Struggling with health anxiety and feeling inadequate compared to peers.

Sounds like OCD is in charge. It’s such an awful feeling, right? It helps me to think of what my values are, and move towards them despite the thoughts. So instead of calling a friend to get reassurance that my boss is the difficult one and it’s not me, and rehashing stories, I go ahead and get groceries and cook my daughter’s favorite meal, bc that’s what I would do if OCD wasn’t in charge. The more I do it, the less loud the OCD thoughts are. I hope that’s helpful!

I’m so sorry you’re struggling! Please remember you are not alone in feeling this way, but I can tell you it does get better. I was once where you are. I, too could barely function what with all the checking. The problem is in fact all the checking/thinking and worrying, which keeps the obsession-compulsion cycle going. A really helpful book “Needing to Know for Sure” by Seif and Winston offers wonderful explanations of the obsession-compulsion cycle, the intolerance of uncertainty, the paradoxical effort, and negative reinforcement which all keep ocd going. The book offers practical tools to use as well to help break out of the “reassurance trap” we get ourselves into. NOCD has also been invaluable to me in my journey with OCD, I encourage you to reach out to them if you haven’t already. Hang in there, life will get so much better!

You are not pathetic. OCD is a mental illness that you cannot help. This morning was the worst morning I have had in a few weeks. I understand how hard it is. It is terrible. But what I do know is that God loves you and He wants the best for you. It may seem very very difficult at the time. It was extremely difficult for me this morning I was screaming and crying 😢 You are not alone 💕❤️Stay strong ❤️💕

I'm feeling that way too. I was so different before OCD. Now I worry that people will just label me "the anxious one". I care about what others think and wish they knew me when I was much more confident and didn't have OCD bringing me down. It really sucks. Had to go back to work to check things 3 times in last 24 hours.

I’m so sorry to hear that you’re dealing with the challenges of OCD right now. But thank you for sharing. It’s a good reminder for us all that some days are tougher then others. As someone who has been in ERP therapy now for many months, I can tell you that things get so much better. Keep working hard on your recovery process and someday OCD won’t be in charge anymore. Best of luck and thanks for sharing.

i feel so similar. my health ocd often presents with mental health as well so j always feel like im going crazy and have to stay hyperaware to feel sane. and even then i dont feel sane. its so exhausting and also so hard to relax enough to sleep. when i wake up i try so hard to drag it out so my brain can relax for even one more minute. i get the jolting awake too!! and cold sweats sometimes. i also feel like i cant do things that not only i couldve done awhile ago but that i wouldve loved to do. work is one of them. going to the bank, grocery store, through a drive through, etc. is so difficult for no reason when im in an ocd funk like this

I get jolted awake too