OoOcCdD66

Date posted: 2y

OCD always feels real

I've been at it for a long time now. The past 4 years, I've had many themes pop up. But some of them cycle more regularly than others. Today I started off feeling at peace when an old theme returned a little. I'm managing it well, doing what I know I need to do. But the brief moments I start to follow the thought I feel that familiar "this is feels real" feeling...I've had this theme many times in the past so I know that it's just OCD. But once again, it feels real when I follow it. If you're new, I want you to know it's always gonna feel real. If it didn't, you wouldn't be obsessing over it. Breathe. Don't follow the thought. Tag it as OCD and continue on with your day...feel the anxiety, but don't give into compulsions if you can help it!

GregJ

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

Yep, that is typical OCD. It feels so real but you know it’s not. Your mind is in flight or fight mode so it’s bringing up these thoughts again and again because you assigned fear to them. Exactly, try to move on with your day and sit with the discomfort!

Lisa LeeLou

User type: NOCD Alumni

Date posted: 2y

Thank you for your post. It is so helpful for us all to hear each other‘s experiences; both challenges and successes. It’s great you are recognizing OCD’s tricks and resisting compulsions. As you stated, those of us with OCD can learn to tolerate the obsessions Without giving into compulsions. With time and practice it gets better. ERP (exposure and response prevention) therapy has been very helpful for me with learning how to do this. Wishing you all the best on your recovery journey.

Jeffrey

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

@Lisa LeeLou Well said. I have leaned into erp hard and it has made recovery a reality.

LynetteK

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

My ocd latches on to real life situations which are real, this is what is so tough!

GregJ

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

@LynetteK Could you give me an example so I could help?

LynetteK

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

@Greg2 It can be anything from trying to “solve” a problem that I’m not responsible for and can’t change. It can be something a family member says that I find triggering and start over analyzing and obsessing over. And just not being able to let go. Over time my ocd has been opportunistic and has morphed into many of the subtypes. I’ve experienced many different types of ocd but at the end of the day the feeling of anxiety, urge and compulsions is what connects everything.

GregJ

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

@LynetteK Yeah my OCD morphed all the time too. The way to beat the monster of OCD is to starve it. You starve it by not giving into compulsions and analyzing the thoughts. Try to let the thoughts just sit in your head and refrain from analyzing. Sit with the discomfort of anxiety. It will feel really uncomfortable at first but little by little you can build up your tolerance. Once you start starving the OCD monster, it gets smaller and smaller.

LynetteK

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

@Greg2 Thank you! I’ve had a close to 90% reduction in ocd symptoms since stating NOCD. But sometimes I still have days when it spikes and I wonder will it ever really go away! It’s so tough to keep going

GregJ

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

@LynetteK Yeah that makes sense. Some days will be better than others. I have good days and bad days. But we learn to live and manage OCD

anxiousotter250

Date posted: 2y

i needed to heard this exact thing—my relationship ocd was triggered a few days ago and it’s so extremely hard to not believe my own thoughts bc they seem so real. It just sucks so hard

Shayray60

Date posted: 2y

Thank you

dshbbpo

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

this post and really the full thread are some of the most relatable experiences i’ve read on the app

Cody Fournier

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 23w

OCD switches themes

I was just thinking about how OCD tries to be tricky and switches themes on us!! The amount of times I have said to myself in the past, IF ONLY I HAD THE OLDER THEME I USE TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE THIS NEW ONE IS SO MUCH WORSE!!! Has anyone ever experienced this before? Once I started ERP therapy, I began to really start understanding what mental/physical compulsions I was doing to really keep my OCD alive! While I did this, I would also tap into my self-compassion bucket, even when it felt like it was dry at times, because it was SO easy to judge myself for because of the sheer presence of my thoughts. I would also have the most self-compassion for myself for those taboo intrusive thoughts that really felt so strong, ego-dystonic and real!!! My OCD would hop around from theme to theme and just when I thought I figured it out (compulsion) it would hop again and make me discouraged! I noticed for me that once I really understood my compulsions, it didn't matter when the theme switched as I could tackle it at its core. If I was able to stay steadfast and resist compulsions the best I could, I started to notice that my CONFIDENCE increased in the long run! I also noticed that some of the core fears were the same for different OCD subtypes. OCD treatment is hard BUT living with OCD is harder. I have experienced subtypes including Harm OCD, ROCD, Moral Scrupulosity, Sensorimotor, Contamination, Perfectionism/Just Right, Hit and Run, Magical Thinking, Real Event/False Memory. ERP therapy allowed me to really work on stopping these compulsions and switching from theme to theme. I was fed up with what OCD took from me and I needed to do something about it. I talked to an ERP therapist and it was one of the best decisions of my life. If you are struggling, keep pushing and get the help you deserve!! You got this!!!

Camilla.r

Date posted: 21w

Is it supposed to feel so real ?

Is ocd supposed to feel like a genuine belief ? I see or hear some people saying things like « I know it’s not true but …. » while I personally don’t « know that it’s not true » I feels genuinely real and I even find evidence for it

Michele32

Date posted: 21w

Past and OCD

I hope everyone is doing well today, and for those of you who are struggling my thoughts and prayers are with you. Just know your moment of peace is coming soon. I think it’s important that we post / come on here every now and again even when we are not in a moment of pure panic and fear. Remember that we are not our thoughts as hard as it is to understand. Remember that OCD makes it feel “real” and that OCD will always make us think the most inappropriate things and the most inappropriate times. Remember that all humans, have thoughts that come and go and as hard as it can be to understand you are not alone in your thoughts that feel so unique. For me I get a lot of anxiety from thoughts I used to have , which of course makes them return in full throttle. The more I push them away the more they come back. And those thought makes new connections to those things in my life I value. OCD is a pain but it’s important that as much as you hate it you learn to be compassionate and understanding that it’s there to “help” you no matter how bad it does it job sometimes. Stay strong everyone

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OCD always feels real

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