What is a compulsion?

Not 100% sure what a compulsion is but one thing I do to try and escape this problem is that everyday since this problem started I have been going out either shopping or round someone’s house or out to eat from the morning right up until I have to go to bed because it feels like my intrusive thoughts are worse and feel more real when I’m at home where as when I’m out it feels like a weight is taken off me but it’s not a healthy lifestyle because now I basically live in my car, if there is no where to go I will just go and sit in a McDonald’s drive thru car park because I hate going home, anytime going home is mentioned I started feeling uncomfortable and the thoughts come back, also I hate being alone somewhere with one person or with an animal because I’m worried I’m bad… is this a compulsion? I don’t really do anything to get rid of thoughts apart from the this?

Joey Gerbino

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

Any form of avoidance is considered to be a compulsion. Whether it be mental and/or physical. What I would suggest is to slowly start getting back to a place where you can first start talking about being home, followed by then spending time at home and sitting with the discomfort. Then working your way up to being alone with either someone or something such as an animal. Easier said than done, but you need to start to retrain your brain that your intrusive thoughts are not a danger to yourself nor anyone/anything else. Furthermore, OCD will make you question whether or not you a morally and value wise a good person, but if you’re living by your morals and values and stated that these thoughts clearly make you uncomfortable, etc. Then it’s safe to say that it’s OCD trying to get you to play it’s loophole kinds of games. Have you been diagnosed by a licensed professional yet? If not, I would start by contacting NOCD and inquiring about therapy in the form of ERP. It’s considered to be the “Gold Standard,” form of treatment for all OCD subtypes. Sending love, compassion and support to you while suffering from the beast and battling the monster that is OCD 💌

lu22

Date posted: 2y

@Joey Gerbino I haven’t been diagnosed yet I’m worried they will think there is something wrong with me, also when people say to me ‘if these thoughts make you uncomfortable, then it’s a ocd’ it makes me worry because I’ve some how Been studying the way my body feels and reacts and Started thinking I like the thoughts but at the same time desperate for them to go but feel worried in case maybe I’m secretly liking the thought and don’t believe myself anymore and think I’m insincere 😞

Cinnamoroll

Date posted: 2y

Yes, avoidance is a compulsion. A compulsion is a "safety response" - something you do/think to alleviate anxiety/fears/discomfort. I've experienced anxiety and depression being home - sometimes within minutes of walking in the front door. ☹️ I've been working on decorating my home in a style I love, with comforting colors and lighting. And trying new hobbies at home. Hopefully something like that could help you! Even if you're only home for 1 extra hour during the day. You can gradually work on building up that time.

lu22

Date posted: 2y

@SaraBeara The reason I don’t like being home is because I have cats and I have intrusive thoughts about them and I just hate going home and feeling uncomfortable I just hate it

OrMsB

Date posted: 25w

Compulsion

I did some gross compulsions, i do them because i think that if i do them i get rid of thoughts ( cause i don’t want them) that’s why I do compulsions but people do them to check am I a p? I’m terrified I can’t do it. What if im different I don’t think I heard about someone that did compulsions to get rid of thoughts that’s why but to check omg im terrified

POCD

Anonymous

Date posted: 19w

Irrational Fears

Usually my compulsions are always motivated by fear. I feel like a child when I have compulsions. Like for example, my brain convinces me that someone is in my house and I need to open every cabinet and all the shower curtains, and do tons of other crazy things like march instead of walking so that if someone where to shoot at my legs they'd have less of a chance of hitting me. How do I stop it? I am just going about my day and I can see in my head, myself getting attacked or something and so my only option to calm myself down is to do a bunch of random actions that will keep me "safe". Does anyone else experience this? Or convince themselves that they are under Milo Murphys law? That anything bad that can happen to them will, so they need to never do anything that could result in anything bad, and avoid everything? And how do you convince yourself you're not in danger?

Shaodidi

Date posted: 13w

What am I doing? Compulsion?

Trigger warning So I can’t stop wondering if I was attracted to this kid I saw a few days ago because I felt something that felt like genuine attraction, it made me worried I was a p, so I tried to leave the place immediately. I also had urges to look to check if I was attracted or not and urges to not to look. All of it made me feel like a genuine P. What is all of this I’m doing, are they compulsions? Or are they pr3detory actions?

POCD

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What is a compulsion?

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