Recovery tips for some for you

In my own journey, I've been helped by staying in the present. When I have a flare up, which almost always involves a "what if" in some manifestation or another, I do two things: 1. I accept uncertainty-maybe it's true, maybe it isn't. By doing so, it takes away OCD's power to make me ruminate ad nauseum, seeking absolute certainty that I'm not some way, or something won't happen, etc. 2. I stay in the present. What am I doing NOW? Here's an example...since I suffer from harm OCD i have intrusive harm thoughts. If i have a thought I'll do something like "I accept the uncertainty that I would ever do it, because I don't know the future, and neither do you, OCD, but I'm not doing it now, I'm not planning to do it, and I have a choice." Then, if I accept having to sit in discomfort for awhile until the flare up passes. It always does. Over time, these tools have helped me to live a fairly tranquil life. One other thing, I try to always look at the big picture, which is it's all OCD. That's it. It's not a reflection on my character, or some deep, dark Freudian issue, etc., it's just OCD. Malware in my brain, but treatable. That's it. Period. Hope this helps you.

You have to treat each obsession the same way. When you keep doing ERP and sitting with it your brain will stop throwing so much stuff at you/you won’t care

I think we've all experienced what you're experiencing right now. It shows you're on the right path to recovery, because that malware in your brain, OCD, is doing whatever it can to keep you in anxiety. Stick with what you're doing: stay in uncertainty and the PRESENT, don't be afraid to sit in discomfort until the episode passes and always remember that it WILL pass. Yes, it's easier said than done, but keep at it and you'll find light at the end of the tunnel.

Well, one thing is to recognize that OCD is, indeed, the doubting disorder. It wants you to doubt ERP, because it's your road to recovery. It wants you to doubt that you're experiencing OCD, rather than something even more awful. It's a way to increase your anxiety. The only thing I know to do is to stay in uncertainty. "Maybe it's true, maybe it's not, but what's true is that I'm not doing it or it's not happening now, I'm not planning on doing it or making it happen and I have a choice." The one thing to keep in mind is we can't reason with OCD. What you just wrote it so true: we're dealing with a computer with bugs. The good news is we can rewire our brains using the tools we learn, but it's nor a linear recovery, it's messy. We have to accept it. I also challenge OCD by either thinking or writing "Okay, OCD what have you got? Tell me more. What valid data do you have to support your suggestion? Can you see the future? Do you have a crystal ball?" This tool has been very helpful because it helps me to keep in mind that all these awful thoughts have no validity. It's just OCD. I learned all this from my OCD therapist through NOCD. Anyway, I'm rambling. Hope some of this is helpful.

I fell into the trap of my back door spike yesterday after feeling a lot better and sitting with it. Not letting it get me tomorrow.

What helps me is saying out loud “OCD, I know what you’re trying to do,” or “Ok sure OCD.” It forces me to take a step out of the intrusive thoughts, or urge to ruminate. It also makes it easier for me to sit in the discomfort, or uncertainty of whatever I’m feeling. I also feel that there are waves, or some battles feeling harder than others. Also, if I start slipping, I remind myself that I’ve had worse days and I’ve survived those, so I can survive this. It’s not always instant relief, but it really tones the volume down for me. I have a playlist of songs I listen to when I’m struggling with OCD, and that helps reinforce that this moment may suck but I’m capable of coming out ahead.

i have the same experience where ocd will do anything to trap me again.