- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
Look at OCD like a toddler having a tantrum over not getting another cookie: The toddler’s already had 2 cookies but wants 2 more, so the toddler starts having a tea trim to get what he wants. But as a parent, do you give him 2 more cookies to make him stop? Some parents do but other parents absolutely don’t because they know that’s reinforcing the bad behavior. It’s the same for OCD: don’t give into its silliness and tantrums or else you’re reinforcing its bad behavior.
Absolutely. I like that. It is like a little child. A very manipulative, trouble causing child. As adults, we wouldn't stoop to the point of getting into arguments and fights with kids. Why give OCD the attention. Some might think it helps to feel better, but you are right, it just reinforces it and gives it more power.
Unfortunately, that is the nature of the beast. The OCD beast can really push you to the edge at times. It can make you feel like you no longer have control over your own mind. Oddly enough, it was at one of these points that I made the biggest breakthrough in overcoming the beast. I felt like I could no longer deal with the constant uncontrollable ruminating. I literally gave up and surrendered to the OCD, thinking it would take full control, but to my surprise, it actually starting getting better instead. Strange, but it was then that I realized you cannot overcome OCD by fighting it. Only by accepting it and learning not get caught up in it's drama can you really make progress over it. Have you ever tried ERP to help with your OCD?
I did briefly but I plan on trying it again. I will need to take it slow though because I am pregnant and I don’t want to get too high up in my heierachy during pregnancy.
@Songbird27 Thank you so much!
@kels89 - Congratulations. Is this your first? You never really know how OCD will affect someone when they are pregnant and after they have the baby. You may see it creep up in severity. Good time to start back ERP then. ERP can be effective in a short time to some extent, but it does require you to be willing to face uncomfortable feelings, however, I would rather face uncomfortable feelings for a short period of time in order to develop the skills to manage the OCD where it is no longer a major problem, then to avoid ERP and live with the distress OCD creates for the rest of my life.
@NOCD Therapist - Rex P. I absolutely agree. This will be my second. I have a three year old son as well and I went through this when I was pregnant with him and also postpartum. Thank you for your support, I am scared to do ERP but I know it will help.
I can relate to that analogy ALL too well. 😆 thank you
You’re welcome! Ah, toddlers… 🤣🤣
One mistake with my POCD thoughts and compulsions, and now I'm a terrible mom. I was amazing five months ago. Now I feel like I'm what I've always feared I'd be. I hate POCD. I just want to be a mom. I really do. I really need some support today
I've been doing more research on the ins and outs of Catholicism, and man are the guidelines very strict. They're not bad in any sense, and following them makes for a good person, but with ocd these guidelines seem near impossible to properly follow. For example, it's a mortal sin to have an impure thought, and commiting a mortal sin puts you in a state of sin. This means you cannot receive the eucharist (body of Christ) at mass, which is a way to connect closer to God. You have to confess in order to be free from mortal sin. This is fine and all, but this means in my case I'd have to confess almost every week, which can be so tiring. I'm not trying to bash on my own religion, but these guidelines make it so incredibly difficult for me to feel good about myself. Knowing I'm committing one of the worst forms of sin everyday. Intrusive thoughts are a constant thing, does that make me a child of sin? I even skipped mass today because I feel guilty about being in mortal sin, but skipping mass is also a mortal sin! I feel absolutely terrible about myself right now, and feel as if my connection with God has been cut and it's entirely my fault...
Hi everyone, this is giving me so much anxiety even saying this out loud because my OcD is telling me that somehow someone will know who I am on here and report me this goes with what I’m about to say about my irrational stuff. Since my baby was born I’ve had a lot of majorrr anxiety about him getting sick. From there my postpartum ocd spiked. I had this irrational fear someone would falsely report me as a bad mom and I’d get my baby taken from me. I’ve NEVER had anyone tell me I’m a bad mom, as a matter of fact, almost every day I get praised for how good of a mom I am. My child is so loved and taken care of. So why did I have that fear? it CONSUMED ME. Obsessively cleaning my house in case a social worker came. Stopped posting myself having occasional girls nights out for dinner because I thought one of my followers would think I’m a bad mom for getting a break. Not being able to talk about ANYTHING or send pictures of my baby to family and friends to update them since we live out of state because somehow I thought I would say something wrong or do something that would make someone think I’m a bad mom. I was convinced my baby was gonna be taken for zero reason. I still sometimes catch myself over analyzing myself and what I say because I don’t want to say the wrong thing and someone think I’m not a fit mom. I would even replay every scenario I remember and then second guess myself if that really happened or if I said something or not and freak out and spiral from there. with driving, if I go over a speed bump I have to double check it wasn’t magically a person. Then I panic even though I know for a fact it was a speed bump. I hate living like this. I feel crazy. I don’t open up because I feel like I’m the only person in the world. The one time I opened up about driving it was used against me. I feel like I’m drowning and I’m failing as a mom. I don’t even open up to a therapist about my irrational fear about baby being taken bc I don’t want them to think I’m a bad mom. It just doesn’t stop.
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond