someone.71x
- Date posted
- 2y
Tips/advice
What are your tips or what's the advice you'd give to someone starting their journey towards healing from ocd?
ukolibedukolibed
- Date posted
- 2y
From my own experience - I wish I knew so much of what I know now and had I - I probably wouldn’t have gone down the rabbit hole..but here we are. I would say; - if you are overthinking and feel and urge to act a certain way, it is usually best to no do this or do the opposite of what your brain is telling you. E.g. ruminating. - you can’t out smart OCD and treat it with logic. OCD doesn’t work from logic and yet we always seem to think it does and that thoughts can be solved. - avoidance isn’t ERP and isn’t helpful. - thoughts can’t hurt me - There will always be another bad thought so don’t go down the rabbit hole of trying to solve them. Probably most importantly I think nothing I’ve read on any site or about other peoples experiences has shaped my journey, there’s been lots of setbacks and lots of progress but I’ve found my own routes of dealing with OCD. it’s a personal thing and of course you’ll find your own routes of this too. Oh and progress is never obvious
someone.71xsomeone.71x
- Date posted
- 2y
Thanks! I'm glad it got better for you What's your strategy? What are the rules you apply when dealing with this, and how did you figure out what works best for you?
ukolibedukolibed
- Date posted
- 2y
Thanks, I’m still struggling but the bad days aren’t as bad and relapses are still fairly frequent. Thought I’m getting better at seeing OCDs tricks…they’re very repetitive and boring. I really don’t know there is a strategy to it…I’d kind of compare it to doing something terrifying. For me the rush of dread and anxiety is like being pushed out of a plane over and over again (I’m terrified of heights). Each time is horrid but over time you learn when the anxiety is going to come creeping in and what sets it off and the ‘shock’ factor lessens. The best thing I can do when I’m having an episode is just to observe what’s happening - not to try and fight the thoughts but sit somewhere on the fence with it. The hard part is the involuntary thoughts where i often don’t realise I’m ruminating. You can’t undo these but only pull yourself back when you realise. I’m still working out what works best and still not sure but have more of an idea of what doesn’t work - that’s mostly trying to apply logic to something that doesn’t use logic.
someone.71xsomeone.71x
- Date posted
- 2y
Yes, not giving up is really important. Keep fighting even if it seems like it doesn't want to get better, you're stronger than your thoughts. And I guess just attempting to push the thoughts away and fighting them when they come is pretty hard but it can work after a while of trying I tried to apply the 4 step method to my issues but it doesn't really work because they don't follow the exact pattern and I can't avoid them, I can't go and do something else instead and that's what makes it harder for me What's more important is realizing that what you're experiencing isn't real and not being too hard on yourself if you fail, cause you can always try again Thanks for the advice, and I hope you feel better! You can leave your stuff here if you feel like venting or wanna talk more, I'd be happy to try and support
ukolibedukolibed
- Date posted
- 2y
Thank you so much I’ll have a read x
ukolibedukolibed
- Date posted
- 2y
Ah thank you and likewise! What’s the 4 step method? I’ve not heard of that one :)
someone.71xsomeone.71x
- Date posted
- 2y
https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/managing-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.htm#:~:text=A%20very%20useful%20self%2Dhelp,%2C%20Reattribute%2C%20Refocus%20and%20Revalue. I've heard it's pretty useful, and it challenges the way the person views this situation
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