A wise women (my mom) told me "where there is life there is hope" such a beautiful quote. She also said "if you're going through hell.. Keep going" I want to be able to live by these quotes.

They’re so true! I hope you will live by these. Keep pushing, keep fighting, and never ever give up because what you find after the pain will be so much better❤️❤️

I love these quotes! They remind me about how one perspective is to think of life as a journey, with challenges being opportunities for us to overcome on the way to where we want to be - the ocd does not deserve the importance we give it! There will never not be challenges (such as ocd obsessions), but instead of letting them spiral into catastrophizing, thinking about them as merely stepping stones or roadblocks in my journey to where I want to be in my life, instead of the dire importance my ocd wants me to give them, often helps me with rationalizing and accepting the anxiety and uncertainty. The obsessions are never as dire as my emotions (the ocd) make me feel they are. I have lost count of the times I felt intense fear over an obsession, only to forget about it pretty much entirely a month later (and often only days later it no longer bothers me).

Thank you catlady I'm trying ☺️ I feel really anxious today but managed to walk to my local shop. It doesn't sound like alot but it was hard for me to do but I did it! And that is so true. Just want to be in a better place where I'm not in pain anymore cos I have been in a lot of pain latley. Hope you're ok ?❤️❤️ Seacliff... They're really good quotes aren't they I'm lucky my mom is supporting me during this difficult time. That is very true life certainly is a journey, and ocd definitely doesn't deserve the importance we give it I really want to stick two fingers up to ocd and say you aren't gonna run my life or ruin it like I've let it recently. Thank you for your inspirational words I really want to control how I react to my thoughts cos I'm learning that we can't really control them or get rid of them just Control how we react to them! I used to be the same the thoughts wouldnt bother me for long but latley they have done and it's been months now but I'm realising that's because of how I reacted to them! I let the anxiety take over and I isolated myself for a long time which wasn't the way to deal with it. Hopefully I'm slowly but surley making some progress although sometimes it doesnt feel like it. Thanks for your reply though it means alot to me ?❤️❤️

Hi where does it end! I hope you've been well! :) They're excellent quotes, your mom sounds very knowledgable, and it's wonderful you have her by your side to support you through your ocd! I can relate to letting ocd isolate you - I went through a similar time years back! I'm glad you aren't letting it isolate you anymore, that's already fantastic progress. :) You sound like you're on the right path with your progress, keep it up and know you can do it! You have so much to bring to the world - ocd is jealous in wanting to keeping you to itself instead of sharing you with the world, don't let it! You have too much to contribute, and the world deserves all the beautiful things I know you will bring to it. :) Hope you're having a great week!

Hello Seacliff... Thank you for your reply. ☺️ I haven't been too good really! Wish I could say I have but I won't lie. I hope you're well? Yes they are brilliant quotes, my mom is very understanding and very intelligent she knows a fair bit about mental health. She just gets a little frustrated when I've isolated myself, she wishes I could just snap out of it and get better right now but it's a long and slow process isn't it ? The isolation causes depression as you know and only makes the ocd stronger. Unfortunately after a bad few days I'm still isolating myself! I wish I could tell you that I'm not but I have to be honest. But I'm reading my way through ion hershfields book on harm ocd, trying to stay positive, I'm sorry i feel stupid now cos you saying I'm on the right path. The thing is with me my attitude and motivation changes all the time. At night I can feel really motivated and have a positive attitude, but when morning comes I have severe depression and anxiety I find hard to snap out of. Hence why most days have been really bad. Thank you so much for your lovely kind words just wish I had something more positive to say to you ? I hope you're well! You are very sweet ☺️❤️

Oh! I also wanted to add - even during the time when you isolate yourself, I hope you can maybe try to occupy your time with doing something you enjoy! Even if it is only something small, like reading a book or cooking your favorite snack. ? I also personally find those comedy specials on Netflix very calming if I'm having difficulty with thoughts that are causing me anxiety - maybe consider taking a look at those if you're interested! ?

Hi where does it end! Nice to hear from you, you have nothing to apologize for! I'm sorry to hear you've been having a rough time ? But, it's a process and the down times are part of that process, they only make it more likely for more up times in the future ? I know it's hard, but it becomes better, and stumbling here and there is normal! The fact you're reading Jon Hershfield's book and learning more about ocd means you're already along the right path! The path may not be a straight line - sometimes it might even go backwards temporarily, and that's ok! As long as you aim to continue along the general path forward, you're doing great. ? One thing I watched this week that reminds me of what you're going through is Mark Freeman's uncertainty curve! It helped me realize even when sometimes we feel like we have relapses, it can mean we feel that way because we are confronting those things that trigger us. I'll link it here in case you might be interested! https://youtu.be/ZcaceDOSsEo I can certainly relate to mornings being difficult! It won't be forever, though - you'll get through this and experience better mornings in the future. ? I wish you as pleasant a morning or evening as you can wherever you are! Don't worry about needing to say anything positive, you're right that you should be honest, just take things one at a time! You can get through this at your own pace, there is no rush. ?

(I like John Mulaney a lot!)

During the times*

Nice to hear from you too ☺️ hope you're ok? I just wrote a big long message and accidentally clicked off the screen so it's all gone ?lol. I know I just feel abit stupid sometimes. Keep saying on here that I'm finally gonna push myself and start helping myself but my motivation disappears and I lose the strength. I can only hope this means more up times in the future! I really need those times now Yes I'm proud of myself for getting the book and starting to make my way through it, Jon said in a video just getting the book is good exposure! And I can see why. I have every intention of trying to move forward but I just lose the motivation and the will. Find it hard to find the strength. Oh thank you for that that sounds really interesting! I'll definitely have a watch of that when I get chance. I love to watch videos about ocd makes me feel a little better appreciate you sharing that ☺️ Some people say their thoughts,depression and anxiety is worse at night but mine is always worse in the mornings and this makes it difficult for me to have a more productive and positive day. Thanks you too ☺️I'm in the UK it's currently 14.10 where are you from? Thank you for being so kind and understanding I really do appreciate it ❤️ ☺️

Yes I try too occupy myself wether it be reading, playing games on my phone watching TV or doing some cleaning. I just get annoyed with myself for not doing the things I need to do like getting out and starting to expose myself to my fears making a start on erp ? yes I have Netflix spose I could check some out thank you! ☺️ I definitely need to laugh abit more don't do much of that latley. Thanks for all your help and advice ❤️☺️