Struggling

@katecat56 For some reason images feel different and harder to ignore for me. Why is that do you think? They are so immersive

@katecat56 Does my last comment make sense x

@ObsessivePenguin yeah no i totally get it that happens for me too, it takes practice but i like to remember that ocd recovery isn’t necessarily about getting rid of the thought or image, but lessening it’s impact on you and by nature it becomes less frequent. so i just allow the thought to be there no matter how immersive and try my best to engage with what is actually around me. at first it feels very unnatural but after a while it starts to become second nature.

@katecat56 I’m going to do this :) but seeing both the image and reality at the same time. Is that ok?

@Dee C Was this a memory or a thought? Like did the sheet come from a past experience or not? Mine can be completely made up

@ObsessivePenguin It was just a thought that kept coming up from nowhere. No attachment to any prior event or memory. One of my compulsions was to try & figure it out. I’ve stopped that after learning it’s OCD baiting me into the rabbit hole. Stay strong!!!

@Dee C Just like me :) what happens when it pops up? Does it ever blend with the background. What I mean is, If I’m staring at the back of a chair I can see both my mental image and the chair as it kinda blends? So hard to explain

@Dee C But like, if you’re looking at something - can the two ever blend like I’m saying? So if staring at a bus seat then seeing a video of you harming someone. There’s a moment of overlap?

@Dee C I’m not an expert and in my journey I’ve learned that I cannot control what comes to my mind (thoughts, images, etc.) but I can control whether to respond. If it’s something intrusive, I choose to let it be and watch it float away in a nonjudgmental manner. Practicing what I’ve learned from ERP and mindfulness meditation has helped me. I won’t offer you assurance but please know that you are not alone. And perhaps consider getting help from someone specially trained in ocd therapy or reach out to the NOCD Care Team available through this app. Hoping this helps you!!!

@Mike in PA Are they ever imaginary completely and not memories?

@ObsessivePenguin For me, no, I'm real event and pure o among other things. Real event is the biggest struggle for me. I understand false memory OCD is a real thing many here struggle with.