- Username
- The Overthinker
- Date posted
- 2y ago
I feel confused
If I let the anxiety run its course, I'm supposed to feel relief right? But if I'm compulsing I also feel a form of release, do they feel different?
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- Username
- Mau NLMau NL
- Date posted
- 2y ago
I don't know if you are supposed to feel relief. You feel anxiety, you let it be and you go on with the normal day stuff, and the anxiety goes away, just as it came. I guess in the ideal situation, as you are not paying attention, you would not notice. And then, after a while you might realize that you are not anxious anymore. I guess at that point you should also leave it at that (maybe praise yourself), and also not further engage in it. Because then you open the floor for obsessing and compulsing again.
- Username
- The OverthinkerThe Overthinker
- Date posted
- 2y ago
But if you hit the SOS button on this app it literally says "experience relief."
- Username
- Stacy QuickStacy Quick
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 2y ago
The easiest way to explain it would be the compulsions provide temporary relief whilst riding the anxiety out brings long-term relief. Hope this clarifies!
- Username
- SasCasSasCas
- Date posted
- 2y ago
I was wondering this as well. I did an exposure yesterday and it was so hard to tell if I was reassuring myself or not. And I eventually felt relief but at the end I was confused as to if I compulsed or if I did the exposure right.
- Username
- The OverthinkerThe Overthinker
- Date posted
- 2y ago
Right? And then you question that bit, and then you question the next bit, and so on...
- Username
- SasCasSasCas
- Date posted
- 2y ago
@The Overthinker And that when rumination kicks in :,)
- Username
- Mau NLMau NL
- Date posted
- 2y ago
Ah ok, i am not an expert. Maybe it means that in some time you notice that anxiety levels have dropped. If you did not perform any compulsions, it dropped by itself. You indeed also experience relief when you do a compulsion, and i guess the feeling will not be that different. The difference probably is that a compulsion only temporarily gives relief, but in the long run severes ocd, whereas the relief from letting it fade away by itself in some time causes persistent relief.
Related posts
- Username
- lottiedottie
- Date posted
- 5y ago
So the cycle: Obsession Anxiety Compulsion Temporary relief Can an obsession be an intrusive feeling rather than obsession?
- Username
- Stronger.
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Obsession or compulsion? I'm getting so confused. So normally something scary pops into my head and I start thinking about it. And I pull in other things, related things, or make it a lot worse than it it. I can think myself to the point of a panic attack. I thought this was a compulsion, because I can do it for hours and if I'm interrupted I have to start over. But I stop doing it because it does me no good and brings me to panic levels of anxiety. I'm really confused now because I'm starting ERP and the goal of exposure is to get myself really anxious. Well googling and ruminating is what makes me really anxious..... but it's also what I do for hours and can't stop... so.... what do I do? If I obsess and google to the point of a panic attack to "expose" myself then what? I would still just google and obsess. ? If I have the initial thought and just don't ruminate it just goes away and I'm no longer anxious. And that seems way too easy. I can't be doing this right.
- Username
- Iwashere
- Date posted
- 4y ago
I get this feeling of supression of emotions where I no longer feel anxiety over the intrusive thoughts and no longer can cry and even though Im distressed I don't feel physical anxiety. It makes me question if I'm accepting that I am a P. Then I remember that trying to make yourself feel anxious on purpose will inherently make you not feel anxious! I dont speak to a psych for meds till monday but I feel like an imposter thats using OCD as an excuse. Repeating "its OCD" doesn't help and I know its because its a compulsion. I'm at a loss
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