Smiley35
- Date posted
- 2y
I'm scared, I keep focusing on my breathing.
I keep focusing on my breathing and my anxiety in general and I feel like I'm stuck in my body and mind suffering. My meds aren't helping idk what else to do.
Dee CDee C
- Date posted
- 2y
Some things I’ve picked up in my journey as it may relate to somatic ocd and/or body sensations: The heart knows how to pump blood throughout the body, the lungs know how much air to breathe in & out, the stomach knows how to process nourishment, the eye lids know how & when to blink, my scalp has muscles & blood vessels that pulsate. So I’ve learned to let them all do their jobs without having to interfere and accept the uncertainty. Hope this helps you.
Smiley35Smiley35
- Date posted
- 2y
Thank you, I do know all of this but how do I stop focusing on it? I have acid reflex as well so I always feel short of breath and it scares me.
VGHVGH
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
Hey, sorry you're experiencing this. Try allowing the thoughts/feelings to be there, but do something you value, maybe get outside, take a walk, move your body in a way that you like. The idea being to redirect your focus to a value-based behavior as opposed to a fear-based behavior. It will probably feel bad, irresponsible, like you're making a mistake, but it is important to move forward with your life. Don't wait to feel better before you move forward. My therapist said to me, "Doing comes before feeling." I would always want to feel better before I did anything. Now I know when I wake up and feel the fears/intrusive thoughts/feelings start to come I make myself get up, get dressed, get to work (all value driven behaviors). Sure the fears/thoughts/feelings are still there, I don't resist them or try to get rid of them, they accompany while I do things I value. An interesting thing happens when I do this, the fears/thoughts/feelings dissipate. Good luck, hang in there, you're are stronger than you know!
Smiley35Smiley35
- Date posted
- 2y
Thank you so much for your response, it is more appreciated than you know. I don't drive anymore after 16 years of driving due to anxiety unless it's close to home (basically around my neighborhood) so I find myself sitting at home very bored and especially now that I'm on a social media break my anxiety is super heightened. I am trying to color more, read more, meditate and watch shameless. I just started exercising again last Saturday for the first time in 3 and a half months when my panic and anxiety got REALLY bad and that's hello helping me too. I am wanting to go back to the gym starting next week. It's hard to sit with it sometimes because it gets so intense but I know like you said they are just thoughts, feelings and emotions and that is what comes with being a human being.
VGHVGH
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
Hey, that’s great! Recovery is a process that takes practice. Don’t get disheartened, believe me, I work on it everyday. The important thing is you are moving forward. I am working on my driving too😀. I try everyday to allow uncertainty, focus on my values. Sometimes it’s just that I get out of bed, get dressed and make my bed. Be kind to yourself, you are doing hard things❤️. Have you reached out for therapy? NOCD therapists are great! There are a ton of helpful videos on NOCDs YouTube channel too. Certainly reach out here too. It was so helpful for me too to realize I wasn’t alone. Take care!
Related posts
Lucybell<3
- Date posted
- 23w
Breathing AGAIN!!
PLEASEEE READ!! I know this sounds ridiculous but lately I’ve been soo hyperfocused on my breathing. I feel like I’m not breathing right/properly, it’s hard to explain.. it just feels wrong or like my breathing pattern is wrong. How that’s possible? I have no clue. I’ve had this all day. Has anyone ever experienced this?? My doctor keeps saying anxiety but I just feel like something isn’t right.
nae nae
- Date posted
- 22w
Grounding techniques?
I can't focus on anything but my thoughts. I'm so inside my head, and my mom always tells me to focus on my body and my surroundings, but I can't, or maybe I just don't know how. I try to, but it doesn't help. The thoughts are still there :(
blehh
- Date posted
- 21w
PLEASE help
im getting so annoyed i cant stop thinking about time and death and everything how do i stay present and cope literally almost everything is triggering me its been weeks it feels like everything is moving so slow yet so fast and i can feel every second and i keep getting random memories of things i usually wouldn’t even remember they aren’t bad but its just another reminder of time passing and the only thing that helped just enough is xanax but i cant keep taking it every day cause i dont wanna get addicted i need like natures xanax or something how do i produce the same effect a xan gives without taking one for the love of god bro as soon as i think its getting better i start spiraling an hour later and wont be able to stop and its making me feel like i need to go to a psych hospital or something but then i feel like what if im not bad enough to go to one
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond