Wondering if anyone on here has dealt with Somatic OCD? Currently struggling and could really use some guidance

I am currently struggling with somatic OCD. It started yesterday and continued to build up more and more this morning. I want to be proactive and not just run away from it in fear and let it get any bigger. Basically I am super aware of my blinking, breathing, and swallowing (I do kindly ask that no one gives any other forms that somatic OCD can take. I heard about these and then instantly latched onto them :/) I did make an imaginal script saying the following. I will never stop thinking about blinking I will never stop thinking about breathing I will never stop thinking about swallowing I will never have piece of mind and the thoughts and sensations will consume me. it will destroy the relationship with my son and wife and I will have a miserable miserable life. I recorded myself saying this and started listening to it on repeat for 15 min at a time. I also have been telling myself whenever the thoughts come up to not fuse with them and do my best to not engage with them. However I do find myself thinking...what if I start thinking about it when I go here or go there, etc. Which creates anxiety and makes me fearful that I will not get rid of this. When I hyper focus on these three things it makes it hard to breathe, swallow, and even see because it makes me dizzy. I have had TONS of themes in the past but I have to be honest this one scares me quite a bit because these are things that I 100% need to do each day in order to function as a human being so its like each time I do any of them even naturally my brain connects it and creates anxiety. ****So I am wondering if the script I wrote is the best way to combat this? and additionally are there other things that I could do in order to conquer this? I know seeking reassurance is not a good thing but I would love to hear how others have overcome this and got free from it....without being triggering if possible :) Thanks so much for everyone on this platform. I cant even tell you how much I appreciate you all and have learned in the short couple of weeks I have been on here.

Username: ellwittellwitt

Date posted: 1y ago

Boy! I am sorry to hear that you are struggling with this. I have this currently, too, and it is maddening. I feel very trapped. I just remind myself that I’ve been doing these somatic things for years with no problems. I say, “no big deal. This is mental turning into physical.” And I don’t let it stop me from doing whatever I’m trying to do. Even if it’s scary or if I cry while I’m carrying on with my business. When it hits me hard, I just have to wait it out. I want to respond/react to it very badly though. Next to impossible to ignore, but I try! I totally feel you! Least we’re not alone, I guess. Some comfort in that.

Username: Erin PErin P

Date posted: 1y ago

I have more success with worry scripts that use “may” instead of “will”

Username: Eric FrankEric Frank

Date posted: 1y ago

@Erin P Interesting, why do you think that works better than will?

Username: Erin PErin P

Date posted: 1y ago

@Eric Frank As I understand it “may” has uncertainty and sitting with uncertainty helps fight the OCD

Username: 🫀🫀

Date posted: 1y ago

Yes it has other names but most people call it somatic ive had it with breath it sucks and eye sight

Username: JeanneJeanne

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 19w ago

I wrote a script and listened to it. I would suggest going into detail about how you will feel when your compulsions continue. What you will think about it and about yourself. Describe how it will be to never be free of this. What nags at the back of your mind. Get as much detail as you can. Describe your fears. Then when you listen to yourself you will be facing the worst scenario. Facing your inner most fears will soon become much less painful and eventually you won’t be triggered by them. It works. I found if what I was writing was really hard to face and put down on paper I was on the right track. After listening to myself a while I found things to add It was very freeing

Username: Ju_1990

Date posted: 4y ago

Anyone have any tips for Somatic/sensorimotor typs ocd? Hyper focus on bodily sensations such as breathing. I find this one often comes back extremely bad when I least expect it. Things like meditation and focusing on the breath stuff really triggers me.

Username: LB0419

Date posted: 1y ago

Somatic OCD

Hi, new here to NOCD 👋🏼 I have struggled with what I now know as somatic OCD for the last 3 1/2 years, when it comes to breathing & taking deep breaths. I have noticed that I spend 98% of my day, thinking about it & paying attention to it. I know it’s a normal bodily function but I get the urge to take deep breaths every couple of mins. When I don’t get “a full deep breath”, it sends me into a panic & the intrusive thoughts start.. “what if I never get a deep breath again” “there is nothing I can do to make myself get that full deep breath” “if I don’t get a deep breath, you must not be able to breathe” - sometimes these thoughts & moments totally take over & I find myself spiraling. I feel like all my walls are closing in & my heart starts racing. The panic usually lasts a couple of mins if that but it feels like forever. I’m much better at handling and working through it now than I was 3 years ago, but I still have bad moments & sometimes bad days. At times, I’m able to talk myself through it & I don’t let it take over but other times, it feels uncontrollable. NOCD has been helpful so far, it’s comforting knowing I’m not alone. I’m just wondering if anyone else deals with this type of OCD? Have you found anything to be helpful to deal with it? Thanks in advance.

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 39w ago

Somatic ocd need desperate help

Hi I'm new here, I have been suffering from somatic breathing ocd for like a month now but has gotten so much worse since like 2 days ago my chest hurts everyday bc I be so focused on my breathing I feel like I can't switch back to automatic anym until unless I'm asleep the thought of breathing is always running constantly in the back of my mind when I'm distracting myself or when it gets worse its the only thing I can focus on. I literally feel like gasping for air too. I'm scared I might damage my automatic breathing system or something like that. Im lost as to what to do I feel like I'm beyond fixable.

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Wondering if anyone on here has dealt with Somatic OCD? Currently struggling and could really use some guidance

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