Has anyone found any success in developing a new habit. Like a new cleaning routine or something like that? While it is true that for some OCD causes them to excessively clean, mine does the exact opposite. It makes it nearly impossible for me to get started bc my anxiety is so bad. I have low energy and even the smallest tasks cause me to feel overwhelmed. And then when I think of the sheer magnitude of all that needs to be done in my house I feel hopeless and paralyzed, which causes me to feel even more tired. It feels impossible

Username: Anonymous3544Anonymous3544

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y ago

I haven’t really been very successful in making it a new habit but sometimes I’ll just set a timer for 5 minutes and so as much cleaning or picking up as I can. I always feel better after! But it’s hard to get started. It’s overwhelming to think of all I need to clean - I agree.

Username: StillHoldingOnStillHoldingOn

Date posted: 2y ago

Thank you so much. It really helps to know that there are others who understand! Ty for the helpful tip

Username: Stacy QuickStacy Quick

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 2y ago

One of the things that I often teach people that I work with is that feelings often catch up to our behavior- what I mean by that is that the more we behave the way we want and value (example: cleaning house) the more we "feel" like doing it. It is like they say with exercise- you don't feel like it often but once you do it you start to enjoy it and feel like doing it more. The worse thing someone who is depressed/anxious can do is to stay in bed and not get up and do the things they know they need to do. But it is also one of the hardest. Don't base what you do on how you feel in that moment, I think that is the key.

Username: StillHoldingOnStillHoldingOn

Date posted: 2y ago

Thank you for your comment. It means a lot ❤️

Username: Emmi Emmi

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y ago

I did start going to the gym about 3 weeks ago to do something for myself. I will sometimes get a lot of anxiety and start thing "what if this because a new obsession" "what if I become a person that always watched what they eat" & blah blah blah and when thoughts like that come I do ERP BUT I try not to let my OCD get the best of me when I know I'm only going to the gym to better myself mentally and physically,

Username: StillHoldingOnStillHoldingOn

Date posted: 2y ago

Thanks for the reply. It means a lot ❤️

Username: rachelpeony

Date posted: 2y ago

What are your go-to ways of staying motivated?

Sometimes I have so much that I want to do (cleaning, exercise, hobbies, etc) but OCD makes it so hard to have energy...especially when I'm practicing not doing compulsions! Does anyone have any tips for making it easier to do everyday activities when you aren't feeling mentally great?

Username: afaf0073

Date posted: 2y ago

Anybody else deal with this?

Has anybody out here ever been so depressed and anxious that you feel as if you’ve completely let your life go? For example: I haven’t gotten a haircut in months, I wear the same clothes all the time (no motivation to wash them even though it’s downstairs,) my apartment is an unbearable mess (all my life before this disease I was neat as a pin,) my mailbox is probably flooded from not checking it for weeks, I’ve been putting off projects I’d like to do that I know will make me feel better, my to-do list has stayed stagnant for over half the year, I never wear make up or do my nails like I used to… I feel like a terrible bum. Everyday I just sit on the couch and pray to survive the day and then it ends there. Oh, and I’m sure my car looks terrible, as I haven’t been the one driving it lately. I’m also always stressed about money and hang onto every penny I possibly can even if it means taking away necessary things. I feel like I’m going to explode. :( If any of you have ever let everything go before, how did you go back to normal/bring it all back together? I’m afraid I’m going to live this way forever. Any advice would be so incredibly appreciated. I would be so ecstatic to hear your story — we may be able to help each other even. Thank you so much.

"Pure" OCD

Username: rosieshuler

Date posted: 1y ago

I’m ocd but I’m messy

I have ocd but my house is always messy I can’t seem to clean it and when I try it’s like I can’t do it right and I can’t get things organized the way they need to be and I obsess over it constantly thinking it can be better so I give up and then I stress and get depressed over it but I don’t know what to do

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