Does anyone else check their pupils a lot? I was doing good with not checking them for a couple weeks but now I’m back to doing it again because I’m scared I’m going to have happen with my brain
Thank you guys ! It’s just so frustrating, I deal with chronic tension headaches and sometimes they get so intense that I check my pupils without even thinking. I’m working on it though.
Hey there, checking is a compulsion which only makes the OCD loop continue. I used to check my eyes all the time for possible signs of illness. Understanding the uncertainty is a part of life, and we can never be 100% certain about anything is key to recovery from OCD. I am 63 years old and I spent a lifetime "checking" myself for illness. ERP works, allowing thoughts/fears/feelings while you do value-based activities is so helpful. Reach out for therapy, NOCD is the best, explore their library of videos on their YouTube channel. Take care!
Clarissa, I’ve had Health Concern OCD for years!! I hear you. I feel like 90% of my life has been worrying, checking, ruminating, etc. it’s like I am always ready for an awful diagnosis or for something awful to go wrong with my health. You’re not alone. I’m new to NOCD, but like the person up there 👆 said, checking just makes if worse, even though it helps temporarily for a few minutes, believe me I know. Here for you.
I have the same problem as you. When I read somewhere online that different sized pupils can be a sign of some brain related issue I constantly check them in mirrors, phone camera, windows - just wherever I can. It is tiring. I know that it is irrational to do it all the time. At times I can go for a while without checking. A good method for me is that I think that people around me would point out that my eyes look weird if something like that would happen and I do not need to check it all the time because of that. Going outside for a bike ride or just for a walk also helps a lot - even if it is for a short time.
does anyone else have an intense fear of developing schizophrenia or psychosis. This has been a really heavy theme for me as well. I’m constantly checking to see if I have symptoms or if I’m gonna go crazy or develop these. it’s so scary.
I went from intrusive thoughts of hurting people, thinking I did horrible things and not remembering it like running people over with my car etc, to my brain trying to convince me I that I had split personality disorder to now health anxiety. The intrusive thoughts weren’t as bad as this. I’ll get physical symptoms like my heart racing, chest pain, can’t swallow. It’s been causing panic attacks but I’m constantly scared I’m dying. If my mole looks like it changed I freak out and think I have cancer. I had to get a stethoscope to listen to my heartbeat to make sure I don’t have an aortic aneurysm to buying a Fitbit to constantly check my pulse. I went to the ER bc I thought I was dying and now I’m paying a 2 thousand dollar bill when they say my heart is fine. It’s just exhausting.
Has anyone ever had an intrusive thought of thinking you’ve might’ve swallowed something dangerous and you can’t trust your own mind? And you feel like you need to go in to get checked out? Any advice or reassurance?
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