JesseBear
- Date posted
- 2y
Uncertainty
What is accepting uncertainty to you all?
bumblebee_bumblingbumblebee_bu...
- Date posted
- 2y
I read this in an article and I felt it really helped, but it basically means: this event could’ve happened. It could have not. That means the possibility, mathematically, of this happening is 1/x, with x being unknown. It doesn’t mean we have to assume the worst. Maybe it’s highly unlikely it happened, but we can also accept the slight chance that is there. What is important is that we don’t go searching for this x because it is not important. It’s not yes or no — it’s “I don’t know”, and I won’t exert my energy to find out. I hope this helps you on your healing journey. Uncertainty is painful, and I know many who suffer from OCD desperately wish we could travel back in time to remember. But if it doesn’t serve us now, we have to embrace the uncertainty and let it go ❤️
JesseBearJesseBear
- Date posted
- 2y
Thank you for this and yes, accepting the fact that we have to accept it and move, is something tough but manageable.
bumblebee_bumblingbumblebee_bu...
- Date posted
- 2y
@JesseBear It’s a tough, nonlinear healing journey but I believe everyday we get a little stronger :) ❤️
JesseBearJesseBear
- Date posted
- 2y
@bumblebee_bumbling How long have you had it for? I'm sure you had every theme too? Yes, I do feel a little bit more strength everyday, even though there are ups and downs.
bumblebee_bumblingbumblebee_bu...
- Date posted
- 2y
@JesseBear Hmm I think it began 11 years ago or so? I don’t have every theme but a few, and yeah I’m glad you are gaining strength everyday! :]
JesseBearJesseBear
- Date posted
- 2y
@bumblebee_bumbling So my question is, I don't get anxiety anymore. Yet the thoughts still appear, should I practice more ERP or will the thoughts always be there?
bumblebee_bumblingbumblebee_bu...
- Date posted
- 2y
@JesseBear I’m not too sure— I have less anxiety too but the thoughts kinda pop up still. I think your counselor will let you know and I’m no professional, but I think we both are still in the phase where we have some lingering thoughts since we are recovering. It’s not super easy to let go of something on your mind, but with time and as the thoughts matter less to us, I think it should lessen. :-0 but again, I’m not a professional and I’m also not there yet so I’m not sure :-))
AnonymousAnonymous
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
@JesseBear Thoughts will always be there.
AnonymousAnonymous
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
@JesseBear Congratulations on no anxiety 🎉🎉
Amb99Amb99
- Date posted
- 2y
@bumblebee_bumbling Thank you for saying this, was struggling recently about what this meant and was thinking the worst
JesseBearJesseBear
- Date posted
- 2y
@Anonymous Thank you! Yeah it sucks but better without anxiety.
NicaNica
- Date posted
- 2y
@JesseBear The thoughts are always going to be there. They don’t become a problem unless you MAKE it a problem.
JesseBearJesseBear
- Date posted
- 2y
@Nica Makes sense!!! Thank you!
bumblebee_bumblingbumblebee_bu...
- Date posted
- 2y
@Amb99 I’m glad it helped ❤️
Related posts
eugeniodepalo
- Date posted
- 25w
Double standards for certainty?
Do you ever feel like people without OCD have an easy time just saying “you need to accept uncertainty” only because they’re not subject to the same level of fear and anxiety as an OCD sufferer would? I feel like they don’t really accept uncertainty, they’re just naturally more certain about things. For example, if you ask anyone whether they think their loved ones are real or not, they will never answer with “maybe, but I’ll never know for sure”. They’ll just say “of course they are”. Isn’t that what certainty is? For me, as I’ve been suffering from existential OCD most of my adult life, such a question absolutely terrifies me. The mere thought of my loved ones and the world not being real sends me into a spiral of anxiety and depression and never ending certainty-seeking behavior. I just can’t stand the thought of that horrible scenario being true. How can one accept uncertainty about such a thought, when it completely undermines all my values and beliefs and world view? Can non-OCD sufferers really accept those nighmarish scenarios? Am I misunderstanding what ERP and therapy is about?
Anonymous
- Date posted
- 19w
Any tips for leaning in to uncertainty
I need tips on how to really accept the uncertainty the ocd causes, even if it feels so bad like I might get in trouble for something , do I wanna be okay with that?
Julian2006
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 15w
A little reminder!
I hope everyone is holding up okay! I’ve been seeing a lot of scared posts and whatnot lately, so I just wanted to make this post to remind ourselves to practice our uncertainty! I want to share a few response prevention lines that help me calm down! My thoughts do not define who I am. Maybe I’m a bad person, maybe I’m not, but I have a lot of things I need to do now. I’m going to practice not knowing for sure. I don’t have to solve this problem. I am choosing to sit with this uncomfortableness!
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