- Date posted
- 2y
Advice
I’m about to live by myself for the first time ever and I’m very nervous!! Being alone really triggers thoughts and rumination. Anyone have tips?
I’m about to live by myself for the first time ever and I’m very nervous!! Being alone really triggers thoughts and rumination. Anyone have tips?
what i usually do is turn on the tv (a 24h news channel) in a low volume so it makes me some "company" while it allows me to do other stuff. it helps me stay connected to reality
@A. V. I do this too. I’m on maternity leave so I’m alone at home a lot and I just have background noise on whilst I get on with what I’m doing
Congratulations on the step you’re taking. that is great. I think there’s some good advice above. It helps me to remind myself that thoughts are not facts and that OCD usually focuses on worst case scenario outcomes. In my experience, the best way to handle the intrusive thoughts, fears and obsessions is to try to limit your engagement with them. Don’t try to determine whether or not they are valid, nor try to push them out of your mind. Instead let them pass through your mind; limiting your response to something neutral like “thanks OCD” or “maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not”. I know easier said than done, but with time and practice it does get easier.
This is a good opportunity for an exposure if you are interested in that. Could use this to expose your anxiety/OCD and try to begin changing how you respond to the disturbing thoughts.
That’s terrific that you are taking a new step forward in your life. Any transition will bring up all kinds of thoughts and feelings and that’s ok. The important thing is you are moving forward. Allow the thoughts and feelings to be there, don’t do compulsions (don’t focus on these thoughts and feelings). Instead, focus on your life, what you value, it sounds like you already are😀. I have OCD and for many years I avoided situations that triggered my thoughts and made me nervous. I just want you to know, even if you didn’t live alone, you would still be triggered and nervous. Your world would be limited/controlled by triggering thoughts/feelings. Not a way to live! I now take my thoughts and fears with me as I live my life and life is so much better. It’s ok to be nervous, it’s the price of an life well lived! All the best!
Me too! Im excited but also nervous. The good news is that you have made it through every hardtime you have ever had and this is no different keep flexing that muscle !
What's a piece of advice you give when someone has constantly intrusive thoughts and ruminations that won't stop? Interested to see what you tell others.....more on this when I see some replies!!!
Hi - just for some context, I have OCD and ADHD. I hate bringing this up, but with these diagnoses, when intertwined, there is ALWAYS a thought. I never stop thinking. This is really hard, especially because I feel like I always need to be talking to someone. Whether it’s my friends or family, talking to people brings me down to earth from certain kinds of thought spirals. However, when I’m alone it is the hardest. When my friends don’t reply I have this compulsion to text again or I need to constantly check my notifications so that I have none left to check. But then to them or new people I talk to, this behavior probably comes across as overwhelming or too much. I’m trying to control it and use erp, but also, I have my moments where I’m just vunerable and give into the compulsion. It’s genuinely so embarassing and maybe not as big a deal as I’m making it out to be but, how do I manage? And how do I relax?
In a weeks I will traver around Europe with an interrail pass. My fear focus in the idea that if I am really tired and anxious will get 1. Depressed and I will not be able to do nothing 2. Start a new OCD spiral so intense that can make me suicidal. Last year before going to an specialist and understand how OCD works I studied in other country for summer, I was living alone and OCD was terrible at a point that I was writing all days to not emergency hotlines because I had this fear that the feelings I was having would be forever This experience has follow me in all my travels and, this being the most difficult, is again, playing with me. I will travel, I don't want my OCD to stop me doing things I really want but the closer the day gets, the more the excitement about the trip fades. So yes this travel is perfect for ERP but at the same time I am anxious about finding balance between resting but without it becoming an avoidance (that summer I also didn't go on many excursions due to exhaustion so I don't want this to happen to me again and spent all my day in the hostel sleeping) When I travel with other people I force myself to be functional which help to enjoy more my travels but alone... like right now takes me 1 hour to wake up in my house because of morning anxiety, being tired will do this more difficult If you have tips or experience I will be glad. Even with fear I want to do this travel
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