Signs of Progress?

That I had to carry used AA batteries from my CD Walkman around in my purse or the batteries might explode if left at home or in a garbage, and hurt someone I loved. Ironically, I did not think about what if they exploded and I was carrying them...OCD had me convinced the plan made sense.

That my life was like The Truman Show.

“what if when i kiss my boyfriend on the cheek i’m imagining it’s a woman’s boob?!” that one is so funny to me now lol

It takes time to rewire/renew the mind. Remember that!! Meds, ERP, CBT therapy & a relationship with God have been very helpful. I would say it took many months but probably a year until it really felt much better.

Past intrusive thoughts used to be about people I had feelings for. I didn't know this until years later, but it turns out that crushes for me present in the form of intrusive thoughts and compulsions. "To make sure she likes you, say her name and this word this many times, otherwise she will belittle you" I'm not sure that I laugh at it now; I am more so relieved that doesnt happen anymore 😅

After I had my daughter I was scared I was going to put her in the dryer

That I would switch bodies with an animal like a dog or a turtle and I’d have to live in the woods and be cold and afraid forever. That I was dead and a ghost who was just remembering my life. When I was a child I had ocd that I had secretly been adopted and would look for evidence that I wasn’t related to my family.

That I left nasty notes on the shelves of the grocery stores

I can see how these were all fears! Seems like ocd latches onto the very very unlikely improbably situation but still slightly possible scenario to help us feel in control. I used to think by counting to certain numbers that I could avoid bad luck

These are so relevant and I relate WAY too much! Some of my most embarrassing and taboo ones I actually laugh at now because what else am I going to do?

Well, I went from being a marathon runner to within two months of completing a marathon, being scared to hear my heart rate, beating in my ears, and no longer being a marathon runner. And working my way back up to being a marathon runner, but still hearing my heart rate in my ears, but knowing that it is beating like that, because I am running. I don’t know that I have laughed at it, but I do know that I have chuckled and now I understand it. I am hearing it in my ears And it is working perfectly fine because I’m running like a madman. It is doing what it supposed to be doing.

Thank you for sharing, I had very similar thoughts but towards by sister.

Thinking back, I’ve had it since I was a young child. When I was around 10 or so Armageddon come out and it was the Y2K era. I was obsessed with the sky. I watched it any time I was outside and if I wasn’t, I’d obsess over the meteor hitting. I struggle now, but differently. HOCD

When I was a kid I was so scared of jiffy corn bread mix that my sister would chase me around the house with the box. I think it was because it had eggs in it and I once vomited one time when I was actually sick with a stomach bug after eating corn bread a few hours before hand 😂