You ever find that compulsions are like… the thing you default to doing when not actively using up attention and energy and time to stop. And the moment you relax it’s like you forget you shouldn’t be doing that or sometimes even very very literally that you have a choice? How do you prevent and/or deal with that?
The moment you realize you’re doing a compulsion, you’re seeking reassurance, and/or ruminating, immediately stop and go do something else. It’s way better to, let’s say, be ruminating for 7 minutes, catch yourself, and stop yourself vs. ruminating for HOURS and making yourself so exhausted, you fall asleep—but then the moment you wake up, you’re back to ruminating for hours. You didn’t break the cycle doing option #2. You just extend it over and over and over again. Which does nothing but harm you because you’re making your OCD worse.
At times, my intrusive thoughts get so intense that all I can do is lay frozen in my bed and hope I fall asleep, and usually I do even if I'm not tired. My brain just wears me out and I wanna escape through sleep. (Sadly it doesn't work all the time)
I’ve noticed that I’m somewhat happier also ignoring my thoughts than I am instead of doing compulsions (I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired atp) but I’ve heard you’re technically supposed to do erp rather than pushing under the rug. But idk if I have a thought I just refuse to think about it again and im fine even if I want to do compulsions
I’m having a big OCD relapse and would like to hear anyone’s tips on how to be present and healthily deal with these intrusive thoughts and the “need” to preform compulsions. Thank you!!
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