Can I get better while still doing compulsions or do I really have to stop all of them? I just can’t imagine giving up every compulsion but also this is torture. Do I quit cold turkey or slowly stop?
Slowly stop them. It’s very difficult to go cold turkey and not do any compulsions later on. Your brain is used to a certain pattern of thinking, and rewiring those pathways can take quite a while, so it’s important to take it one step at a time 🫶🏽
Depends. My compulsion is to confess, and I’ve found that delaying it is giving me much better results. For me, quitting totally was just too much pressure and when I gave in, I felt like a failure. Baby steps in the right direction is a lot more doable right now for me.
You need to stop them.
Stop them all. Would you tell an alcoholic they can have a couple drinks?
I focus on delaying my mental compulsions and that’s been helping me. For my nail biting compulsion, I find that harder but just started working on it.
Ooo good question. I wanna answer it backwards lol. Cold turkey vs slow... your journey but the goal will always be to remove Compulsions 100%. Until you reach a point where you have a firm grasp on erp and how to process and deal with the thoughts/triggers. I would say honeyshark hit the nail on the head. Delay your compulsion and skip some of the "easier ones". I can see why at this time you can't imagine a life without them but can you imagine your life without the obsession or anxiety? Probably not... I compare it a lot to me quitting smoking. I never imagined a day I wouldn't smoke or use a cigarette to give me a break and make me feel better. Now im glad to say I can't imagine smoking again or having to compulse again. Your journey your path but I'd say ultimately the goal should be 0 compulsion even if it's just delayed or removing some of the more tolerable ones first.
My compulsion is counting and my therapist said that it’s okay. She said I can count all I want cause it helps my anxiety and isn’t hurting me or anyone so idk
@OneTwoThreeOCD Do you feel like it isn’t hurting you? I would say my compulsions hurt me psychologically because they make me feel worse
@LizardLady95 I don’t think it hurts me. I do it subconsciously and only realize I’m doing it sometimes. It helps distract me when I’m anxious which is all the time 😅
@OneTwoThreeOCD That’s good, if it’s not hurting you maybe it’s a good coping mechanism
@OneTwoThreeOCD Do you have an OCD therapist?
@Honeyshark No I have a regular general therapist? Idk what that would be called 😅
@LizardLady95 Yeah that’s what she was telling me. It helps me when I’m having an anxiety attack too
@OneTwoThreeOCD A coping mechanism (compulsion) for someone without ocd isn't the same as someone who has it. Just keep that in mind on your journey.
@Will86 A coping compulsion IS ocd lol
@OneTwoThreeOCD Uh huh but my point is that for others it's not a big deal for us it's different.
@Will86 Why are you comparing our levels of OCD lol if you wanted attention just say that
@OneTwoThreeOCD Nope that's not what I said. "Others" as the post before that said are those without ocd and "us" are those with ocd. What can be seen as a healthy and okay way to cope for a person with GAD or anxiety due to say public speaking is different than someone with ocd. We (THOSE WITH OCD so your insecurity can see who im referring to) tend to take it to an unhealthy place. This is why a huge emphasis is placed on combating all compulsions and learning to live with uncertainty and discomfort. Now that you were nice enough to get nasty and twist what I said I assume since I didn't agree with you I'll just wish you luck and hope the OP can figure out the answer to their question that is the healthiest for them. Good luck
@Will86 Yeah that’s why I was wondering if it was a general therapist vs OCD therapist cuz usually OCD therapists don’t encourage doing compulsions to feel better.
@Will86 No you’re trying to act like the victim. I was talking to someone else and out of nowhere you tell me to remember that my ocd isn’t as big of a deal as others ocd. But sure make me the bad guy you just want attention anyway
@OneTwoThreeOCD Um his advice is sound for someone with OCD vs GAD. If you have OCD performing the counting is part of your OCD and makes it worse. Whereas if it’s GAD, it’s a healthy coping mechanism.
@OneTwoThreeOCD Can we all just agree that we are all struggling in our own way and not turn on each other. I appreciate all the insight and advice but please let’s not get into fights. It’s hard enough to have this mental illness and everyone should support each other the best they can. I think this was all miscommunication.
After almost 2 decades of struggling with Pure OCD that was all-consuming, all day, every day, I'm finally in a spot where I can effectively manage this disorder. A big way I did this was realizing that compulsions NEVER help and they are NEVER the answer. It might feel like it's helping in the moment, but you're just giving power to the OCD and it WILL come back stronger. Sometimes (especially with Pure O), it can be hard to even tell if you're doing a compulsion. If you're not sure and think there is even a possibility that it could be, try to stop doing that immediately. The better you get at noticing your compulsions and stopping them quickly the better off you'll be in the long-term. It's definitely a tough and bumpy road, but if I was able to get there I'm sure anyone can. Just stick with it and it gets way easier.
i don’t want to do my compulsions. I feel like if I don’t somebody will get hurt, sick or die. It’s a very scary thought to feel like if I don’t do my compulsions it will be my fault even though it isn’t & nor will it happen. I know it’s magical thinking & my thoughts are not true nor will they come true. it’s just im so tired of doing these compulsions. im so tired of feeling like I can stop something bad happening if I don’t step on this or touch this 4 times. it even got me believing that if I do something I want to do & love, something bad will happen. I just want to be able to live & feel like I use to. I hate ocd. how can I calm this down so I can be able to navigate in my own life?
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