justgottaknow

Date posted: 2y

Meltdown

So I just fainted at a concert and went into a full blown episode afterwards absolutely certain my throat was closing up and that I wasnt okay. I made it home and I feel safer but am still not 100% sure my throat was okay. I live at a high altitude and am probably just dehydrated. My fiancé took care of me and now I feel so bad that he has to deal with me and this awful thing I have. Like I want to tell him I’m sorry he “has” to marry me Anyways. On some level I know that I’m having an episode but I do have a real question here. For somatic ocd, how do you deal with ACTUAL things happening like fainting? It just feels like more proof that something’s actually wrong.

OCDdontownme

Date posted: 2y

Oh my goodness, your question is ringing so true for me right now too! First off I’m sorry for your experience. That would be very scary. I’m dealing with so much somatic and health OCD right now, I don’t know what’s true and what’s not. And I know OCD wants me to solve it, but I know I can’t because that will only make it stronger. I hope someone else might have more insight to battling somatic OCD paired with health OCD, cause I feel lost right now too. Also, I can empathize the shame you have with your fiancé. I feel similar with my husband. But know that our partners love us and they are here for support. ❤️ Hang in there, you’re not alone. I’m working through some fierce somatic sensations right now and I feel for you. ❤️‍🩹

anam

Date posted: 2y

Hi, are either of you willing to chat about your somatic symptoms? I am really struggling right now and have found it hard to find other that’s may relate.

justgottaknow

Date posted: 2y

@anam Hi there! I am - let me know how I can help.

OCDdontownme

Date posted: 2y

@anam I can talk too if you need to. You’re not alone! And things get better.

anam

Date posted: 2y

Thank you both for responding! I have been struggling with health related/somatic OCD for close to a year now. Lately I have been experiencing so much anxiety about the most trivial things… like my walking (afraid I’m going to pass out or call), hot or cold sensations, ringing in my ears, tingling… the list goes on. I struggle with getting ERP right for these types of sensations. For example: we have tried sitting on my legs for a long period of time to create the sensation of tingling, but honestly nothing terrifies me more than when the sensations start and I have no idea where they came from. So I start to frantically google or just go into a state of panic. Have any of you had any success with getting past this? I feel like I am getting worse and it’s scary to think about how far this can go.

OCDdontownme

Date posted: 2y

@anam Ok, so everything you’re describing is so familiar. I also fixate on different parts of my body that are experiencing sensations. And the dialogue is ongoing in my head too. I’ve experienced all sorts of things like numbness in parts of my leg, muscle weakness in my hands and fingers, feeling unsteady like I’m on a boat, feeling like I have poor circulation, eye floaters, ears popping, etc. And it feels sometimes that they seemingly come out of nowhere. The way I’m practicing ERP is continuing on with my day to day responsibilities. And it is so hard because the sensations will be so strong and the intrusive thoughts are so loud, but I know I have to keep functioning and not allow OCD to drive the car. Recently, it’s been very hard and I’ve been on such high alert and panic that it’s hard to do the simplest tasks. When I’m in that position, I recognize that my nervous system is out of alignment. And I think mine is most of the time. And so I try to do things to get me connected back to my heart and breath. I will do guided meditations and journaling. I just dump out everything I’m feeling and I really like doing meditations by Joe Dispenza.

OCDdontownme

Date posted: 2y

@anam Also here are some links that people have shared on this app to help work through some different ERP approaches. https://www.sheppardpratt.org/news-views/story/how-to-respond-to-unwanted-obsessive-thoughts/ https://www.shalanicely.com/aha-moments/erp-scripting-for-ocd/ They are hard to do, but I guess that’s ERP. I’ve noticed that as I practice these exercises, over time the symptoms and thoughts become quieter and quieter. I’ve seen a huge difference in how I’ve been doing from just a few weeks ago. And I know it doesn’t mean it won’t get hard again. Because it can. But I’ve made it through it stronger each time. And I try to journal those wins to help show that I can handle it. You’ve got this! I’m right along side you. You’re not alone. ❤️

anam

Date posted: 2y

@OCDdontownme Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I too have experienced every single one of the symptoms you have had. In a weird way, I feel validated. I had a really good session with my therapist yesterday. I had an awful panic attack due to all the physical sensations, and I realized just how much mental compulsions I do. It’s really hard for me to pivot from trying to figure out WHY these sensations happen, to just sitting with them and letting them be. I will take a look at the scripts and ERP approaches. It’s inspiring and gives me hope that your symptoms/thoughts have quiet down. Thank you for taking the time to respond to me, it means a lot 💜

OCDdontownme

Date posted: 2y

@anam And hearing that you’ve experienced the same sensations validate me as well! We aren’t crazy, we are healing. And there is hope. Keep checking in ❤️

anam

Date posted: 2y

@OCDdontownme You too!!! Let’s keep in touch

anam

Date posted: 2y

For example: right now I’m fixated on the fact that my heel feels “hot”… and my brain is like- what is that? Why do you feel that? Is that normal? Are you getting an infection? And now I feel the same “heat” in my leg. I am aware of the urge to google and am trying really hard not to fall into that right now… but, it’s so tiresome to be on this level of alert ALL the time.

OCDdontownme

Date posted: 2y

@anam Sorry it’s taken me a bit to respond! It’s been a busy day. But I have so many thoughts I wanna share. Im going to type them up and share them soon. So don’t think I’ve forgotten!

anam

Date posted: 2y

No worries! Take your time!

learningtore...

Date posted: 24w

OCD Medical Question?

(TW- Please don’t read if you have ocd relating to one off/random medical events) ^ ^ ^ ^ okay so this is something I’ve been confused about for YEARS and completely sped up my ocd symptoms, I had a one off seizure a few years ago, it wasn’t a major one but enough to have family take me to the hospital afterwards, I don’t remember anything whilst it was happening and I was unwell at the time too. I did all the tests and nothing came back, even tested for epilepsy but I don’t have that. No one has been able to give me a reason and that set off my ocd since mine is mostly based around things I cant see hurting me or others (contamination ocd) or me making the wrong decision (rOCD, real event etc etc) (no clue I had ocd at this point though, only got diagnosed last year) I know they can be stressed induced too but I remember not feeling that stressed that night and not much was going on… Is there anyone that’s experienced the same thing?? Could it be OCD related at all?

MichaelVu2010

Date posted: 21w

Somatic Ocd

Hello, Yesterday I’ve suddenly had problems with swallowing and my anxiety. like im scared of choking and would have a panic attack every-time i try to swallow food or water. Is there anyway to treat this?

melody_harmony

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 20w

OCD breathing

Have been struggling with somatic breathing ocd. I start feeling like I can’t breathe and start feeling faint. I have a performance this weekend and my biggest fear is that I won’t be able to sing. I worry that I’m not gonna be able to perform cause it also causes a wave of fear and I’m scared I’m gonna feel too faint where I’m gonna have to go run off stage. I start hyperventilating and I don’t know how to stop it. My mind just makes me aware and then I eventually start hyperventilating. Any tips? I’ve tried just acknowledging it but it hasn’t helped the hyperventilating much. Any tips please? I have to go on stage for tech in 50 mins

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