finding uncertainty really hard it feels like i've believed the fears outcome to be true i keep crying because i feel so hopeless and that i'll never get better i try and sit with the uncomfortable what if and anxiety but the doubt is so trying it's unbearable i can't switch my brain to something else i feel so stuck and scared i really don't know what to do anymore
I wish I had the answer. I’ve been struggling with this for a long time. You’re not alone.
I had trouble sleeping years ago when I was first diagnosed. But once I started Prozac for the ocd I was drowsy from the side effects so wasn't a problem anymore. But if I'm keyed up I can still occasionally have trouble. I get out of bed and drink warm milk and watch a relaxing show on tv and eventually fall asleep. Or maybe try to relax all your muscles from head to toe? Some people have luck drinking sleepytime tea but not sure if that has herbs that may interact with meds. Other people say eating tart cherries or drinking tart cherry juice can help. A lot of people have trouble sleeping nowadays who don't have ocd with our hectic lifestyle. I'm kind of religious so I will watch a religious show or just say "God, this is a lot right now, so I'm giving it to you to handle." I used to take yoga and that really relaxed me. Maybe just say "if I sleep I sleep if not I'll sleep tomorrow night" take pressure off and you may sleep? Good luck!
@Anonymous thankyou for your responses they do really help
I'm very glad they help. I've had it for years so I've learned quite a bit. I still have issues but can still live a pretty good life. I think if we work on it with therapy it will keep getting better. 😊
I feel you. I wish I had an answer too
Been there. People get better with therapy to where it doesn't control your life that much. Try not to give the attention ocd wants. It's trying to keep you from doing what you want. Set a timer for 15 minutes to do something that will make you feel better even if it's just putting laundry away. Or exercise. Even though ocd thoughts will still yell at you keep focusing on what you're doing. Let them be there. Sounds like you've done the ERP part now try to do something you like awhile? Or visit someone?Even when the thoughts are still there. Listen to the above podcast with Howie Mandel and Steven Smith. We just need to do the therapy even though it's hard. As Howie says in the video life is hard for EVERYONE. Shannon Shy has recovered from ocd and I bought his online program which has little reminder cards. One says "recovery is a marathon not a sprint" I'm noticing small improvements by doing ERP so notice any gains. You can get through it. I know you can. Years ago I used to think I had to figure all the thoughts out before I moved on to something else but you don't. I've found it's much better to DO something else. I hope some of this helps. 😊
@Anonymous thankyou i'll try i'm trying to keep calm while im anxious but it's hard
Sending you tons of support 😊 it's ok if you're not calm. Have you heard of ACT? Acceptance and commitment therapy? That helped me and a lot of ocd patients. It talks about accepting your thoughts and feelings and doing what you want anyway. Thoughts are just thoughts and may not be true. My therapist at ocd institute told me to look at life as half full not half empty. Even if it doesn't feel it, there's something good like a pet or people you love. Be kind to yourself and never give up. You'll get there. 😊
@Anonymous thankyou i'll have to give ACT a goes alright it's extremely hard and tiring we have no choice but to feel the scary and fears feeling the thoughts give us
You're so right. I know in my years of therapy therapists have said the people that get upset about these thoughts are the least likely to act on them. And my ocd says to me now a little " I sure hope I didn't say anything to NaggingOcd that made her feel worse. " They said in the podcast above and I've heard before 1 in 40 people has ocd so we're not alone.
any idea how to help me sleep while my mind is active and my body's on high anxiety mode
i'm trying the maybe maybe not method but i keep getting hit back with anxiety and the what ifs 😣 what else can i do 😢
I have a really hard time with harm ocd. It makes me believe that I would do in the near future surely something bad… And I don’t know what to do to make me feel better. I started to sit with uncertainty and accept the presence of my thoughts but it feels like I accept the content. I’m desperate, I think that I’ll suffer all my life with that. I know that there are ups and downs but those downs are really scary, demotivating, unhopeful.
I will preface this by saying I understand the goal is to not get rid of the thoughts but instead learn to tolerate the anxiety and uncomfortable feelings. But the thoughts/feelings/urges are getting worse. It’s to the point where it feels like I either want this or that there’s no way around it. I’m starting to feel like I’m not inside my body which is making it even scarier. I cannot even describe the amount of fear I feel right now. I am absolutely terrified. It feels like I’m about to snap at any moment and I just want to tie myself down. On top of this, because I'm having this experience, it feels like I need to be locked away. It feels like reality is slipping away. Please give me any advice you have. Logically I know all of this is just a thought but I cannot get over it.
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