Seeking tips for managing bizarre thoughts from existential OCD.

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 🤣

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!

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!