I’ve got a lot of bad coping mechanisms. I smoke, drink, isolate and hurt myself to help quiet my mind when it gets overwhelming. Can these count as compulsions? (Also not completely sure if I have OCD)
I am in recovery for addiction as well. Using them as a compulsion to change the way you’re feeling in the moment is the exact reasons addicts and alcoholics drink and use. I highly suggest getting a therapist and ERP, because the road of self prescribing substances to treat mental health issues is a dark path in my experience. There’s totally hope, and I have experienced real freedom from working with a therapist and doing ERP. As far as things I do other than that that may have some small effect of OCD (not at all a substitute for the OCD therapy done); lift weights and exercise, read/listen to spiritual stuff (non-duality, Buddhist stuff), keto diet (l find it helps lower anxiety), regular therapist and OCD therapist, contact with family and friends (ask them how they are doing and have them talk about themselves, you’d be surprised how much it can get you out of your head), Qi Gong daily, being of service to others (volunteering), hobbies such as hiking (nature can be great for perspective), gratitude lists (write 5 things your grateful for daily and send it to someone, do that back and forth), journaling, daily reflection books to start your day (the language of letting go is good). I hope that helps in some way.
@Anon. Ty!
I think so. I do it too and smoke as well.
It gives relief
I just took a course about mental health and we learned that with sh it's important to contact whatever professional support you have (doctor, psychiatrist, therapist, counselor, and so on) to start on a path to recovery. It takes time energy patience and honestly it can be really frustrating if those folks are not familiar with OCD. But getting the ball rolling can be a huge help. What are some of the helpful coping mechanisms and self-care practices that you have?
@Jesse M. I draw, exercise and journal sometimes but I don’t do these as much as I should
@Kaoz I hope you can be nice to yourself when you don't do the helpful things. I'm pretty hard on myself when I stay up late and eat a lot of sugar and whatnot but being kinder helps even when I'm like dang I shouldn't have done that. It's a new day!
Yes, basically anything can become a compulsion IF you’re doing the behavior to lessen the stress, anxiety, thoughts, etc. from OCD.
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