- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
Stick it to the OCD!
Yesterday night, I had a hard time with POCD while watching anime and I started to ruminate because as we all know, OCD loves and feeds off uncertainty. Well I was aware my OCD was getting me to ruminate so I went and read this article my therapist gave me on rumination. It did help as it's a tool I keep handy but I wanted to become better prepared for the next time. I messaged my therapist asking if there was any ERP Rumination we could practice next session because it's kind of how I operate. I made a promise to myself that I would do anything I can do continue living my life with OCD. Well she messaged me back with a exercise I could practice out of session. I did NOT want to practice it at first because in the exercise, you make yourself uncomfortable ON PURPOSE and you sit with the anxiety and can respond with, "maybe I am...maybe I'm not🤷🏻♂️". We've done this style of exercise before and it really helped me. But with POCD I hate sitting in the uncomfortability and allowing those fears to just "be there". Well during prayer tonight it kind of hit me. I feel like making ourselves uncomfortable on purpose is one of the best things that helps In the long run. In doing that, I feel we take it to the OCD instead of it being able to punk us. Because that's what the OCD loves. Catching us out of nowhere and making us panic in the uncomfortability. Well if we work with our therapist on making the uncomfortability the "norm" in a sense...the next time we get faced with it, the easier it will be to not panic. Because if we work on making ourselves uncomfortable on purpose and are able to ride the wave of emotions, then the OCD is left "deflated". I feel then the OCD is like, "wait...they're making themselves uncomfortable..? That was my job and then cause them to panic and ruminate. Now they're taking my power from me?". To me, that's the power of working on sitting in that uncomfortability. By doing that, we take our power back from the OCD. Whatever sub-type you are dealing with, know you are not alone. OCD, man is a one trick pony. At the core of OCD is feeds off uncertainty and is being uncomfortable but We are all in good hands of NOCD. This is the best place to be. I've been dealing with OCD and multiple sub-types for over two years now (I think?) and I have my good days and my bad days. We have to learn to be compassionate towards ourselves. OCD is a terrible disease and those outside of OCD don't always know the severity of it. But as someone with OCD, it does get better. I'm honestly over-thinking as I'm typing this. Dealing with uncertainty. "What if I struggle, "what if I'm sending encouragement but fail", "what if xyz.." and so forth. But the heck with that. That cannot be my goal, or I feel anyone's goal with OCD. Trying to make ourselves go a single day, week, or month without intrusive thoughts, or compulsions makes it worse, in my opinion. To me, the best is to live one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time. The best judgement of success of dealing with OCD is us CONTINUING to live OUR lives the way WE want. Doing the things WE want and not letting the OCD dictate or direct our steps. Much love and God Bless💚