Existential ocd

Hi everyone, does anyone have any good tips for dealing with the constant feeling that everything is fated? From bigger things (eg the people you meet) to extremely mundane (eg the way I am sitting at my desk/holding my pen). I also keep having moments where I'm like 'everything happens for a reason', as it can be a comforting way to think in difficult times, but the idea of a higher power also scares me. I keep answering 'maybe' and 'anything is possible', but it is not really helping. Any tips for this would be really appreciated!

Tyler A.

Date posted: 3y

It’s completely normal to have existential thoughts pop into your mind. Every human being wrestles with these ideas. The issue with OCD is your emotional response to when these thoughts arise in your head. It seems like they are causing you a great deal of distress and you are compulsing through rumination. The first step I’d recommend that helped me is understanding the difference between attention and awareness. Here is a great article to help guide you through that https://drmichaeljgreenberg.com/awareness-attention-distraction-and-rumination/. The second step which took me a while to realize is the emotional aspect of your response to those thoughts. You are probably telling yourself “maybe” and “anything is possible” but you are not fully embracing the emotional state of mind that comes with those statements. Meaning you are saying them but in the back of your mind you are still worried about your existential thoughts. This can actually lead to you saying these things out of compulsion. I recommend using ACT strategies or reading a book like “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***” to embrace the mindset that goes along with response prevention. And if you are embracing this mindset you will not be worried if you are doing it correctly or not. Don’t try to seek perfection in your ERP because that can also become a compulsion. Take it easy on yourself and know you are not alone. Hope this helps!

Maurice123

Date posted: 3y

@Tyler A. Dr Michael Greenberg is very good, recommend his podcast episodes on ocd stories aswel (the first 2 anyway)

Tyler A.

Date posted: 3y

@Maurice123 Those two podcasts definitely changed my mentality towards treatment. Don’t necessarily believe his hard stance on ACT and mindfulness but love his rumination focused ERP.

Maurice123

Date posted: 3y

@Tyler A. Yes same very good podcasts and that link you put in has also helped me and il look at his website again so thank you. Also I think he’s looking at act and mindfulness from the point of accepting anxiety and letting the obsessive thoughts be there rather than not ruminating which would result in the anxiety and thoughts dissipating.

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 3y

Thank you so much I really appreciate it!!❤️ Reading the article now and will definitely read that book! I keep thinking maybe I can just CHOOSE how to view the world, eg everything happens for a reason, or there no such thing as fate, and am jealous that so many people seem so sure about what they believe. I am always interested in other people's opinions on this subject but I realise that may be a compulsion and I need to somehow become comfortable with uncertainty.

imsonocd

Date posted: 24w

Any tips on Existential OCD?

I’m really struggling with this theme because it can make me feel “fake” and it creates doubts that the world around me isn’t real or it’s a simulation? I’m really trying to expose myself but even the possibility makes me incredibly afraid. It even plays into my suicidal ocd as well and makes me afraid that my life would be miserable if this was true. I know how ocd works and I know not to fully believe that. But at the same time, I am trapped in doubt and fear. How could I possibly accept this? Will I ever see the world or life the same again? (Don’t answer that I realize that’s reassurance). Idk this theme is so ass.

AnnFon

Date posted: 19w

Existential/Anxiety OCD

This is my first post, so I apologize if the formatting is weird. I experience existential ocd I always struggled as a kid but learned more and more how to manage with school and such forcing me to learn how, now I experience a lot of overwhelming intrusions from when I wake up to when I go to bed (simply because I live and work in the same place it gets cabin feverish) but now more often going out maybe it’s just paranoia, I walk into a place and each person comes with a story immediately, every piece of trash on the floor, every piece of produce, each isle is a brand new way I could get into a life altering situation. I’ve managed well enough but sometimes I just completely lose my original objective and just leave or I’ll wanna leave my house but everything that goes with it and that could happen pops up and I just won’t go. It’s started to become avoidant behavior. Any help or similar stories? I just feel like I’m going crazy but my thoughts are so scattered and immediate it’s hard to break the habit and not spin a story. Thank yall!

mossy123

Date posted: 17w

Existential ocd

So this past week I’ve had a really bad ocd spiral. I can’t stop thinking about death and what happens after. Because of this, I’ve felt no motivation to get out of bed. I don’t know if it’s burnout from school, depression, or just existential ocd. I can’t focus on the present,and I feel like I’m in a dream like state. I went through a similar time a few years ago, and was able to get out of it. Even if I do accept that death is inevitable, how do I get motivation to do anything when I know it won’t matter in the end? Any tips?

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Existential ocd

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