can be best to simply choose a course of action and run with it. That being said, most of my OCD intrusive thoughts are clear to me because of their repetitive / distressing nature (I would want to "turn them off" if I had an off switch), so this debate between "intrusive" and "wanted" thoughts does not happen too often for me. Therefore, once again I would consult with a therapist / expert since they would know best, and godspeed on your journey to managing OCD! You're stronger than you think!
Zoë_84Zoë_84
- Date posted
- 3y
Yes... but the key to overcome OCD is to stop trying to figure that out
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 3y
yes
Bertnernie112Bertnernie112
- Date posted
- 3y
I feel like intrusive thoughts you can't stop no matter how u try to distract yourself...ur vemrain always comes back to the same thoughts over and over. I used to go days without sleep obsessing that my cat would die. Seems silly but it was so bad I started having problems functioning bc I went so long without sleep
Zoë_84Zoë_84
- Date posted
- 3y
The key is to not try to stop them, the more you try, the harder your brain is trying to force them on to you... So we are supposed to allow them and not do any compulsions... That's the theory, it worked for my Magical Thinking OCD, but it didn't for my POCD... so easier said, than done
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 3y
@Zoë_84 its so hard to allow them in and accept them when you don’t want to believe it:/
Zoë_84Zoë_84
- Date posted
- 3y
@Anonymous Of course, I know... I just can't do it for ERP against POCD, when it comes to ERP in vivo. I'm getting better at ERP in sensu though. I had the thought about me turning the steering wheel and my car flying off a bridge. It really made me anxious. At some point, I engaged in that thought, I pictured my car, with me in it, flying off the bridge, crashing in to the street below, exploding and then I laughed about it. I replayed that image repeatedly for a while and then it left me alone. Till that day, I get thoughts like - Turn your steering wheel! Crash in to the forest / oncoming traffic!!! - they are a bit distressing, but I just keep on driving and don't acknowledge them. So ERP works, it's just not easy and as I said, I have not been able to apply it every OCD theme yet...
username255username255
- Date posted
- 3y
@Zoë_84 everyone’s different when it comes to engaging with the thought though. i’ve tried to do the whole scenario thing, mine is pretty grusome and it makes me even more anxious when i picture it, what people would think etc. so its definitely not as easy as it sounds
Zoë_84Zoë_84
- Date posted
- 3y
@username255 Of course, it is not easy. As I said in my last sentence, it is not easy and I can't apply it to every of my OCD themes (yet). If it was easy, I could and would, but P and ZOCD is the worst that has ever happened to me and letting my mind wander and thinking about the worst, no I can't do that, I don't want those images in my head, not even for a second and more over, I know, that those images would stick with me forever.
username255username255
- Date posted
- 3y
@Zoë_84 yes!! i didnt mean to come off as if you were saying it was easy, i just know how rough it can be to just fall through with engaging and leaving it as that. i have harm and suicidal OCD and it’s been the worsttt. i hope things get better for you!!
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 3y
@Zoë_84 what is erp in vivo and erp in sensu?
Zoë_84Zoë_84
- Date posted
- 3y
@username255 Thanks, I hope the same for you!
Zoë_84Zoë_84
- Date posted
- 3y
@Anonymous As far as I understand, in vivo means in real life and in sensu in one's imagination, a therapist once used those terms... For POCD ERP, in sensu would be for example "only" thinking of a child, looking at picture of a child, etc., where in vivo would be engaging with a child.
Bertnernie112Bertnernie112
- Date posted
- 3y
Sorry to ask but what's P and ZOCD?
Zoë_84Zoë_84
- Date posted
- 3y
POCD = Paedophilia Obesessions OCD ZOCD = Zoophilia Obessions OCD
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