One more thing

@KelSul73 If it’s a compulsion what anxiety does it relieve? What is the purpose? It doesn’t feel like I’m testing myself or anything. I’m just confused. Thanks for the response.

@Anonymousg I think it relieves the anxiety that you are probably going to think of something and you don’t want to be surprised by it so you think of it first. That’s the conclusion I’ve come to and I think it may be a compulsion but sometimes idk if it’s a random thought or I’m doing it on purpose. Also, wouldn’t that be a time to practice ERP cause you are suppose to make yourself think of things…right? I know nothing! I have OCD. Who knows if that’s right.

@goblintears same, i get so scared and think of how real it is. Scared and constantly saying what if they’re true.

@Anonimo05 I relate to that a lot, hate intrusive thoughts so much

@Clarinetband8! in what way is it a compulsion ?

@jâd20 That’s what I’m wondering too

@Anonymousg I don’t know, I just mentioned that sometimes it feels like I bring in the thoughts on my own and was told it’s a compulsion.

@Clarinetband8! I do that too

@OoOcCdD66 How do u stop

@marieleanne You'll probably never fully stop. It becomes automatic. I'm 4 years into my full blown ocd and diagnosis and I still do it occasionally. You just have to notice when you're doing it and try and either distract yourself or decide to sit with the anxiety and do some exposure work, resisting compulsions as much as you can. If I may ask, are you "new" to OCD or new to being aware of it?

@OoOcCdD66 so to resist the compulsion of thinking of your intrusive thoughts, you need to distract yourself from them when you catch yourself doing it?

@OoOcCdD66 I’ve been having this problem since September and thoughts around my bf I found someone attractive and it triggered it and bf I saw him I’m like u don’t wish this was anyone else then I was nervous I did wish it was someone else so I would just say I wish it was the first person I could think of just to get it over with so I could stop worrying abt doing it. Now I do it every second of every day no matter what situation I’m in regardless if I’m with him or not. It switches from person to person now but it makes me feel so bad like sometimes it will be about his friends

@jâd20 Sometimes, yes. But sometimes that can be a compulsion in itself. An avoidance compulsion. If the thoughts cause anxiety, just sit with that anxiety. Amp it up. Imagine it's real or going to happen (whatever it is)...identify your core fears, make imaginal scripts wherein these things have happened or will happen. Amp your anxiety as high as you can and sit with it as long as you can without giving into compulsions. Continue to do this over and over again...and slowly over time you habituate to it a little and stuff gets easier. And your brain starts to really learn how to deal with the OCDemon a lot better. Although you will still have many slip ups and relapses as well as new themes (most likely), as it is a chronic mental illness.

@OoOcCdD66 I started Zoloft an ssri woll that help?

@OoOcCdD66 oh ok it makes sm sense but how not to compulse if you do it without even knowing it? at this point everything we do is a compulsion whenever i feel relief i’m like « if feel better because i compulsed » but i don’t feel like it was one, i just feel like my « real » thoughts overcame the intrusive ones but i don’t even know if that’s possible

@marieleanne Probably will at the very least make it easier for you to manage and do therapy

@jâd20 You may begin to do any compulsion unconsciously. But the minute you stop and become aware of what you're doing is when you can make the conscious decision to work with it and do some erp, mindfulness practice, etc. It takes a while, but eventually you get used to all this and just accept it as part of your life now. Doesn't mean it won't still bother you and make you feel like hell sometimes. But it does take a lot of the edge off and also makes it easier to overcome a trigger.

@OoOcCdD66 okay i think i understand and is all that possible to achieve without professional help?

@jâd20 If you have the means to be able to do so, professional help will definitely be the best option as they can walk you through all this and answer any question(s) that arise. But I would say it's totally possible to practice self help if therapy isn't an option... I know there are OCD work books you can purchase online, lots of articles, tons of YouTube videos, etc. It definitely would be in your best interest to really start researching ERP, CBT, ACT, and so on so you could try and start practicing these things on your own!

@OoOcCdD66 okay thank you for your kind words ! I must seriously start that, I’m feeling like OCD has changed my perception of love and I don’t like that :/

@Nica It doesn’t feel like checking though. It feels more like I’m just thinking them for some reason I’m not sure

@Anonymousg It can feel like it is or isn’t, but you’re giving into your OCD all the same and it’s not helping you get any better.

@SailorMoon07 How do u get it to stop Popping up tho that’s my problem

@SailorMoon07 are you freed now?

@jâd20 are you*