Tonight was a nightmare

I don’t know how to keep fighting this, I feel very isolated, have no friends, don’t have time for therapy with full time college and work, and I want to give up most days. I struggle with so many types of OCD, but I don’t know how to even start achieving a single kind. I read something from the NOCD response to someone’s post saying what is in the photo below. It terrified me deeper than anything before. How on earth can I simply stop asking for reassurance? It’s the only way I cope?

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 97d ago

May I suggest lightening up your schedule? When something is important to you, you make time for it 🙏 Being afraid of the thoughts you are having just makes it even more intense, and as the post suggests, try to sit with the uncomfortable feelings until they subside - I assure you they will. You got this, my friend! 💜

Username: AbbyDhabiDoo

Date posted: 97d ago

@Anonymous Thank you! I definitely need to learn how to sit in the uncomfort. I wish I could lighten my load, but alas, a broke college student!

Username: ILikeMyself

Date posted: 97d ago

I would suggest you make a list of all things you want to accomplish unrelated to your OCD, and then start doing them. I find that my thoughts get worse the more free time I have. I understand your time is taken up by school and work right now, however eventually those things will conclude and it helps to have a support network. School and work are ideal places to make friends. Try to talk to talk to some people there and over time you can make plans to hang out. It is also practice for you to have relationships without seeking reassurance. Make fun your focus, not your OCD.

Username: AbbyDhabiDoo

Date posted: 97d ago

@ILikeMyself Very helpful, thank you! Just hearing “focus on fun” helps a little :)

Username: CherryPieInTheSky

Date posted: 97d ago

The way to cope is with ERP, work on it (I know, it’s so hard) and other things will start to fall in place too.