Compulsions

How easy is it to stop your compulsions, how do you feel when you don’t do them, what are some coping strategies. Is praying constantly for my health considered a compulsion?

redmuse22

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 3y

Some compulsions are annoying but not hard to stop for me. Some I haven't been able to fully stop yet, but even me pausing before doing the compulsion is a great step toward healing. Constant prayer might be a compulsion, especially if you do it to relieve anxiety and then after you finish the prayer the anxiety comes back and you get into a loop of pray-anxious-pray-anxious etc.

KAD.98

Date posted: 3y

I’m worried I don’t have OCD. Like I’m lying to myself, my therapist, am I crazy, am I autistic, do I have a terminal illness in my head that makes me crazy thinking I have OCD. Because lately I have done ERP therapy and find it easy to stop little compulsions I do. Maybe it’s the amount of stress I’m in..? Because specifically I remember last week crying over not being able to flip the light switches 4X or someone will get hurt. And I pray 20 minutes EVERYNIGHT, a never ending loop or repeated prayers until is “feels right”. And I just yesterday my therapist says when you feel like doing a compulsion tell yourself “you trust yourself” and “you love yourself”. And it’s working. I can read without re reading but omg I have to f*** repeat those words over and over just to tell myself no and resist it. And I’ll pass by light switches and tell myself. Now praying is still very hard to kick, I’ve done a lot of praying in my life lol. But yesterday I was like “I’m not gonna pray to tonight I havnt slept in 24 hours I can pray for 20 minutes” (I work in EMS) and so I didn’t! And now I’m thinking I’m crazy thinking I have OCD?! Like am I seriously putting myself through stress and anxiety over compulsions that have been this easy to kick all along???? Tf!!!! 😫😫😖😖😖 is it maybe I’m not so stressed and obsessing over something at the moment?

Anonymous

Date posted: 3y

Thanks for asking some questions, however responding to this could be a form of reassurance especially the last part. It’s awesome you’re expressing what you are currently experiencing, however whatever feeling that is for you, what if you try to just notice it, but let the questions be. Not avoiding them, but letting yourself feel, and then getting back to whatever it is you ACTUALLY care to do! Go for a walk, read, hang with friends, shop, eat, none of the above, or all of the above, the point being to not feed the doubt, but let it go. Great job expressing on the app, maybe give this a try though and let me know how it goes! Enjoy the beautiful day!

KAD.98

Date posted: 3y

I do seek reassurance a lot. One of my hardest compulsions to kick, I’m working on ERP. But I still find myself struggling to sit with the unknown, I’ll call my best friend or therapist about doubts and the unknown just to get an answer to know why I feel the way I feel and am I really going crazy?!?! UGH 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I’m annoyed with myself today 😫😫😫😫 maybe my “OCD” is acting out in a completely different way today 😑😑 I can’t get my mind off it!!!

redmuse22

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 3y

OCD is so tricky! I've felt like a faker at times because as you said its like how was this so easy the whole time?? But I think thats being hard on ourselves. Its easier now because we know what it is. Who would think to question their thoughts? Probably not most people. Plus we work on the easier things first so we can get the courage and strength to tackle the harder compulsions. I personally find my OCD flaring (?) when I'm stressed.

KAD.98

Date posted: 3y

Thank you. I don’t feel so alone because I literally felt guilty thinking I was faking a disorder but at times it feels so real making me rethink if I really have OCD. 😣 but then I think. A person without OCD literally would not be obsessing over thinking if they have an illness or thinking “if I see that that leaf fall off the tree, someone will get hurt, or I must pray over and over until it feels right because I see a word in the book that triggers me” it’s never ending. Sorry I ramble a lot 😩

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