Is it possible to seek reassurance from oneself? Because sometimes I try to combat my obsessive thoughts by telling myself, "this is just my OCD. There's no need to be anxious or upset over this unwanted thought. My OCD is telling me things that aren't true." Or if I have an intrusive thought, I'll tell myself, "this is just an intrusive thought, it doesn't reflect who I am as a person. Just because I'm having an intrusive thought about doing something awful doesn't mean I actually want to do that thing. It's just an intrusive thought, it doesn't say anything about my character or desires." Is it okay to do this, or is this another form of reassurance-seeking? I guess basically my question is, is it okay to comfort oneself and remind oneself of the truth, or is this a form of compulsion in itself? I'm just trying to figure out how to respond to my intrusive thoughts and obsessions in a healthy way.

Not at all, that is good. Self-reassurance would be more like (for me, at least,) “I am okay, I am okay, I am okay, I am okay......” just repeating it over and over—that would be considered a compulsion; however, being rational isn’t. it’s confronting your OCD and letting it know it is not you and has no power over who you are as a person.

What you're doing is you're separating OCD from yourself and that isn't reassurance, that is recognizing OCD thoughts, letting them come to you and blocking the fear response. What you're doing is ERP for pure O. That is the best possible approach. It's amazing you figured it out yourself! I had to watch a ton of Ali Greymonds videos to start that process. You're doing the right thing. Just keep going. :)

https://www.intrusivethoughts.org/blog/oh-controversy-thats-not-thats-ocd/

I was just thinking abt this! It’s crazy how you’ll even overthink abt this and be confused as to whether you’re doing the right thing or not bc I also say these things to myself but I’m not sure if it’s right to. Unbelievable just how complicated this can be

@aloe — I know right! I’m the same as well.

Those thoughts are not “OCD thoughts”. They are just thoughts. Thoughts don’t necessarily say anything about the person themselves. Labeling thoughts as “OCD thoughts” gives more meaning to them when these thoughts are not exclusive to people who have OCD. The difference is the way people with OCD react to the thoughts.

@Pineapple Thank you so much for the article it was astonishing reading someone beautifully put into words how you process the thoughts and clearing up how it works

@aloe you’re welcome! Also check out this article as well: https://www.ocdbaltimore.com/how-to-respond-to-unwanted-thoughts/ (Specifically the section under “Mental Noting”) I personally do not find it helpful to identify thoughts as being “OCD thoughts” and I find both of these articles to be very helpful and give good explanations!

@smallbird I definitely started off just like you. we each have a way that gets us through it, while there may be ideas that there is a right or wrong way it always comes down to how we are able to perceive and think abt it so that something might not work for you may work for others or vice versa. It’s not all just black and white and I think it’s awesome when you know what helps you and what doesn’t to continue dealing with it better

I find that labeling helps me a lot. Labeling thought as OCD doesn't give them more meaning, it's the opposite. When I recognize an OCD thought I say "oh, it's you OCD with your shit again, fu*k off. I'm not buying it." You literally choose not to give it any meaning. You say to yourself "It's just OCD" and you disregard it. You treat it just as some external voice trying to scare you and you bellittle it. I know that to some people not labeling thoughts helps but to me it didn't. I like to know what is me and what is OCD. And with some types of OCD like real event OCD and false memory OCD that tehnique doesn't work at all. You need to know what OCD is doing to your thoughts, feelings and memories. It blows them out of proportion and makes you think in black and white. OCD distorts everything. If not labeling thoughts helps you, that's awesome, but to me that certain tehnique didn't help.

That's fine :) I'm glad that helped you :)