I am having such a hard day. The thoughts and anxiety are so loud today. I can’t stop crying.

Ive had a rough couple days too so I get it. Distract your mind with a good book or music, I also find the smell of lavender oils to be calming and soothing. You’re not alone, and you will get thru this ❤️

Thank you Sims. It sucks when you have a few good weeks in a row and then it comes back with a vengeance.

I’m so sorry you are having a rough time right now... it can be a very challenging thing and hit you like a wave from nowhere. But you know what? You may not feel strong today, but you are so very strong. You are a wave in your own light, don’t let it dim your shine ☀️...

I really enjoy an app called “calm” it’s guided meditation. There is also another one on YouTube just google “meditation for anxiety” by Jason. I agree the lavender oils are a good addition or a hot bath. You are NOT your thoughts... and you do not have to believe them ❤️ Breath, love, light, you will get through this...

It gets better, I promise!

@dee, thank you! I hope you are having a good day today too. How long have you been struggling with OCD?

I’ve had anxiety most of my life from what I can remember. Struggled with ocd, anxiety, depression for quite some time probably since 2004/2007? At the time I wasn’t sure what it was though. Its chronic so it doesn’t go away, but the more you learn to manage it and break the thought patterns the better life becomes and the more control you have on your ocd. Medications help too, I’ve been on and off them over the years. Lately I had been off my for about a year but I think I may go back on it. I still have a ways to go though, always a work in progress ❤️?.

I’m kind of an anti medication person in most aspects of my life whether that’s for my head or taking an Advil for an injury. I think it’s important for the body to do things learn how to do things on its own without help of medication. That being said I also don’t reject medication. My family consists of a long line of nurses and I have first responder training so I definitely know the benefit. I’m just very hesitant to alter my brain chemistry and have always been like that. One deciding factor for me was my quality of life and how my disorder was effecting those that I loved, that’s why I decide to get on medication in the first place. I think it’s important to gage where you are and how you feel as well as what other steps have you tried. I look at meds as something after I exhausted other possibilities. BUT that doesn’t always have to be the cause ie what’s your quality of life. I was also pretty scared of taking something that would be messing with my brain, but it actually helped me out quite a bit. I took Prozac and that worked well for me. I told my doctor how I felt about meds and she recommended it. She said it had low side effects and has less adverse effects then other stuff out there. I didn’t have any adverse effects that I noticed. Yes, they worked but they don’t work overnight so it does take about 2 months I think to start full effect so you might be like- is this working?? Sometimes it can be hard to tell in the being but most people notice a different after being on it for a little bit and if you don’t then you can switch to something else. CBT and ERP are the leading course of acting for ocd, so I’d recommending seeing someone to learn these therapy techniques and grabbing a workbook for home. Medication alone will be pointless without these. It’s like a bandaid without cleaning the wound. Hope this helps :)

I would highly recommend making an appointment with your psychiatrist and talking to them about it. Tell them about the urges and idk what you do to relieve them or if you are assurance kind of person. Im not suppose to give advice... but I think if you don’t KNOW if you will do this, ie if the urges scare you that much, lock yourself in the bathroom and make a phone call. There is an anxiety hotline and other resources if you get really alarmed and unsure. I don’t wanna reassure you because that will make the ocd worse, believe it or not. You will start to think there’s a problem and you need to be reassured... Ocd is wacky that way :/... Anyway, I think they can be really helpful.