i’m going on a 2 week mission trip in july and i’m so scared about how i’m gonna do without any electronics or anything (we aren’t allowed to bring any devices). my worst anxiety episodes happen when i’m free of distraction (like in bed or something) and i’m just so afraid that i’m gonna be really anxious throughout the whole trip. usually whenever i get anxious i try my best to sit in it and expose myself to it and NOT do compulsions, but once it has kind of subsided and i’m feeling better, i go on this app or something to kind of “cool down” i guess. does that make any sense lol. anyway, i’m just worried that bc it’s just going to be me and my thoughts for 2 weeks, i’ll have so many anxious thoughts and i won’t have anywhere or anyone to talk to about it (like i do here)—which i’m worried will make it worse. i don’t even know what i’m asking right now,,, i just don’t want my trip to be ruined or me not getting the most out of it because of my thoughts and anxiety. so i guess i’m asking if you have any advice or insights?? anything will help :))

i’m going to india :)) super excited haha

it’s through my school

i have hocd ugh

When you start to have thoughts just try breathing and also yeah reading a book could really help and talk to people, keep yourself busy and also as a Christian I seriously recommend talking to God or if your thoughts affect you so much that it’s hard then try writing to God and also maybe listening to some music and just closing your eyes and focusing on the music might help?

About the praying thing it is hard to differentiate when it’s compulsive praying and actually praying but in my definition prayer is really talking to a loving God who cares about you and loves you so much and what I would do because I have the same issues where if I have a bad thought I have to get on my knees and pray to God please forgive me before i feel better. What I have been working on thanks to my therapist is that these thoughts aren’t really how I feel it’s just the ocd and so I’ve been working on just breathing and pushing the thought away and also just know that God understands and loves you so much ( I recommend Tauren Wells song Fully Known) and also what my mom says is you can’t let these thoughts win and you can’t give in. Also my therapist has had me just kinda when I have a bad thought just to sit and be uncomfortable and if it gets too bad then I can do the praying thing but if it’s not too bad then just sit uncomfortable for a minute till it goes away. But if I were you on the trip if it got really really bad I would find somewhere private and just start talking to God. Just thank him for the blessings in your life and just talk to him about how you feel and that’s prayer that comes from your heart. Also always know that he’s listening and this isn’t forever. Sorry for super long paragraph lol.

Hey you're Christian? What mission trip are you going to?

I hope my question made sense lol

Ayy hahha! I'm from Pakistan. So I'm from the same area. Btw what's ur ocd. I might give u a way to cope. But Idk if it'll be helpful

Oh it's alright :) i left a comment on someone's post who's going thru hocd too. I cope with my thoughts biblically. I can let you know if you want help. I'd love to help. Otherwise it's fine :)

Can you bring a book ? There’s a book called getting over unwanted intrusive thoughts. I always read from it wen I’m in my thoughts. And it helps. Go get a book !

Not having electronics can actually help a bit! They’re compulsive distractions. Of course there will be anxiety when you have to sit with the discomfort but do your best to keep busy

thank you so much for the help hannah. when this while HOCD thing started i was super scared and didn’t know what was happening to me—so i went to prayer and asked god to help me to get over this thing that was happening to me (at this time i didn’t know what HOCD and i was freaking out that something within me was changing). i later watched a video on how praying to god to get rid of these thoughts or to “clear your mind” of them is a form of compulsion, which was really hard for me given that i pray about basically everything. ever since that i’ve been kind of scared to pray, since i don’t want it to be a compulsion. it was hard for me to differentiate compulsion prayers and just normal prayers—if that makes sense haha. but i will for sure try to pray and get back into my faith again—i just need to pray about the right things and make sure it’s not a compulsion:))

Your story sounds just like mine HOCD and a mission trip in 2 weeks. My thoughts are catastrophizing. I’m even looking up psych hospitals near by bc I fear I’m gunna have a breakdown. I’m nervous bc I won’t have music to listen to which helps me in the awk social settings when I’m in my head. And I’m not that close with anyone going, so that’s a challenge. All I can do is take deep breaths and shake it off when I have intrusive thoughts.

Some practical things that sound basic but could help as alternatives to devices: - Writing/prayer journalling/doodling in a notebook - this sounds weird but have you played Dobble? It's an easy picture card game and I sometimes play it by myself as a way of taking my mind out of thought spirals I can imagine how hard it feels but I'll pray that you're encouraged and strengthened by your trip and that God sustains you through it.

That’s a good idea like writing or drawing in a journal maybe or just writing to God. Also praying for you too?