Any tips on this theme? Some of my thoughts with this them are bizarre. To someone who has been through it what did you do ab your thoughts
I had it for a long time but it went away when I honestly just stopped caring to know all the world’s secrets and senses because you can’t and you never will, so it’s futile to make yourself sick over it. Unless you want to become a philosopher, and I didn’t because almost all of them are depressing as hell 🤣
@Nica Thanks Nica. ❤️
@Matthew007 You’re welcome!
It’s a difficult theme for sure, one of my biggest ones as well. Mine mostly focused on reality + meaning/purpose. The best thing really is to treat it like any other OCD theme: with ERP, as well as other tools. Letting the thoughts come and go without giving them any extra attention or judging them. I’ve found meditation, doing activities I enjoy, etc have helped some as well. Know you’re far from alone in this and we are here to support you!
@NOCD Advocate - Evelyn Thank you!
Hey Matthew, OCD can often get very meta and bizarre with the intrusive thoughts it throws your way. It's important to remember that OCD is egodystonic, meaning it goes against our real values. If you are interested in philosophy, theoretical concepts, or experience things like dysphoria, existential OCD really can hit hard. I definitely agree with Evelyn, to treat it as any other theme, and not feed into those thoughts or create fear responses. The minute we agree, question or say yes to answering those thoughts, our OCD takes the opportunity to grow bigger. It gets easier over time to cut the rumination spirals right at their root, as we become more aware of what is a personal thought VS OCD. OCD will always bring a sense of urgency in needing to investigate something and is often not aligned with our values. My best advice is to notice the feeling, feel the uncomfortable feeling without compulsion or answering, label it as sneaky rumination, and then continue on with the task you have in front of you. Hope this helps!
I’m having a big OCD relapse and would like to hear anyone’s tips on how to be present and healthily deal with these intrusive thoughts and the “need” to preform compulsions. Thank you!!
whats up guys what are some tips dealing with ocd and what to do when a thought makes u anxious ??
Looking back, I realize I’ve had OCD since I was 7. though I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 30. As a kid, I was consumed by fears I couldn’t explain: "What if God isn’t real? What happens when we die? How do I know I’m real?" These existential thoughts terrified me, and while everyone has them from time to time, I felt like they were consuming my life. By 12, I was having daily panic attacks about death and war, feeling untethered from reality as depersonalization and derealization set in. At 15, I turned to drinking, spending the next 15 years drunk, trying to escape my mind. I hated myself, struggled with my body, and my intrusive thoughts. Sobriety forced me to face it all head-on. In May 2022, I finally learned I had OCD. I remember the exact date: May 10th. Reading about it, I thought, "Oh my God, this is it. This explains everything." My main themes were existential OCD and self-harm intrusive thoughts. The self-harm fears were the hardest: "What if I kill myself? What if I lose control?" These thoughts terrified me because I didn’t want to die. ERP changed everything. At first, I thought, "You want me to confront my worst fears? Are you kidding me?" But ERP is gradual and done at your pace. My therapist taught me to lean into uncertainty instead of fighting it. She’d say, "Maybe you’ll kill yourself—who knows?" At first, it felt scary, but for OCD, it was freeing. Slowly, I realized my thoughts were just thoughts. ERP gave me my life back. I’m working again, I’m sober, and for the first time, I can imagine a future. If you’re scared to try ERP, I get it. But if you’re already living in fear, why not try a set of tools that can give you hope?
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