ROCD

Hi Savvyrae, I can certainly relate to what you're going through. In short - for those with ROCD or any form of OCD, there are some helpful practices associated with simply accepting your thoughts for what they are. Thoughts by their nature are simply brain output in the form of images, words, etc. that we cannot control - and therefore they have no inherent truth or falsehood (regardless of the emotions they stir up). A great example of this concept is dreams. I could have two separate dreams tonight - one that I win the lottery and another that I get into a car accident. Both of these dreams can feel entirely real and can lead me to wonder what they mean, wonder if they indicate higher likelihood of winning the lottery or dying in a car accident, etc. But because they're simply my brain working on its own - they have no inherent truth. I am no more likely after the dream to win the lottery or die in a car accident. In summary, life (and we as people) are not our brains. With that established, the second practice involves accepting our thoughts. Because our brains can send us intrusive thoughts and distressing emotions over and over again, it's one thing to acknowledge our thoughts have no inherent truth, but to really move on from them it's even more powerful to accept whatever they're saying. An example in the case of ROCD might involve writing down over and over again "I am having the thought that my partner is not attractive enough. I accept firstly that this is a thought, and it may or may not be true because it's just my brain working. I think I find my partner attractive, but it's possible they're not attractive enough." Doing this repetitive exercise helps diminish the power of the thought and helps people come to terms with a) not only that this message is stemming from their brain on overdrive but b) comfort accepting whatever it is saying knowing that it's just thoughts and feelings, not reality. I pray this helps you. Just remember, there is always help and there is always hope! Godspeed on your journey :)