- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
Allow yourself some grace. You can use a self-compassion statement to help, such as “I give myself permission to not need all the answers.” Compassion towards OCD can be another approach. “OCD, I know this will scare you, but I’m not going to do your compulsion/rumination. I’m going to be brave, and trust the process. I’ve got this, and we can handle it.” Take care and hope you feel better soon.
So talk to it kind of? I felt I was taking big leaps and just this week has been rough! I hope you have a wonderful day
@Anonymous You bet. Through ERP my therapist at NOCD has been really helpful in showing me different tools to acknowledge the obsession, and sit with the uncertainty/anxiety. The self compassion piece can help, and is one of the many behavior and mindfulness tools out there. Mindfulness practices daily can help support as you do ERP.
Are you in ERP therapy?
Yes. Been leaning into it. Jus feel so uncomfortable & anxious doing my exposures. I have HOCD. And reading about other peoples stuff I notice my ocd try to get latched onto their stuff. I notice how positive and uplifting you are in this app! Please give tips
Never knew I had OCD until about 3-4 months ago: always been a clean person sometimes over the top with it but just ignore it lol started having intrusive thoughts ab my family and looking up stuff and seeking that reassurance has kind of made this snowball
@Anonymous Including ERP therapy, start practicing mindfulness, yoga or meditation, exercise, get on a daily schedule (including morning and bedtime schedule), limit phone/computer usage, get into a hobby or two, don’t ever give into your OCD because it’ll only make things worse, and remind yourself often that you have personal agency and you don’t have to put up with OCD. Feelings are not facts.
I feel for you so much. This disorder is hard. It can take many things from us and there is hope. We can live in recovery and OCD is very manageable. I am so glad to hear that you are doing ERP. The key is to be consistent with homework and practicing the skills. Give yourself credit for all that you are doing and recognize that you are in fact living with one of the worlds top 10 most debilitating illnesses and you are doing it. Join some of our free support groups too- these are super helpful. You are not alone in this.
John Hershfield’s book on Everyday Mindfulness is a great read, I’d recommend it to anyone in their recovery.
I’ve seen wayyyy too many negative posts on here (I totally get it)…but can someone please share some positive experiences? Doesn’t have to be so grand, it could be just that you achieved a small goal with your ocd! I don’t want to continue feeling drowned by this debilitating disorder. I want to see what has helped some of you! So we can all encourage each other! 😊
What is a common family joke. OCD is hereditary on my father's side. However I also live with complex PTSD, and ADHD. I didn't learn till recently how severe my OCD is and the intensity gets amplified if the though goes to either of the other two. It's a loop I've identified recently... just little too late. I've lived with OCD for years not really addressing it till I see that's the very reason I cause damage to loved ones. I'm married, 33, a vet. My marriage is not in the best place now. I have a son who's 4 and already showing signs of OCD. Currently my marriage is at a point where we are working on ourselves. It's discovered that my wife's issues are reflections of my own. I understand fully now that I am the center of the issues but also the solution. I need help for me. What happens with my relationships depends on me showing that I am better and able to process thoughts and emotions better. Journaling helps alot. Trying to do hobbies or this that and 3rd but. I'm willing to try anything. Things are on a line. I'm open to any and all POV and ideas. I'm not out crying. I'm taking a big step for me. Something 25 years over due. Thank you for reading this. As I tell myself now. You'll best this and be better
I don’t think much of this has to do with OCD and the subtypes that I struggle with: Harm OCD and religious OCD and Guilt OCD. Yesterday, I felt like a failure. I’ve been volunteering at my church to help families affected by some wild fires and I’ve been managing a lot of the logistics associated with it. I love this type of work and the people I work with. I consistently struggle with not giving my heart away so easily to the various interns or full time staff there. My affections were all over the place yesterday and thinking about how I looked or appeared toward one person in particular. I tried on four different occasions to remind myself and to refocus that she was an just like an older sister in my faith and to try and think of her as a literal sister as well, but it didn't really change how I was feeling. It was really cool at some points I felt very comfortable to talk briefly about my story. Told her about my wife and my son (we are currently separated and living in different states) and the battle I’ve had with OCD. Yet I could see that I was jealous for her attention. It was pretty much just us there yesterday. There was a guy named Jim and I felt like I was just irritated that he was there, because he was taking the attention from me. It wasn't all bad, we were able to help a lot of families, I made my son and awesome video, there were moments of relief when I recalled her as my sister and got to hear more about her testimony, in a way deeper conversations helped me see her more than just a crush or temptation. Idk. I've asked for forgiveness to the Lord and I know even though I feel guilty and upset at myself, that He is rooting me on. My wife and I have been going through an uncontested divorce, a lot of it has to do with OCD and this new diagnosis, but as you can see by what I’m struggling with there are other problems as well within me as I’m trying to be a faithful husband, a strong father, and a just good friend to the people in my life. For so long I went to relationships and the hope of one as a source of life, but when I got married I kept trying to find life in “what if I was with this person?” I’ve caused real hurt to my wife and struggling to stop the way I feel so easily when I’m around different people and love everyone how I am supposed to.
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