someone.71x
- Date posted
- 1y
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
- 1y
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
- 1y
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
- 1y
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
- 1y
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
- 1y
Thank you so much I’ll have a read x
ukolibedukolibed
- Date posted
- 1y
Ah thank you and likewise! What’s the 4 step method? I’ve not heard of that one :)
someone.71xsomeone.71x
- Date posted
- 1y
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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trinii
- Date posted
- 25w
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vendel
- Date posted
- 25w
‼️I beat OCD. here are my best tips‼️
❤️we all just want it to be over already, but do not set a deadline for your recovery (e.g. "i give myself 3 months to get better") and let yourself go at your own pace ❤️accept that healing is a very, very non-linear process with highs and very dark lows.. it's a lifelong process for us those with ocd, when you stop suffering you start learning ! ❤️WITHOUT ruminating on this, identify the root of your obsessive themes. they hurt so much because they go after your deepest wounds. clearing out the fear or pain that stands at the base of your obsessions will help (e.g. my sexual ocd came as an emotional outlet for my inability to accept a new family member in my life) (e.g. my solipsism ocd came from the deep fear of being alone and abandoned) ❤️the truth will always surface. even if you have no hope anymore and not even asking for reassurance helps, put that last bit of your trust in the other people that are in good states of mind and who are trying to help you. remember that you're living by a distorted mind and if you can't trust your own brain, have trust in others. those who love you are your life net when you're down in the slumps. trust me. ❤️ocd can be caused by chemical imbalance. if you feel like you need it, don't be reluctant to try medication. it's important to have the correct dose and the correct meds. it may change a lot before finally being effective, but it can help A LOT. it was lifesaving for me. (I personally took 125 mg sertraline at 14 years old) ❤️cliche, but the exposure part of erp is in you already. we get exposed to relentless obsessions and terrors already by our minds, our part is the response prevention. throw yourself into the depths of uncertainty and fear by refusing to act upon your compulsions. any learned behavior can be unlearned, our brains are changing! 🧠 it does feel like we can't risk because we can't "know for sure" and we better be safe than sorry, right? well, screw this. unlearn these behavior and live life your own way. ❤️connect with other people with ocd. community is our pillar as humans, especially those communities who share our suffering. ❤️we tend to ask for reassurance a lot and other just reassure us because it's rational to them, not being aware thar it only causes us more pain as we have distoerted thinking. teach your loved ones to respond to your reassurance in a way that doesn't feed the cycle. (e.g. reassurance seeking- "hey, are you ABSOLUTELY SURE that I didn't hit an animal on the way back home??" ❌️wrong response- "no, you didn't, I already told you, I don't remember hearing or seeing anything!" ✅️better response- "I can see you are really distressed right now, why don't we go cook something together/watch a movie/paint together/etc.." ❤️keep your faith close to you. there is something bigger around us that surrounds us with love and takes care of us. even if you don't believe in a god, spirituality goes beyond religion. for me, this higher being was the sky, and everytime I saw the giant clouds I'd tell myself that they felt my emotions and they're watching over in my suffering. strangely enough, this pillar i built in the clouds was strong and really did give me a helping hand. who's to tell these connections we make are not real?
Lemon22
- Date posted
- 21w
Need help starting!!!!!
This my first post and frankly I am so scared. I was diagnosed with OCD as my first diagnosis, at only 10 years old. Ever since, my OCD has COMPLETELY overtaken my mind and actions. Im scared that if I ever get my OCD figured out and under control, I may loose a part of myself, because its so familiar to me and all Ive ever known. As someone who is ready to tackle their extreme OCD thinking, where should I start? I am open to any/all suggestions. PLEASE leave any advice that you recommend and that has benefited you in your own journey!!!! Thanks!
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