Username: flowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

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Do people with existential ocd have this terrifying fear that people aren’t real and then they start to feel detached or dissociate only making it worse??? Along with this, do you fear that even though people can relate to you, what if that’s what you’re supposed to hear to help you move on, but really what your fearing is true??? I feel like I’m going insane. I sometimes get these questions, but they go away within minutes. However, these have been staying because I started asking the question “well if people aren’t real then hurt them”. I have other things ruminating in my head, but they’re either too hard to explain or will literally make me sound like I’m going crazy.

Username: NatemillerNatemiller

Date posted: 1y ago

I can’t speak for others but yes those are the same types of issues I have when it comes to existential ocd I often believe i’m not real or others aren’t real or this a dream what if i’m not really experiencing things what if i’m in a coma and i wake up to a whole new family and friends and can’t get back to the ones i know because it was just a dream, i often think i’m not real and tend to make bad decisions or think bad things because of that thought such as if i’m cooking i might think i could put my hand in the boiling water and since i’m not real it wouldn’t hurt and no one would notice, i don’t know if i feel that i’m supposed to hear the things people say to help me so much as i don’t trust they are really saying it or that they mean what they say or i have the thought of oh what if i really am this thing my thoughts make me think i am even though i don’t really think i am i can’t tell and i find it hard to believe that people are right when they tell me it is just my intrusive thoughts and i completely get that sometimes i feel like i’m going nuts too especially when you can’t differentiate what’s real and what’s not. p.s. sorry for the bad grammar and mostly lack of punctuation i’m writing this after a long trip and am exhausted but still wanted to comment :)

Username: BlackSwan233BlackSwan233

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

You’re not alone in this. I had this fear that others weren’t real for the longest time when I was younger. Fortunately I’m way better since doing ERP and being on meds. I’d recommend either looking into ERP therapy or at the very least looking at the content about existential OCD on the NOCD website and/or YouTube channel.

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

Date posted: 1y ago

i can relate to this, i feel so disconnected from the world and the people around me and at the same the i’m questioning existence and that my life is even real. It really sucks and have been dealing w this for almost 2 weeks. I can’t even spend time with my dogs because i’m overthinking about how they’re alive and how im alive and just the world in general

Username: NatemillerNatemiller

Date posted: 1y ago

also side note and it’s kind of funny in a messed up way but when i was a little kid i thought everyone else were all robots and were all in on me being the only person

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

@Natemiller RIGHT THERE WITH YOU!! What’s even worse is I will NEVER have an answer to the question because you can’t know whether people are real or not. I just don’t know how to get out of this mindset because it really scares me.

Username: D:)D:)

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

you are definitely not alone in this. i have struggled with this 100% and it attacks my harm ocd which makes it even more terrifying. you got this🧡🧡🧡

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

@D:) Thank you 🩷 I just wish my life would go back to how it was tbh, I’m tired of the constant worry

Username: D:)D:)

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@pickedpeppers 100% i totally totally understand where you’re coming from, you got this 🩷

Username: McDuckoMcDucko

Date posted: 1y ago

Yes. My brother used to have this and it used to paralyze him. No idea how he got past it, but it's been almost 20 years.

Username: Logyman13Logyman13

Date posted: 1y ago

Definitely had this! If you want we have a WhatsApp started for existential ocd and I know a lot of us in there have dealt with harm OCD before.

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

@Logyman13 I’ve never had the app, but I just downloaded it! How do I join?

Username: Logyman13Logyman13

Date posted: 1y ago

@pickedpeppers - Try this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IYQRAUXSX5Y9ha4sXz1Hec If that doesn't work I can add you directly by number. There's about 15 of us in there right now and it's been great to be able to support each other :)

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

@Logyman13 It didn’t work :(

Username: Logyman13Logyman13

Date posted: 1y ago

@pickedpeppers - Ugh, it keeps doing that. If you wanna give me the number you used to set up the account I can add you in directly, but if you’re not comfortable with that I totally understand!

Username: Logyman13Logyman13

Date posted: 1y ago

@pickedpeppers - Okay I got it down you can delete!!

Username: Logyman13Logyman13

Date posted: 1y ago

@Logyman13 - You’ve been added :) feel free to introduce yourself to the group! I promise we’re all super nice haha it’s a great group

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

@Logyman13 Thank you!!

Username: mbfaraoni25mbfaraoni25

Date posted: 1y ago

this sounds just like depersonalization/derealization disorder. these thoughts are so so common with that. i promise you’re not going crazy, your brain is in fight or flight mode due to anxiety and it doesn’t know what’s happening. you also don’t have to reason with the thoughts just let them be and they will pass. it may seem like the end of the world now but soon the anxiety attached to the thoughts will suppress, it’s happened to me! recovery for this is possible and you will not live with these thoughts forever. if you want to heal 100% stay off the forums! don’t google your thoughts and don’t watch videos about your thoughts because that will just make you more stuck. stay in the present moment and start grounding yourself. the more you do what you would normally do, the more you’re going to come back to reality!

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

@mbfaraoni25 I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. My thoughts feel so real to me right now and like nothing anyone will say can get me out of that thinking, but I have hope that one day I will see the light 🫶🏻

Username: Brody072121!Brody072121!

Date posted: 1y ago

I read a book once and one thing that really helped was memorizing all your memories if you can. So say at bedtime close your eyes or keep them open and start to think about good memories you’ve had. You can even do it during the day. Or anytime at all. It’ll help ground you and bring you out of it! It worked for me. You’ll get out of it. It sucks, it really does but you are 100% real. Everything is real here on earth. Try going outside barefoot in the grass, smelling flowers, going to a park, anything outside really helps too! I used to pinch myself a lot bc you don’t feel pain if you’re not here!

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

@Brody072121! I know I’m real, but how do I know everyone else is real? It’s just really weird to be able to feel my own consciousness and be my own being, but how do I know other people are feeling the same?

Username: mbfaraoni25mbfaraoni25

Date posted: 1y ago

@pickedpeppers of course! you absolutely will see the light. the way you’re thinking is not going to be the way you think forever, and nothing about you has changed! you’re completely ok and one day you will see that i promise and don’t be surprised that the thoughts feel real because they’re supposed to! just please please don’t isolate yourself from other people!!! that’s going to make it worse and you’re not a danger to others no matter what your brain is telling you

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

@mbfaraoni25 I literally have the thought that because I feel my own consciousness then I should hurt people? I just find it weird that I have my own consciousness and so does everyone else. Then my brain is like “if you hurt people and yourself, something will happen” (can’t really even explain that one). I feel like everytime I talk myself out of it, my brain goes “but WHAT IF that were true”.

Username: mbfaraoni25mbfaraoni25

Date posted: 1y ago

@pickedpeppers i get you, i’ve had the exact same thought. the only reason you’re having that thought is because you feel detached from reality. don’t try to convince yourself of anything or “rationalize” the thought because it wont work. your brain will always find a way to question because it senses danger when there is no real danger, that’s our fight or flight response. instead of trying to figure the thoughts out just let them be. the more you allow yourself to just calm down and be in the moment your brain will slow down the anxious thoughts and you will see things the way you used to. i promise! i’ve been there so many times. if you want to text more about it i can give you my snap or insta :)

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

@mbfaraoni25 Thank you so so much 🫶🏻 and if you wouldn’t mind giving me your snap that would be so slay lolz

Username: mbfaraoni25mbfaraoni25

Date posted: 1y ago

@pickedpeppers i got you lovee its @melissa.25f

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

@mbfaraoni25 thank you 🫶🏻

Username: mrselfdestruct1994mrselfdestru...

Date posted: 31w ago

Did you ever get over this fear?

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 31w ago

@mrselfdestruct1994 i remember posting this and that was a terrifying week for me. my existential thoughts were mixing with my harm ones. however, since that summer, i’ve been doing fairly well for most of my days. of course i get bad days and sometimes a bad week, but i learned to just let the thoughts, feelings, and urges coexist. i haven’t had bad existential thoughts since then that have given me deep anxiety however i still do get them occasionally. sometimes i feel like people aren’t real and the relationships i have don’t matter. but in the grand scheme of ocd, i find that it’s best to not put my worries into those thoughts because either way i’m not looking to act on my harm thoughts. but i will say, my life would be easier if i had the answer to those questions

Username: mrselfdestruct1994mrselfdestru...

Date posted: 31w ago

@flowerpetals Yeah I’m in a similar theme right now ): except mine stemmed from the fear of schizophrenia and now I get constant thoughts questioning the meaning behind everything and if other people are real or not and what they’re intentions are, “what if everyone is fake” “what if everyone is skinwalkers” etc etc. I’m just so suspicious of everything. It’s gotten so bad that I feel like I’m becoming emotionally detached from the things I love. Every time I’m having a nice day or listening to a song I get thoughts like “why should I care about this, nothings real anyway…” I genuinely get depressed and feel like I don’t care… everything feels so fake and staged now like an illusion ): I feel so mistrustful of everything. And no matter much logic I try and feed these thoughts, i still feel like I believe them no matter what

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 31w ago

@mrselfdestruct1994 i think you should stray from trying to find answers to these questions. realistically, they’re not able to be answered no matter how much logic you give them. i know that’s terrifying, but acceptance is the best way to detach anxiety from your thoughts. i wish me telling you i am 100% a real being would help you but i know it either will just be reassurance for a moment or your thoughts will counteract it. think about it this way: what’s the worst that could happen if you’re living a false life? nothing. nothing is going to happen to you. whether people are real or not, you can still live the life you desire to live. you can still be happy with whatever you chose to do. it’s still a life worth living and finding fulfillment in. it still matters to you regardless of what other people may or may not be thinking

Username: ChrKChrK

Date posted: 1y ago

Have you also looked into Disassociation Disorder?

Username: flowerpetalsflowerpetals

Date posted: 1y ago

@ChrK No, this just started recently happening with my harm intrusive thoughts

Username: DimitrisH

Date posted: 24w ago

Existential ocd?

Does anyone had or have the existential fear of our brain functions. I have so much hyperawareness in my thoughts, I focus all the time in my feelings and my intentions in order to check if I am strange or not and if I have control of my actions. I do psychotherapy 4 years and I thought I was fine. But this June I had a derealization episode(or ocd) , after that a depersonalization episode (or ocd) and after that I have obsessions about our existence and that every aspect in our lives has to do with our brain and for some reason these thoughts scary me. I know that at some point is ocd but I am very confused why this thoughts scary me so much. I observe others and I am curious how it's possible not to think about that and this make it worse . I am so anxious because obviously we are our brain ,I know that and brain has to do with everything,but I don't know why it make me anxious and if it's possible to live without these thoughts. I do many compulsion but my biggest is to figure out if I have compulsion in order to figure out if my thoughts is ocd or delusions. It's so real and these thoughts really bother me. Any other with same experience?

Username: l_stark08

Date posted: 21w ago

Existential OCD/ (crisis?)

Hey all, this is my first post here, and I really think I'm going through the worst theme I've ever had. For weeks I've been having never ending reaccuring thoughts about everything having to do with being a person, life in general, other peoples lives and experiences, the meaning/purpose of life, and especially ruminating on death and the fact that everyone I know will die, including myself. It's gotten to the point of dissociation, and life feels simulated and fake. I can't think about anything else and the terror that comes along with it is awful (it's almost humorous to me that I'd rather have the POCD or ROCD themes I've had before, this seems so much worse) with death being the main fear in this theme I've given into the compulsions of researching death statistics (such as how many people die in my age group per year and how, car accident/heart disease/cancer statistics) over and over again and constantly repeating them in my head over and over. Driving got scary for a little while, but funny enough driving more (exposure) made that fear manageable. It's also gotten bad with the constant fear of knowing my loved ones will pass, and obsessing over how and when it'll happen. I'm also waking up everyday telling myself it'll be the day I die, and obsessing over the fact that most no one knows their last day and how genuinely terrifying that is. I'm constantly wondering what the point of anything is, if I'm just going to die, and almost prematurely mourning the death of loved ones and the loss of my own life. I am religious, and this offers some relief, but usually just ends in my OCD dipping into some Scrupulosity (which is just ugh why now this). Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this, I'm feeling pretty alone and depressed and genuinely can't see my life going back to normal or any way out of it.

Username: lunalady

Date posted: 21w ago

Only Conscious Person Obsession

Currently obsessing over me being the only “real” or conscious person in the world, and that everyone I love isn’t actually real. I know deep down that this is ocd, but I feel like by not ruminating I’m just ignoring the fear (which feels so real and scary). Has anyone experienced anything similar and how did you get out of this worry? Trying not to seek reassurance as it’s one of my compulsions, but I’m very distressed.

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