OCD is a struggle, what has personally helped you to get past it? I am going to see a therapist soon once my insurance starts up, but in the meantime, what are small tactics that help you?
Keep doing the things you love or start doing them again đ if you like to paint, paint. If you like to read, start reading again. Personally, I lost so many things to OCD and getting them back was really helpful for me. It might be hard at first, but it gets easier
@hp12345 I love reading romance books, but the last book I read I kept getting thoughts and I couldnât get them out of my head⌠ocd always attacks the things I love which is really hard :(
A really good one that helps me is simply to call an OCD thought out when I have it. So Iâll think or say something like âNope, thatâs an OCD thought.â This simple thing has helped me wonders!
Staying busy. I don't do well with idle / unstructured time.
I am so glad that you will be seeing a therapist, please make sure that whomever you see is well trained in OCD- this is so very important. Ask lots of questions. Meanwhile, if you haven't already, I highly recommend downloading the free NOCD app with lots of resources and tools. You can also check out the IOCDF website for more resources. If you are interested in learning more about ERP therapy with NOCD, our Care Team will typically begin with a free 15-minute call to discuss treatment, answer any questions you have, and book your first appointment. Please feel free to schedule a convenient time that works best for you here: https://learn.nocd.com/scheduler
-I use the OCD.app to help readjust my thinking I read : -Pure (a womanâs experience with her OCD) to not feel alone -Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts (a good step my step of why OCD thoughts latch, it keeps it general and applies to the general population too) to understand the biology/process -The ACT Workbook for OCD to learn how to live by my values rather than my believe my thoughts and feelings -I took Nathan Petersonâs ERP course to learn the basics from an ERP specialist -I use mindfulness and journaling to empty my mind and remind myself that I am not my thoughts or feelings -I exercise even when I donât want to because itâs a value of mine -I call my friends and family when I donât want to because itâs a value of mine -I engage in games and art when I donât want to because itâs a value of mine
Iâm having a big OCD relapse and would like to hear anyoneâs tips on how to be present and healthily deal with these intrusive thoughts and the âneedâ to preform compulsions. Thank you!!
Looking back, I realize Iâve had OCD since I was 7. though I wasnât diagnosed until I was 30. As a kid, I was consumed by fears I couldnât explain: "What if God isnât real? What happens when we die? How do I know Iâm real?" These existential thoughts terrified me, and while everyone has them from time to time, I felt like they were consuming my life. By 12, I was having daily panic attacks about death and war, feeling untethered from reality as depersonalization and derealization set in. At 15, I turned to drinking, spending the next 15 years drunk, trying to escape my mind. I hated myself, struggled with my body, and my intrusive thoughts. Sobriety forced me to face it all head-on. In May 2022, I finally learned I had OCD. I remember the exact date: May 10th. Reading about it, I thought, "Oh my God, this is it. This explains everything." My main themes were existential OCD and self-harm intrusive thoughts. The self-harm fears were the hardest: "What if I kill myself? What if I lose control?" These thoughts terrified me because I didnât want to die. ERP changed everything. At first, I thought, "You want me to confront my worst fears? Are you kidding me?" But ERP is gradual and done at your pace. My therapist taught me to lean into uncertainty instead of fighting it. Sheâd say, "Maybe youâll kill yourselfâwho knows?" At first, it felt scary, but for OCD, it was freeing. Slowly, I realized my thoughts were just thoughts. ERP gave me my life back. Iâm working again, Iâm sober, and for the first time, I can imagine a future. If youâre scared to try ERP, I get it. But if youâre already living in fear, why not try a set of tools that can give you hope?
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