- 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’m having a big OCD relapse and would like to hear anyone’s tips on how to be present and healthily deal with these intrusive thoughts and the “need” to preform compulsions. Thank you!!
Please read this. I’ve had ocd pretty much a lot of my life but never knew what it was until my senior year of highschool. I’m 21 with 2 kids and i believe i’ve had pocd a little bit before my daughter was born (which was 8 months ago). It made me start looking at all kids differently and i hate it. But it really started triggering me about 3 months ago. I’ve been thinking if i’d intentionally touched or harmed my kids the wrong way, or any kids for that matter. This started giving me false memories (or at least hope they are). I’ve been having panic attacks, yelling at myself, punching walls, praying, and even thoughts of ending my own life. I grew up in a severe toxic household throughout my childhood and teenage life. I’ve never wished that on my kids since i became a dad. I wanna give them the life i never got. I look back my photos of my children and i feel like i’m a complete fraud of a dad. I cannot look at my kids or be around them a lot of times. I can’t hold my daughter right. I can’t change their diaper when they need it. Even my son came and was hugging on me the other night while i was watching tv and i acted like a stranger to him. I can very little do this stuff sometimes because it’s either i get relief or i push my thoughts as far back as i can. I get scared if i did something to not just my kids, but any other kids in the past. I have such a a great life and such a beautiful family. It was hard and stressful at first being young with a family but i couldn’t be more thankful at all for them. I’m just so lost and stressed right now that i just don’t know what to do anymore
At this point I think I’m just tired. Took me a massive amount of strength to even type this. I’ve never had it this bad with anxiety depression and OCD. Firstly, how do you guys handle the trauma that comes with OCD. I recently realized Ive traumatized by own mind. I think this contributes to depression. Also, the thoughts frequency have gotten so high. It just literally jams its self in my brain. Before, I had some sort of control (at least a grip) but this days it’s so hard to try to get a grip. The unwanted feelings too? Omg, reactions that I literally can’t stand plagues me. My mind turns almost everything sexual. It’s crazy 🙃 Then the anxietyyyyyy! Wheew. I’m like a walking anxiety attack, my heart is always beating fast and it’s so painful. Working is so hard because I can’t get a grip, I feel so broken and I don’t think anyone can relate to this. I don’t know what I can do to help. Then the pressure in my head (that causes headache sometimes), sometimes I genuinely think I have a tumor! I’m pregnant so that makes it sadder, makes me wonder what kind of mother this beautiful soul is coming out here to meet. I don’t want to be a sad mother, and I cry more when I realize my child can feel what I feel rn in my belly😔. Another thing, the moment I don’t wanna do something, doesn’t even have to be anything bad. That’s when it feels my mind wants to force me to do it. It’s a whole lot and I’m just holding on to Jesus to help me out. At least he’s here so that’s comforting.
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