Multiple themes?

Does anyone’s themes bounce around? Yesterday I was suffering heavy from contamination intrusive thoughts, today I am having thoughts that “what if I hit someone on my way home and didn’t realize” when reality is nobody was around on the road and I know I’d know if I hit someone. I have had high stress in life recently which I think is triggering this flare up. I just wanna be okay and I know I need to see a therapist but financially as a student that Isn’t in the cards right now. Anybody have advice for how to handle your mind consult dining new things to fixate on? In the last two years relationship and SO themes have been the ones I’ve struggled with, but these constant intrusive thoughts are all over the place and it’s less easy to cope now. Any advice appreciated! Thank You!

Username: Spring05

Date posted: 129d ago

This is OCDs favorite game to switch up the themes. Its just another hat trick. As for resources, there are great weekly Wednesday webinars with the director of NOCD where people ask questions. Also there are free support groups on this app. Also the app has a lot of great features whenever you are ready to do exposure therapy. Also there's a recording in the "SOS" button that's really great for getting outside my head.

Username: Themechanger

Date posted: 128d ago

@Spring05 Thank You so much! It feels so real in my head and it’s crippling to me because although I know it’s not true my brain is riding on any possible lack of proof that these things are… I appreciate your words :)

Username: Spring05

Date posted: 129d ago

In short, yes this happens to me from to time that the themes switch.

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 129d ago

Yes, my themes bounce around as well I would say. Some days I can be fixated on my sexual orientation OCD, and the next day, I’m fixated on something completely different. I understand what you mean when you say you get a flare up. Whenever I have a very bad anxious flare up I start to think a lot about my life existence OCD, because in my head I think, “what is the point of all of this”. And I struggle a lot with these thoughts because I can never find myself an answer and its so frustrating. I feel you about just wanting to be okay. When I’m having these thoughts I personally don’t know how to get out of it in that moment, but once the thought seems to have vanished just a little bit, I journal about it. I try not to distract myself from these thoughts because then they’re most likely gonna come back. So, instead I journal about my feelings about these thoughts, where these thoughts come from, and just be true to myself in my journal and not hold back any of my emotions as I’m writing. This has seemed to help me not beat myself up about it and realize, even though I have these thoughts I’m processing them and doing what I can to work through them privately in my journal. I don’t know if its just me, but I find so much comfort and privacy when it comes to my journal. So, allowing myself that time to write, makes me feel like I am getting something positive out of it even if it doesn’t seem that way in the moment. I hope this helps:)

Username: Themechanger

Date posted: 128d ago

@Anonymous Thank You for this! I have thought about journaling recently and think I am going to start doing it, I did it years ago and haven’t recently but think it’s time to start again! Thank you for your help!