I feel like I have every form of OCD or have gone through it at some point. I’m almost 9 weeks pregnant and my OCD is bad. I’m trying to avoid my compulsions but it’s so hard. What works for you? What techniques help you resist your compulsions?
I call mine “shapeshifting” OCD. And it definitely spiked during and after pregnancy- especially because they switched me from my regular SNRI to the “safe” SSRI. Thank god I found a therapist who specialized in PPA/ PPD who switched me right back to my SNRI. Now I think I’m in peri-menopause and my OCD is soaking again- I definitely think our hormones have something to do with it. Good luck
@MPC75 My Dr wants to switch me to an SNRI but I’m scared since I already have side effects on the SSRI. What were differences you noticed between the two types?
@OCDMM For some reason, the SNRI really calmed the obsessive thoughts for me in a different way than the SSRI’s. I also had less weight gain and other side effects.
@MPC75 Maybe I’ll be more open minded to it then, thanks for responding! I’m really nervous to change meds
The easiest way for me to convince myself to avoid compulsions is to know doing a compulsion means anxiety and my OCD getting WORSE, versus not doing a compulsion means anxiety and my OCD getting better. Always move toward recovery.
@Sunrise22 Sometimes my compulsion is to talk about what’s bothering to seek reassurance… the anxiety is so bad and debilitating… I know talking about it will make it worse but I still do it. And my anxiety will go away for an 1 Hr or 2 and then creep right back in. It’s such a vicious cycle.
@Crazylady It’s great though that you’ve already identified reassurance seeking as a compulsion for you. Can you plan for situations where you know you’ll want to seek reassurance? How could you handle those situations instead?
I haven’t experienced all themes, but I definitely have had a variety over the years…from existential, to Socd, to relationship ocd and now postpartum ocd. Pregnancy hormones are probably triggering a flair up for you and I’m sorry your going through that! Really really seek help and do everything you can with your mental health because you want to enjoy this special time in your life and be prepared emotionally and mentally for when baby arrives!
I’ve had all themes you can imagine throughout the years if that’s what you mean.
Absolutely. I've had OCD for basically my whole life, from what we can tell, so I definitely have had almost all themes you can think of. I think the only one I haven't had is SO-OCD... and that's presumably because I'm not fussed about sexual orientation. I'd be fine with it either way. My OCD can ramp up when I have hormonal shifts, so pregnancy might be one of the reasons your OCD is being a real turd. I'm sorry you're having a hard time with it right now 🩷 Resisting compulsions is hard. I agree with Sunrise22's point of view here about reminding yourself that doing compulsions will make things harder in the long term. I'm trying to use my non-engagement responses and reminding myself that the OCD and anxiety will likely pass on their own if I don't engage and don't fight them. Easier said than done, at the moment. You're not alone!
@ReadyForImprovement Thank you
I've dealt with several forms that just started last year out of nowhere. I had health anxiety for many years but not OCD unless it just went undiagnosed but anxiety went to another level out of nowhere. I'm sorry you're going through that.
I’ve had manyyy different themes. And sometimes I feel like they go away for a while and then come back strong. Hormones definitely play a role for me near my cycle so I would assume pregnancy would do the same
And I hate how my brain switches what I am obsessing about… so I think of one thing and it’s stupid but in the moment I believe it to be a real concern or the truth but the. Eventually my mind will switch to something else and that previous worry seems so stupid. Pregnancy makes it so “vicious”. I hate it!
@Crazylady That basically sums up how mine works! I obsess about something until some new shiny fear comes along and then obsess about that. I’m sorry you’re going through this. I wonder if there are supplements that are safe during pregnancy. I’ve tried L-Theanine, NAC and inositol which help some but I have no idea if those are safe when pregnant
Does anyone have any suggestions for coping skills for health concern ocd or contamination ocd? I’m trying really hard to not let my compulsions get the best of me but it’s so hard to not let the anxiety absolutely and completely spiral.
Kind of a vent, thank you if you read all the way through. It feels like every time a new chapter of my life opens up or is on the horizon, my OCD flares up so bad. I get imposter syndrome, I get the urge to confess, self-sabotage, ruminate, etc. I’m moving in with my boyfriend’s family soon. Me and him are long-distance (14 hours away from each other), and this move means we will be able to get married sooner. I am SO excited! … but I also have ROCD soooo bad. My OCD tries to convince me I’m a liar, I’m an imposter, I don’t deserve him, “what if I cheated on him and can’t remember?”, etc. and it’s miserable it eats me up. It feels like lately I’m having 1 good day and then 3 bad days, over and over again. Me and him just met in person for the first time this year (in June actually) after knowing each other 4 years and being together for 2. I have also had some other life changes, family drama, and now moving on top of all of that, I can’t help but wonder if change *itself* is triggering my OCD. I stayed with my boyfriend and his family for a month, and I loved it! My OCD was bad maybe the first week I was there, and it flared here and there, but I was able to cope and I felt so hopeful. It was really nice being around his family a lot, his siblings and parents are really fun to be around and my OCD is much better when I’m around people. Now, I’ve been home for almost a month, and throughout the past month I’ve been so anxious on and off with OCD flares. I got home, and then the next day my mom went out of state for about 2 weeks and I was home completely alone. Going from always being around people and talking to them, to being home completely alone and sleeping alone, it drove me crazy. I am also thinking of my future and I’m simultaneously excited and terrified. I’m so scared for when me and my boyfriend get married and eventually have children, I want kids so bad, but I’m scared because I have to be off my meds (Clomipramine) during pregnancy. I’m afraid that if I can barely cope *now* while I’m medicated, how the heck will I cope when I’m pregnant and unmedicated for 9 months? It’s just so many thoughts roll in and my OCD and anxiety takes over and I’m so sick of being so overwhelmed all the time. I’m so sick of feeling knots in my stomach for not confessing or ruminating. Please, does anybody relate?
Hi everyone, I am currently experiencing what I believe is an OCD flare up. I have been diagnosed with OCD and I primarily suffer from Harm OCD. I used to only experience it about once a year but since my second child was born, I am experiencing it a lot more and live with almost constant anxiety and maybe depression? So the new thing is that I'm afraid I am developing psychosis. I am scared to look at my oldest daughter (4yo) because it scares me when she spaces out and stares off into space, chooses the color red for anything, or has dark circles under her eyes (she has asthma and always has them). I guess the fear is that I will be one of the those psychotic moms (specifically like Laurie Daybell) and think my child is possessed and hurt her. It is literally hard for me to look at her and I feel terrified to be alone with her. On top of that, I have intense guilt because it seems to be more towards her than my youngest. Has anyone experienced something similar? What type of ERP was helpful? Looking for a therapist now but it is so hard to find one that understands. It's so hard to talk about. Thanks for reading.
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