Struggling with intrusive thoughts and wondering if it's OCD or a compulsion?

Feeling like I need to solve

Sometimes I have so much going on in my head at one time - and I have layers of intrusive thoughts one on top of another - all together and sometimes I don't know or remember which one caused my anxiety but I have to go back and solve them or reproduce the feeling that came up so that I can "disregard" it properly. It gets so exhausting because I'm always chasing after random thoughts and feelings all about similar themes - that are constantly getting triggered - by silly things. The fear is - I won't know its ocd unless i go back and solve them. I think this might be a compulsion? Does sitting with the discomfort with this Also work?

Username: NickNick

Date posted: 1y ago

Wow, this is me as well. I’ve never been able to articulate in this specific way tho. Hmm. I feel like when I’m doing well. This happens more than when I’m doing bad because when I’m doing bad, I am forced to really scrutinize all of my thoughts.

Username: Dee CDee C

Date posted: 1y ago

I’m not an expert and passing along some information acquired in my OCD journey. We all have horrible thoughts. When you fight against the thoughts, you’re signaling the brain to mark them as being important. Those not having OCD will just shrug them off and not let them bother or give meaning to them. That’s contrary to those of us with OCD. It takes practice not to respond to the thoughts or to follow them down the rabbit hole of trying to figure them out or seeking 100% of certainty. Instead lean towards the uncertainty (maybe, maybe not). Without engaging them, let ‘em float on like clouds in the sky. I know it’s easier said than done and you can do it. Hope this helps you!

Username: NickNick

Date posted: 1y ago

I’m actually incredibly impressed at your awareness and something clicked in my head when you write this bc I am experiencing this exact thing right now but I hadn’t recognized it like this. the subtler obsessions and compulsions are harder to discern. and sometimes the obsessions and compulsions can be intermixed. it sounds like you are trying to recognize the obsession and then become aware of the urge to do a compulsion and resist the compulsion. This is not inherently a compulsion, but anything can become a compulsion, and that is more so for you, and I to be able to discern in the moment. If you have to say something to yourself 37 times it’s probably a compulsion. And it does get harder when you have layers of intrusive thoughts and layers of obsessions piled up over hours/days. Sometimes I find myself an exact same place. Talking about it, writing my thoughts out and/or sometimes just completely moving on can be the answer.

Username: NickNick

Date posted: 1y ago

IMO: This is “something feels off” OCD which is a subtype.

Username: blueteddybearblueteddybear

Date posted: 1y ago

And feels like I need to solve random feelings sometimes - so I can be okay with myself and know that I'm 100% pure. But I know it's not real and it's not me - it's ocd - there's nothing to actually solve because I am already pure and those things are not true.

Username: milliehewitt2milliehewitt2

Date posted: 1y ago

Sitting with the discomfort I found works the best to stop the worries coming back

Username: Twelve Squirrels in a TrenchcoatTwelve Squir...

Date posted: 1y ago

THIS. I am in the middle of dealing with it right now! Ugh! You aren't alone. I literally feel so confused and exhausted.

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 4y ago

Hi! I have OCD in a few different subtypes. Even when my brain isn't stuck on those scary obsessions and compulsions, it seems like it is getting stuck on every thought that comes in. Like my brain is constantly and very intensely trying to find problems to solve all throughout the day no matter what I'm thinking about, even if they aren't specific OCD thoughts. It's super exhausting! Is this a common thing with OCD? Does anyone else experience this?

Username: Kamisamahaji...

Date posted: 2y ago

Part of my OCD is always trying to get into the bottom of things (if I freak out thinking about death or illness or losing someone or contamination, then I will roam all the internet for searching for informations on the subject even though it worsens my anxiety and never leaves me with a "clean" feeling of certainty or peace or acceptance). And recently I realized that if I have an anxious thought that arises in my mind it'll just go away if I leave it be and don't stop what I'm doing. But stupidly enough I feel guilty for doing that because I get the feeling that I should engage more with my fears and if I just ignores them and they go away I'm worsening the situation ... What is the line between ignoring the problem by distracting yourself and simply allowing your mind to move on ?

Username: Anom321

Date posted: 1y ago

Finding it impossible to sit with thoughts

I find it very difficult to sit with thoughts or just let them be there especially when my OCD is purely based on mental rituals. For example, if I try to let a thought (that is causing me stress) come into my mind it’s almost impossible for me to let it sit there without my brain automatically trying to solve it or gain relief. It’s as though my brain does this without me really realising - probably from years of training it to do this - I’m just wondering if anyone knows of any other things I could try? I think this is why I find ERP quite difficult as I really try to let the thought sit there but my brain automatically tries to solve it no matter how much I’m trying…

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Struggling with intrusive thoughts and wondering if it's OCD or a compulsion?

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