Is anyone on this app like fully recovered & live a mostly ocd free life? If so, please share. I feel like im like halfway through recovery..bad days & good days just need some positive words had a bad couple past days.
Yes indeedy. I’ve been recovered for 3 years, going on 4.
@Nica Give me something to hold onto when I’m going through the bad days. Id like to hear some of your story if you’re comfortable sharing.
omggg that's so nice
@ME&3noOCD You have to put in the work and trust your OCD therapist but also realize it can be done if you’re really dedicated to getting better.
@Nica That’s amazing! Congrats!
@Nica I was doing ERP with a therapist and tbh I don’t think I was ready I was to scared to do the homework. I want my life back, i try to remind myself that it could always be worse. I appreciate your words!
I would say I am very close! In late 2021 I was a disastrous mess. I was really hurting and struggling with rumination, compulsions, and life ending thoughts. Today, I feel free, alive, and connected to so much meaning in my life. What helped the most was one thing: RESOURCING. By resourcing I mean developing skills to help come back to my highest self when I am triggered. Before I learned how to do this — I say learned because it is a learned skill that gets better with practice, like cooking or playing guitar — I was at the mercy of my triggers. Something would come up, and it would just take me into the depths of pain. Now, triggers come up just as frequently (honestly even more frequently now because I am not hiding anymore) and I know what to do with them. They still cause me pain, but I know how to bring myself back. Things I do when I am triggered: -- be the witness: think "hmm this is causing me immense pain, I wonder what needs my attention here" KEY is a kind and caring presence -- always coming from a place of immense self forgiveness and love (easier said than done, but is possible, coming from someone who used to violently hate themselves and SH) -- simple acts of self compassion: putting my hand on my heart, rubbing my cheek, vocal toning -- removing myself from the room/situation (if possible) to go to a quiet place and connect with a higher power (prayer if this is applicable to you) -- when REALLY distressed, at a 10 on the scale, dunking face in ice water for 30 seconds. THIS IS MAGIC. It activates feel good chemicals in your brain to calm you down -- breathing into diaphragm so that you can see your belly rise on an inhale Other things that keep me sane when I am not triggered: -- finding a community that connects you to meaning in your life. For me it is a spiritual community -- constantly learning / reading about things that interest me -- daily connection to a higher power through meditation and prayer -- keeping my space clean There is hope. You can get better. All of the things above have helped me to do my exposures and decrease the fear I feel when I am triggered. I hope this helps!
@AnonymousA I appreciate that a ton. I feel like the bucket of cold water would help me a ton as painful that would be lol I’ve been sick over the past week so it’s been really bad. Last night I couldn’t shut my brain off, racing thoughts it was kind of frightening. I feel like not sleeping makes my OCD pretty bad too. Do you have any helpful tips for racing thoughts at night? Literally thought I was going crazy.
@ME&3noOCD - Not sleeping is a fuel for OCD for sure. I would take care of the physical things first (and you may already be doing these) but -- No screens at least 2 hrs prior to bed -- no overhead lights 2 hrs before bed, only lamps with warm light (this is a weird one but makes a huge difference) -- getting sunlight in your eyeballs first thing in the AM -- limit caffeine and chocolate after 2 PM -- exercise, healthy eating, all the good stuff But sometimes when you've done all that you're still laying there with your eyes open and ruminating. I think then the approach is really goes back to resourcing. -- breathing deeply into your belly -- affirmations and mantras: "I am so strong for being able to go through this pain. I release all that doesn't serve me back to the earth. I know that all my experiences are here to bring about growth." For me these things help to bring me back to meaning (and I think making meaning out of pain makes it a hell of a lot easier) -- Another resourcing thing I didn't mention is paired muscle relaxation. This is a good one for laying in bed. First, squeeze every muscle in your body as tightly as you can all at once for like 5 seconds, then relax as fully as you can. Then you can squeeze each muscle and relax it individually. This is DBT skill. I don't know why it works, but it does. The goal is to just calm yourself down enough to the point where you can sleep soundly. I hope these things help a bit <3 You are not alone in your pain.
@AnonymousA You’ve been a big help, I dread going to sleep tonight just bc of the racing mind. It’s honestly scary. But one thing you said about the phone/tv is so true. It’s so bad for you & I know that but still do it anyway. I appreciate all the kind words and sharing your story & what helped you. I usually take a magnesium supplement 2 hours before bed and it knocks me out but haven’t the past couple nights bc how sick I’ve been. I’m gonna take it as usual tonight. Somebody on here said they work at a hospital & they’ve seen people get admitted due to racing thoughts & that kind of made the situation a lot worse 😂 so again thank you!
@ME&3noOCD - Of course! Glad I could help :) Magnesium is amazing! And ditto about the hospital — when I had my first panic attack at 10 years old my parents took me to the ER because they thought I was going into anaphylactic shock! Anxiety is no joke, but it is very treatable. :)
@AnonymousA Lol I was 19 years old never experienced any type of anxiety before…thought I was having a heart attack. My wife took me to the ER & they said sir your having a panic attack. I was like what in the what 😂😂 they said have you been under a lot of stress (I just had our first born baby & covid just started) looking back it was hilarious…
i hope to be free soon!
hi guys haven’t posted here in awhile but i’ve fully recovered and have a really good life now lots of friends enjoying school and have a really loving boyfriend who helped me out of my ocd even if he didn’t know he was helping me (just through being loved and supported i felt happy enough to recover) hope u guys can recover too i had severe ocd and basically got better within 2 months by myself :)
Hi - I’m new here but I’m going through this right now and was wondering if anyone can share their harm ocd recovery stories and what your experience was like. Thank you (:
Just wanted to give some hope to those who are having ocd spikes, spirals and worries. This past year I have regained my life back. I went from beginning to isolate myself, being convinced by my ocd that my hobbies are bad and that I should avoid things I enjoyed, and having constant panic attacks. With the work of IOP, psychiatry and nocd, I have made great strives towards my future. I now don’t avoid things and instead embrace my life and ANY possibility that may come. Don’t let the ocd bully you. Yes, I have intrusive thoughts still but I am able to go about my day instead of obsessing over them. You can find this too. I encourage anyone on the fence to please seek help if you are in a tough time, it can literally save your life.
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