OCD can take a lot away from a person, because they are consistently living in fear. It's difficult to do anything you enjoy, or to feel any motivation at all to accomplish goals. What has OCD stopped you from doing?
Enjoying the moment
Having a relationship, travelling, socialising
Me too!
Letting go of the past
Going to certain places, watching certain TV shows and movies. Feeling normal in general š
Avoidance is huge, something I experienced greatly as well. Do you try to expose yourself to these things using ERP by chance?
Enjoying life
Doing activities that I once loved doing
OCD has such a tendency to latch onto the things we love the most!
Medication and meditation has helped me get my confidence back.
I'm so happy to hear that! I am a huge advocate of meditation and mindfulness. It helps me greatly..
It has stopped me from continuing/growing my private practice. It has stopped me from going out with friends or going in-person to church. I know He is healing and restoring me.
Having a relationship, and staying present in the moment
Same here! Do you practice ERP, or do you have any certain techniques you use for staying present?
@ I do! Along with ERP, Iāve been doing EFT/tapping therapy (on my own) and it has helped me immensely
@blazed - Amazingš
Spending time with friends, doing my best at work, leaving the house
Socializing.
It's hard to engage with others when the thoughts are so loud.. it took that away from me as well!
Talking to my friends, which I know love and care about me, but what if what if what if what if and so on.
It's so hard to fight for our values! I hope you can challenge those what if's!
Not trusting a partner who hasnāt done anything to hurt me
That's very hard. Are you familiar with ERP, or have you practiced before?
@Kyle Lucas ERP is such a scary thing in my head. I sometimes start to obsess about what ERP will do to me š
Living in the moment, being present with others. This fact has been made apparent to me as of recent. It hurts.
Living my life. I dropped out of school, lost so many friends, Iām not even making new memories anymore
Having a girlfriend for many years.
I'm sorry to hear that - I've also been many years without anyone, and I do think OCD played a big part at times.. I hope you can overcome it!
Getting a new job/ going to college
It's terrible how much OCD affects your entire life. I failed a few classes while in school, and never finished my Master's because OCD was rampant, and I just couldn't do it. Have you ever tried therapy?
Assignments for classes, pursuing activities I once loved
I failed some classes and wasn't able to finish my Master's due to OCD.. I'm sorry it's messing with your schooling as well. OCD wants us to make decisions out of our fears instead of our values. It's so hard. I hope things can get better for you! I highly recommend ERP if you have yet to try.
@Anonymous Yeah thatās a big one for me too. I feel ya
Fear if trying new things and branching out of my comfort zone. I have definitely become more of a homebody.
The unknown is already hard enough without OCD, so I truly look at those with OCD as warriors, because it's much more difficult for us to branch out and do those new things - that may seem so simple and easy to others!
Living in the moment.
This was so hard for me as well. Are there things you do that help you?
Having a healthy sleeping schedule. I'm working on itš«£
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I hope exposing yourself to those risks can help!
Fear of losing friends and acting in ways that make it too late
EXACTLY! And if they were REAL friends, that couldn't happen, but our darn OCD...
Enjoying the little things
It's stands of the way of loving my husband.
@jemcu812 In what way love?
Sleeping and general productivity. Living without fear.
an endless circle of "what ifs" ... perhaps, with some aspects it has become a little easier... but still difficult to socialize; it's difficult to be here and now to enjoy the moment; hard to concentrate etc.
Being around ppl I care about, peace in my mind, and concentration
Going outside, getting decent sleep, talking to family and friends
Everything. School is almost impossible to do and itās literally my last semester of college
Getting back time and accomplishing more in the day
Taking care of myself and focusing on work I need to do
From having hobbies. I have no interest to do anything that I use to love. Iām so sad about it. Itās stopped me from fully engaging with life.
@amy3810 Same. I avoid places like the gym because of contamination.
Having a full time job or career
Going shopping, showing my kids affection, leaving my house unless to work or absolutely necessary like appoiments.
I'm sorry to hear it's affected you in this way. Have you ever tried ERP by chance?
Now that I have been diagnosed, I have noticed that is has affected me in fā¦g everything and I hate it! School, studies, friendships, love life, sosializing š¶
Having a relationship, going out with friends and family, and not feeling like myself when I have these compulsions
Itās stopped me from having peace and confidence in myself. Itās so exhausting
Appreciating the gifts around me. I feel I will lose everything and it will be my fault. Lost so much confidence in myself as moral person
Is it OK to do erp on my own
Great question! It is best to work with a specialist, as ERP is difficult and quite complex. I did try some on my own before therapy, but I didn't know how to properly resist compulsions, so my anxiety would just rise and I didn't find relief unfortunately. It's tricky! But I also think there are others who have some success, depending on resources used and proper direction. Is there a barrier you are facing by chance that is making it hard to work with a specialist?
Eating, taking meds, going places and trying new things.
Living in general. It like to run rampant with every negative thought possible about the things I love the most.
Trusting myself and my intuition
Socializing for sure
Its hurting my relationship with my girlfriend. She had a lot of relationships with other guys and itās always on my mind even tho I should be able to forget about it and move in cause I still love her. But I have such a hard time not obsessing over it. To the point where Iām always wondering if we need to breakup cause I donāt want to always feel like this. I get intrusive thoughts if her doing explicit things with those other guys and itās so bad it makes me wanna throw up. I hate it. It hurts so much
honestly everything
Itās made it hard for me to put myself out there and meet new friends. I feel a bit lonely because of it.
performing in theatre for sure
I canāt seem to back to work full time after Covid. I keep waiting for it to get worse again.
Taking a deep breath, being intimate or having a relationship
OCD isnāt just about compulsionsāitās a mental battle that can be completely exhausting. The anxiety, doubt, and pressure to "get it right" can feel unbearable, especially when others donāt understand whatās happening beneath the surface. Whatās the hardest part about living with OCD that others donāt see?
Living with OCD is a daily challenge that tests my strength and resilience. Some days, it feels like OCD controls my thoughts and actions, affecting my choices and routines. However, I am determined to take back my life. I choose to face these challenges directly, embracing each moment with new confidence and a commitment to personal growth. Every step I take shows my willpower and my desire to overcome the limits that OCD imposes on me.
OCD can be an incredibly lonely experience, especially when people around you donāt understand the thoughts and fears youāre facing. But youāre not aloneāothers have been there too. Whatās something about OCD that makes you feel isolated or alone?
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