I’m still starting to learn mine. They include… - Accidentally Doing something embarrassing or shameful in front of people you look up to (even small things) - Feeling super insecure on a day - Spontaneously get a message from someone who I like. - Waiting on someone I like to message me back. - See/hear/think of someone who is in trouble (in pain) and I get this feeling like I need to help them urgently!
That sounds almost identical to mine
@Invalid Really? Please tell me more, it’s nice to hear what others go through so I can see I’m not the only one.
Accidentally doing something embarrassing or shameful in front of people you look up too, the last compulsion I have into was following that. I had a plan with a friend and it didn't go as I hoped. Things change that are out of our control. I felt bad that the plans didn't go ahead, she said it was fine. I beat myself up and felt hyper responsible and caved into a compulsion. The trigger was guilt. Feeling insecure definitely felt bad. Self compassion helps. I did erp for that. Stress was the cause. Spontaneously getting a message from someone I like, that actually happened the other day. I'm in ocd remission right now and when that happened I was still flooded with anxiety. Did my erp exercises I practiced and completely calmed down in 20ish secs which to me I would've previously thought would be impossible. Trigger was uncertainty If anyone is in pain I used to feel the overwhelming urge to do something. It always confused me how a lot of others didn't. It's like the story of the good samaritan. This was difficult for me as I was raised to have strong morals and my compulsions were in line with them. Hard one to get around. Its OK to help people but you need to keep when to draw the line. I've helped people in the past and gotten way too involved. It can get you in trouble. Give a hand up, not a hand out. Be a guide not a martyr. It's OK to be empathic but not to the point of self destruction.
Gave into *
@Invalid Wow! Amazing! Please tell me how you did ERP to manage that. So so so similar, yes also when I hear of someone in chronic pain and suffering something that is just horrific, I can’t stop trying to do something for them, I want to fix their problem. And as a Christian, I mistake my OCD for the Lord’s guidance and I try to help them and go overboard.
@Justine2734 Erp was more to deal with the thoughts, then it was followed pretty much by forgiving myself for things that were holding me back. Stressful or traumatic events in my life. I felt like I've been guided by something too , but it was the recovery part, not before. Definitely get therapy and you'll be able to help whilst keeping that barrier you need to protect yourself. You don't need to be a martyr for every little cause. I'm guessing you know that but feel as if you dont do everything in your power to help , you won't forgive yourself right?
@Invalid Exactly!
@Justine2734 OK so know that you are a good person and have a beautiful soul and a big heart. It really seems like you want to help people but at the moment the balance within you is uneven. Go through the therapy, go through it with a goal in mind of who you want to be or become or what type of life you want and make that the light at the end of your tunnel and focus on it. Every time it gets tough in life, in erp, in any situation, just remember that and head towards that light. Tell your therapist about all of what you've said here as it will help them help you. Don't be afraid that you'll lose this caring part of you because you won't, you'll get to a stage where you want to help people and not feel the overwhelming urge that you NEED to. Which is where I'm at 😊 you remind me of the good samaritan and the good shepherd, but you can be better once you have that balance. I'd like to see how your recovery journey goes so I'm going to follow you on this app 😊
@Invalid Thank you!!! You know, I’m a born again Christian, so.. remembering that the Lord doesn’t put that pressure on me to do good… is a big help as well
I just realized tonight, my big trigger is believing, or having someone hint that I am such a case, a hopeless case.
I struggle so bad with intrusive thoughts. They can be so bad that I'll cry because I KNOW that's not how I feel or want to do. (Too embarrassed to say what they're about) I'll constantly try to figure out why I have them, and constantly figure out what they mean, causing me to constantly circle around and around. I had to get on anxeity meds, which helped a little but the thoughts still happen. How do you help yourself with this? How do you know that you're just not some physcopath? 😅
New to this app. Do members find it helps, I'm worried I will start obsessing over things I hadn't thought about before when I read other people's OCD triggers...
Does anyone else get fixated on one “topic” with their ocd?? like for me trains and guns are mine. like i’m scared of trains and im scared to be around guns because that’s what triggers my ocd and makes me convince me that that is the way to go. i literally worry myself into thinking im going to sh*t myself when i don’t even have a gun but my ocd convinces me. idk if im explaining it good, but its a real struggle. just need some tips & advice
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