Close SOCD

I had a really bad return to the worst overwhelming thoughts last week after an exposure (which previously hadn't triggered me so much). I felt so down about it but the next couple of days I felt stronger and better able to let thoughts pass, so I tried to remind myself progress isn't linear. It doesn't necessarily mean it's a setback if that feels like a super negative way to describe it. Sometimes it's not such a good day and there's not much you can do but to go to bed and hope tomorrow is a better one. OCD is never logical whatever evidence you give it. Keep going :-)

@ada110 Yeah I relapsed again, but I’m proud of my journey. I am still making a lot of progress.

@Ghost123 Good for you. I don't feel out of the woods yet myself but it's getting easier.

@ada110 Good to hear. Do you have a trigger “place”? Like when you’re in the bedroom or when you walk past someone. I’ve noticed that my SOCD spikes when I’m alone in my room for long periods of time (+ social isolation). When I go outside and I see (well I guess) gay or bi couples, I don’t really get triggered as much. It’s only afterwards.

@Ghost123 To be honest triggers can come from anywhere - My OCD finds a way in. But being alone is definitely worse for me too and I'm still on my own a lot while looking for work which can be hard. Just too much time with my own head and no distractions or exposures from the real outside world. Going out it can sometimes be triggered by seeing same sex couples or also just attractive women, or I've noticed sometimes any woman who is friendly or smiles at me, my brain goes "does she fancy me? Do I want her to?". But it's erratic, sometimes these things are triggers sometimes they aren't. Just trying to learn to let these thoughts come and try not to engage in the rumination.