Does recovery from POCD lead to a fulfilling life without constant struggle?

Does is actually get better?

To anyone who has POCD and has had a successful recovery, how does your day to day life look like now? Do you still have those thoughts in the back of your mind and just not let them bother you? Or have you gone about your days without even thinking about it at all? Has your life somewhat been back to normal? Do you still have harder days? And how often? Have you gained trust and confidence in who you are? Do you not allow OCD to make you question yourself? The reason I ask is because I worry that though I might get “better” I still will have hard days like every other week. Like having to have good days but deep down knowing you’re going to struggle with this for the rest of your life. Because personally I just can’t possibly imagine having to knowingly do ERP everyday for the rest of my life just to not crumble and fall apart. Yes I might be “better” at handling it, it will still be something I’m gonna have to be focusing on not allowing OCD to take over. I just want to live my life how I used to. Not having to try everyday to fall apart, ignoring thoughts, forcing myself to be uncomfortable, having to resist questioning things, and faking being okay with what I’m going through. It gets tiring having to do those things everyday. It’s so much easier to just give up. I’m doing my best to not give up. But the thought of having to fight OCD everyday and knowingly sounds much worse than just giving up. I feel like I’m a pretty reasonable person so having to live through this just doesn’t sound worth it and I think it’s pretty messed up to shame someone for wanting to “give up” if you know what I mean. So If there’s no true good outcome after consistent hard work. I think mental illnesses can be just as bad as a physical illness. But we don’t shame them for giving up a treatment because there’s no actual cure. We understand they can’t deal with the pain anymore and want to be set free. But when it comes to mental illness, being set free is looked down upon. But maybe there is no cure or good outcome and all we want is to be set free.

Username: Jeffrey Jeffrey

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

Yes there is recovery and I have recovered. For me, recovery looks like this - I still have all the intrusive thoughts and the icky feelings I have always had - but now I don’t care about them - I don’t allow ocd to tell me what I am - and although the ick sticks around I go about my life living my values and my values do not include molesting children. Ocd tries every which way to get my attention but I have to make the conscious choice to not pay attention to the thought - because that is all that it is.

Username: ada110ada110

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

Thanks for sharing a clear picture of what recovery looks like, it's really helpful.

Username: ocdJZwarriorocdJZwarrior

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

I'd like to start by saying that YES it get better and easier. In time, you will discover different weapons you need to win the war against OCD. You will win and lose battles along the way, but ultimately your goal needs to be to win the war! Eventually, the thoughts and images you experience will be something you will be able to not let bother you. It will take time, but please believe me when I say, it does get easier. Good luck my friend 👊👊👊

Username: Faith♥️Hope♥️LoveFaith♥️Hope♥️Love

Date posted: 1y ago

Hey. Yes, it can get better. It definitely has for me, and POCD was seriously threatening to ruin my life. I will be up front that I’m on Sertraline (generic Zoloft). Sertraline is a wonder drug for me, but I’ve had to continue therapy alongside it to truly be able to manage, and it still took months for the meds to be fully therapeutic. Even so, I still have hard days/weeks. Yes. You will have hard days, but they will start to spread out. You will notice your mind will wander and you will enjoy things. Triggers will hold less power. One thing that really helps me in my recovery is writing acceptance scripts almost daily. I wonder if it would help you to write acceptance scripts. Would love to hear if you try it 💕

Username: Anonymous . Anonymous . ...

Date posted: 1y ago

@Faith♥️Hope♥️Love Hi! I was wondering if you could help with advice about medicine. I’m struggling a lot at the moment in my head and i was just wondering how medicine works. Because I’m confused how thoughts work with medicine and I get really scared that if I start medicine I will start to think thoughts are okay and everything… this is me being slightly uneducated on how they actually work!

Username: Faith♥️Hope♥️LoveFaith♥️Hope♥️Love

Date posted: 1y ago

@jojoland I’ll do my absolute best!! ♥️♥️♥️. I was SO scared when I filled my prescription that the meds would make me worse (even though I knew they’d helped in the past. Hey, OCD plays all the games). So I relate to that! I would say Sertraline/Zoloft has helped me think more clearly and be less likely to “loop” or be extremely anxious at the drop of a hat. I was consumed in obsessions and compulsions all day. First thing in the morning, last thing at night. So I was in a rough rough place that I was struggling to climb out of. It has NOT replaced therapy for me. My Dr. clearly explained to me that meds + therapy is the best way to treat anxiety, so I’ve continued with that. Biologically/neurologically I’m not sure HOW they work, I just know that for me 75mg of Sertraline helps take the edge off of my symptoms, and it’s fairly common for OCD sufferers to use meds because our symptoms can be so severe and debilitating. If you know of anyone else biologically related that has used meds to treat mood disorders, then that should also weigh into your approach. Sertraline/Zoloft has helped many of my family members, which was a good indicator it would help me too. There is some trial and error involved. Be comfortable with knowing that meds take time (8-12 wks) to fully help therapeutically, and it’s ok not to know exactly which one or what dosage is best. I started with my PCP because I don’t see a psychiatrist. He was able to prescribe and I continue to see him for follow up. I would encourage you to do a little research to see which meds are typically used to treat OCD, then contact your family doctor 💕💕💕. Wishing you the best. Any other questions?

Username: Anna SHAnna SH

Date posted: 1y ago

I'm so glad to hear you feel better! Could you share an acceptance script or link to one? I would like to try it, I'm really struggling.

Username: Ocdislame

Date posted: 2y ago

I kinda of have a two part question. 1-Has anyone here just gotten better? 2-How do you know if ERP is working? My ocd goes through phases, and always has even before ERP. There are times where I just feel completely normal. Is ERP supposed to lengthen those times of feeling better? If I have times where I feel 100% normal, then why is OCD incurable? Something in my brain is going back and forth to think irrationally and then back to thinking rationally.

Username: Twelve Squir...

Date posted: 1y ago

ERP Help

I need a different perspective on this. I feel like I'm being run through the ringer. I'm doing what I can to avoid reassurance and not avoid triggers but I get triggered every day. I'm trying so hard to sit with the panic and the horror but it's so hard. It gets to the point I feel physically sick. Is there anything that I can do to help with this? I feel alone. I don't feel strong, I feel like a punching bag. Why is this so hard to master? I really want to know it gets easier. I've been suffering from POCD that has evolved and gotten worse and worse over the past eight months that has been torturing me multiple times on a daily basis and I feel like I'm drowning. I want to run away and hide because my life feel like it's seconds from being ruined. Please, please tell me this gets easier. That this ERP therapy will stop making me feel like I'm dying. The small moments of victory feel so brief only for me to get hit with another wave. There is so much uncertainty over such a horrific thing I feel ill. I feel afraid to be alone with my mind. Please if anyone out there can please give me tips on how to handle ERP. One moment I think I'm finally beating this thing and the next it's got me pinned and I'm terrified my life will be ruined. I want my peace back, I need help and I'm doing everything I can to resist compulsions but I feel so alone and dirty and disgusting. Please help me. Thank you for any advice 💕

Username: Twelve Squir...

Date posted: 1y ago

Recovering from POCD

I've been struggling with this theme for almost a year and it's been hell. I was at my lowest and even considered suicide. It all felt so real and I felt like a monster. I had no clue what to do and honestly felt I was losing my mind, my innocence, and any chance of feeling normal and confident again. I remember finding out this was OCD and learned about different themes. This was P-OCD. Then everything clicked. My abnormal fear problems in my early life made so much sense. Even though I knew it was OCD, I wished it was a different theme. Anything but this, literally any theme but this. I never thought I would recover, but I am. These past couple of days I have been doing really well. I still have my moments where I feel the panic creeping in or recognize I just gave into some mental reassurance. But this is the most hope I've had in a long time. For those of us struggling with this theme in particular I promise it does get better. I know it feels like you've thought the unforgivable and your mind will never be the same. But is that such a bad thing to not be the same? I don't want to be the same, I want to be stronger than how I went into this. More knowledgeable, empathetic, and resilient. I want to let all of you know who struggle with this type of obsession that this in fact can get better! Please leave your P-OCD or sexual related OCD recovery stories in the comments along with any other helpful strategies (not reassurance) you've used to combat this. You are going to make it. It wants to kill you and wants you to push the button, you don't owe it that. You are worth so much more than what your brain is giving you, and if you need that reminder we are all here to remind you. ☀️

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Does recovery from POCD lead to a fulfilling life without constant struggle?

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