The app is overwhelming and filled with unhelpful reassurance-seeking posts.

This app has become overwhelming

There are so many posts on here now that it’s become quite overwhelming. Some days I can use the app appropriately and get actually helpful information out of it or attempt to offer insight to people struggling. However, lately I’ve found I’ve been using it as a bit of a compulsion to see other people struggling like me to “reassure” myself it’s OCD. But I’ve also been triggered by a lot of people offering others really bad advice that isn’t good for OCD. There are way too many reassurance seeking posts (I know it’s hard, I’ve been guilty of it too). I think I’m going to take a break from the app. My advice to you, stop seeking constant reassurance. Stop obsessively reading stuff related to your intrusive thoughts/worries.

Username: thrutheweatherthrutheweather

Date posted: 2y ago

I guess it’s got everyone to consider why they’re posting but a lot of people lack any resources so people asking if something is OCD to me isn’t that bad and dependent on how they asked I wouldn’t say it’s reassurance just people trying to understand the mental health condition they’re suffering with. Again this depends on how they’re asking and what they’re asking but I’ve wondered why the discussion post isn’t more heavily monitored and what’s it’s true purpose is for a while now!

Username: thrutheweatherthrutheweather

Date posted: 2y ago

@thrutheweather It’s for everyone**

Username: hellopeoplehellopeople

User type: NOCD Alumni

Date posted: 2y ago

This post is super insightful

Username: KillianKillian

User type: NOCD Alumni

Date posted: 2y ago

Thank you for sharing this! I think knowing when you need to step away is so important. For me when I was beginning ERP I didn’t come on the community forum much either because it was hard to stay focused on my own symptoms and progress when I did. That said, I like that the Community feed can be a place to share evidence-based resources and connect people to all of the free articles/events/videos/etc. available through NOCD beyond the Community feed. There are also ways to use the app outside of the Community feed, like the SOS function and for ERP therapy! I like that the forum serves as a reminder that we’re not alone on this journey, but it’s so true that we have to be able to identify when we’re using it to seek reassurance and feed OCD, like with anything. It definitely feels like an imperfect tool but one with lots of potential.

Username: Serena

Date posted: 6y ago

A suggestion. I saw a post of @OCDtreated on Twitter and I’d like to share with all of you who want to recover. “I am not a fan of OCD forums. Full of reassurance seeking.” I kinda agree with him on this. When people are troubled by OCD, they are more vulnerable to negative stuff and more skeptical with positive information. Although an OCD online group/forum can be helpful in some way (knowing that you are not alone, reducing the stigma, finding understanding), it can also be not that helpful. We talk here without any therapists’ guidance, and it’s so easy we post “unhealthy” information or questions to seek reassurance. One way to get better is to “getting comfortable with being uncomfortable”. This requires you to get more involved with your life, less from OCD. Constantly checking on ocd forums is not getting on with your life. However, I am not saying that you should not visit OCD groups any more.

Username: blackraspberry

Date posted: 4y ago

Any tips on not taking other people’s ocd personally?? I’m a lesbian with SOOCD where I obsess over being straight/attracted to men. It’s been beneficial to use this app and look at posts from others with SOOCD because it gives me some perspective. However, it’s uncomfortable to see the fear that people have over the idea of being gay because I already feel like being gay is wrong/gross/scary and my brain takes those posts as “proof” that being gay is wrong so I’m horrible. I know that this is NOT a rational thing to think but my obsession on this topic are so intrusive I just can’t help falling into that train of thought. Essentially. I feel like this app is a double edged sword so I’m unsure of if it’s even worth it to continue looking at it.

Sexual Orientation OCD

Username: russelicott

Date posted: 1y ago

Every post seems compulsive

Every time I get on here every single post seems to be someone desperately brain vomiting to get some kind of closure that will never come. And all the responses are for the most part "wowww I think this too, we'll always be suffering" or something like that. In all my time with OCD, it seems like the most unhelpful thing is OCD forums. Looking at one seems to feel like you're watching the incarnation of the OCD cycle if it had a voice. I feel like if you want to get better, just learn exposure and acceptance and cutting out compulsions from a professional and try to distance yourself from the whole "culture" I guess.

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The app is overwhelming and filled with unhelpful reassurance-seeking posts.

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