Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 2y ago

How long does it take for intrusive thoughts to go

How long can you have harm ocd with new intrusive images and thoughts popping up? I have been suffering from harm ocd for 6 months now and I just got done with therapy and my therapist told me I shouldn’t still be having intrusive thoughts or images for this long and still causing me distress She made me feel worse I’m not sure she knows a lot about ocd. Is it normal for me to still be having new intrusive thoughts and images pop up? She scared me a little bit now my anxiety is up again 😣😔

Username: SaraaSaraa

Date posted: 2y ago

Change that therapist please. 1) healing from ocd is really subjective, so you can't really make comparison of time needed... 2) it is a rollercoaster when you are healing, so a day can be perfect and the next day can be super bad, and it is perfectly normal. 3) intrusive toughts hardly stops. The difference is that when you are "healed" (= once you learned how to recognise/deal/manage your emotions/feelings/toughts ) they will not bother you anymore (you won't feel bad, anxious, scared by simply having them or by the possibility of them being real). In my suggestion, try to learn the more that you can about how ocd works, what helps and what makes things worse. There are a lot of books, instagram/youtube accounts, even this app if you don't want something expensive that are really good! The more you learn, the more you will know how to deal with it! You can also try erp, cbt... there are a lot of healing possibility! I suggest also to find some therapist specialised in ocd! The healing process takes time and effort, sometimes what work for someone doesn't work for someone else... you just need to find what works best for you! Remember that everyone here is here to support each other, so you are not alone in this! Good luck!💖💖

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

Date posted: 2y ago

@Saraa Well I just started therapy with her and she has only given me one grounding tools

Username: MakingocdmybitchMakingocdmyb...

Date posted: 2y ago

it’s super subjective! some people can recover with slim to none symptoms very fast others will always have some symptoms but learn how to live very fulfilling lives. and everything in between. your therapist sounds ignorant… maybe you aren’t getting the right treatment

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

Date posted: 2y ago

@Gert0872 Yea I don’t think she know what erp is It’s only been my third session and all of the sessions were just me telling her about myself and how this all started And she said I shouldn’t be having any new intrusive images or thoughts six months later

Username: MakingocdmybitchMakingocdmyb...

Date posted: 2y ago

@Anonymous yeah she does not seem to understand. what does she even mean with you shouldn’t still be having them? like how is ocd supposed to just stop on it’s own after 6 months? sure would be nice though.

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

Date posted: 2y ago

@Gert0872 I know right!

Username: totallyanxiousalwaystotallyanxio...

Date posted: 2y ago

@Anonymous Absolutely. She definitely does not know much. You need a new therapist.

Username: Evelyn4416Evelyn4416

Date posted: 2y ago

Everyone, with OCD or not, experiences intrusive thoughts. The difference is that our brains are stickier, so they become obsession. With treatment, we want to not give these thoughts attention like those without OCD do, so we cut compulsions which is what keeps the thoughts sticking around. Overtime with ERP/etc they become less and less of a bother until we don’t care for them anymore. I agree in, if you can, seeking out a therapist who understand OCD and intrusive thoughts.

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

Date posted: 2y ago

@NOCD Advocate - Evelyn Thank you Overtime do the intrusive thoughts or images become less at least, I’ve been really struggling everything is a possible weapon, I try really hard not to react when they come up but when my anxiety is already high it’s hard to not react, any tips also I had this really bad intrusive thought if the more I have them I may act on them in my sleep which is silly because I’ve never slept walk Ocd is very clever 😔 I know I would never act on them consciously I’ve come to terms with that but the sleepwalking thought really scares me which is such an irrational fear Any tips or advise would be appreciated until I can get proper therapy? I want to recover so bad I have three children they need there mom 😭

Username: Evelyn4416Evelyn4416

Date posted: 2y ago

@Anonymous Yes they do become less intense and less frequent! I’m sorry to hear you’re struggling, my heart goes out to you. Medication could be a potential avenue to check out if you are open to it for anxiety. I’ve also found meditation helpful, making sure you are getting enough sleep/good, trying to do things you enjoy. Once you start therapy you should learn how to begin ERP which is the mainline treatment for OCD. I would also recommend workbooks and other helpful resources for helping to understand and manage!

Username: KAIOCDKAIOCD

Date posted: 2y ago

@NOCD Advocate - Evelyn Your amazing

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

Date posted: 2y ago

@NOCD Advocate - Evelyn Thank you so much ❤️

Username: AngelarmAngelarm

Date posted: 2y ago

We who have OCD pretty much have it for life. I have been suffering from harm OCD since I was 21. I am now 51. Some days are good and some days are very bad but I try to use the tools that I have been given to get through each day. You're not a bad person at all. You were just someone who has OCD and it's going to be able to live with it and have a happy life.

Username: Naeun

Date posted: 6y ago

Hey guys so I suffer from Harm OCD and thoughts about violently harming other and today I’ve been having super minimal thoughts . I had such horrible intrusive thoughts that it feels weird. I’m in constant fear that the thought will come back randomly and the urges will come back stronger than ever. And I’ll actually commit to my urges and act out on them. Like I still Feel weird because even though I don’t have anxiety ... the killer thoughts are in the back of my head. I gueninly don’t dee normal Anymore.

Username: Kenzie Madison

Date posted: 2y ago

Those with Harm OCD

Hey guys. I’ve been dealing with Harm OCD for around 3 and 1/2 months now, and it’s been extremely difficult to experience. I’ve had OCD my whole life and some of my family members do as well, one of my cousins actually has the same main subtype as me, but he was diagnosed almost a year ago when I didn’t have it myself. I’ve been going to an OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center the past week and I’m really struggling with the exposures we do there, as well as the ones we do at home. I constantly feel like I’m judging myself and I genuinely feel worthless, like I’m a horrible person to have unwanted intrusive thoughts like these. I feel like it’s so difficult to stay mindful and to not judge any of the thoughts that surface. Those with Harm OCD, have any of you here gone from debilitating OCD to living fulfilling lives? If so, what was the process like for you, if you’d like to share? Thanks and I hope you’re all doing well, or are continuing to improve.

Username: SophieSnow

Date posted: 1y ago

When will it end - please read

I've been in treatment for about 3.5 months and I have definitely improved. However, I feel like I'm always relapsing... I do exposures for specific thoughts and it definitely helps. Usually my anxiety will go way down and that specific thought will improve. Then I may have a period of a week or so where my intrusive thoughts aren't so bothersome. But they ALWAYS come back. My ocd will latch on to anything at all and Im constantly having new intrusive thoughts. I seem to be stuck in a cycle of improvement and relapse. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Will the intrusive thoughts ever subside??

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