Leaving the house for an overnight

Does anyone else take FOREVER to leave the house? Especially if they are going out of town for the night. Its so awful, I always end up getting to my destination hours after everyone else and miss out on fun things. 😞 It's awful. Leaving the house causes so much anxiety and triggers my ocd like crazy to where I feel like I have very little control over it. Anyone veterans out there with suggestions on what has worked for you! Please help! I've been dealing with this for close to 6 years now. 😪😕😭

Perfectionism OCD

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 3y

I’m sure it affects your anxiety, but it could be more related to basic, generalized anxiety. Going on vacation, which in a sense is the same thing as far as anxiety is concerned, can increase anyones anxiety. Especially if you’re rushing. That is probably the biggest trigger. Plan ahead, don’t stress about when you arrive, be present while you pack, and above all, be mindful of feeling rushed and then take a moment to stop and slow down and be ok with taking your time. You will get there whenever you arrive. Enjoy the journey and no worries about the destination

Angela121

Date posted: 3y

Thank you for the advice. I try that too. I feel the need to touch every surface I walk by, I have a hard time not overpacking, walking out the door is very stressful I have to step on every blemish on the ground and touch every surface a tens of times. I take breaks, try to calm myself, which takes the process longer. Generally 4-6 hours to get myself ready and pack an overnight bag. I think its especially triggering because of having to move a lot and travel a lot while having OCD, almost like PTSD.

Angela121

Date posted: 3y

@Angela121 The first time I developed OCD when when I had to pack and move myself, was really stressful, that was the first time I had OCD.

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 3y

Yeah. That’s definitely OCD causing it’s usual problems I remember as a child every day after school I had to count each step and avoid all cracks in the side walk and if I messed up, I had to go all the way back to the school entrance and start overr. Time consuming and irritating. ERP could probably be about the best thing I think could help you. Have you ever given it a try ?

Angela121

Date posted: 3y

Yes. I have had 3 therapists over the years that u saw a lot. 2 of them were actively trying to help me walk through ERP. It was a very slow process, I think it helped some, but it felt like a grain of sand in bucket with all the compulsions I had. I need to actively work on it again. I can have some control in my day to day with resisting compulsions, but hardly any while traveling. But I should definitely try to find a new therapist and start up again.

Angela121

Date posted: 3y

@Angela121 *that I saw a lot

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 3y

@Angela121 When OCD was at its peek when I was a child , the obsessive ruminating would drive me up the wall. One day I just couldn’t take it anymore and I decided to quit. Quit therapy, socializing, and basically having a life. I fought it all day resisted the desire to engage as best I could. Didn’t work. Nothing was working that day. So not having anymore real options and still being bombarded with intrusive thoughts, I hit a wall. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew what I was doing wasn’t helping. So, I gave up. I surrender to the OCD o actually pulled my car

Angela121

Date posted: 3y

I even took a clonazepam, but it doesn't seem to slow down my tic like compulsions.

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 3y

To a complete stop and had a conversation with the OCD. I said I give up. You win. I surrender trying to fight and I’m done. I’m not gonna fight you or resist you, you win. Take me over, I said fully expecting that it would. But to my surprise, it didn’t take over or get stronger. In fact, it actually began losing power and a few weeks later was almost nothing. All of this was accomplished using, without knowing it, a form of ERP, cognitive therapy, and acceptance therapy. Since that time OCD has tried but been unsuccessful at pulling me back in. Oh it tried to, but I use the same technique then when it attacks today to give it nothing and soon it passed without coming back for a while. Find you a good therapist who understands OCD and commit to doing just what I did. Freedom will then be yours to cherish

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