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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dee012
- Date posted
- 24w
back on this app! any advice?
(Long read) hello everyone. i was out of the country for about 3-4 months and traveling. my ocd was not that bad at all and I was able to handle it even if it came up. on my way back home, it immediately started. i have learned how to handle it better, but i am more sad and just “awaiting” for something bad to happen. for example, i have sexual themed ocd. pocd and family related stuff, and also my ocd targeted my pets for about a year and it manifested into compulsions that disturbed me and made me not want to be around my cats. now that i am around my cats, i feel like “what if i harm them or do something bad?” or “what if you do those weird compulsions that happened before?” , when i look back on the compulsions that happened, it doesn’t feel like me and it was clearly driven by ocd, but it makes me worry i am just a sick person. i know myself and i know im not, but i had such a weird childhood and then ocd from 15 years old and up. so when these weird compulsions had happened , whether it was for the pet ocd theme or pocd or the family ocd, it feels like some sort of proof. anyways, i feel a bit for content with myself but i know how real ocd can feel and i just remember feeling so hopeless and suici da l, i just don’t want to go through that again. i take a more spiritual route of life and healing, and i wonder if anyone has some deep spiritual warmups or practices i could do to maybe open up my mind more? maybe to realize this is all in the mind? but also to not fight it… Not fight it meaning not let it take over my life. i racked up so much debt in therapy and i truly think i can get through this alone i just need a bit of help. but i dunno. any advice would help! thanks everyone ☀️
1231234
- Date posted
- 22w
Tips for someone starting out with Therapy?
I’m on track to getting my diagnosis and i’m already questioning it. Pocd feels so real, and even though i once saw someone say “it has to feel real or you wouldn’t worry” which is like god level reassurance honestly, it hurts. I can’t look at children, they deserve better. My usual attraction seems to be gone and i can not think about anything else. At the same time i don’t really feel anxiety. I’m scared i don’t feel bad enough, if i just smiled maybe i honestly wouldn’t feel bad? I don’t have many other ocd symptoms either, except for some stuff when i was a kid and like questioning everything about myself. I’m clinging to the hope that this is Pocd instead of me being a Monster and at the same time i’m so sad that i have to go trough this. I don’t like myself but i’m sorry for my younger self. I just want to be held and be told that everything will be okay but how can i know? Even then i feel like comfort of that kind only really applies to others who are struggling and aren’t horrible like me. In so many ways i sm convinced i am a monster even though it might be a bit irrational. Maybe i’m a monster after all and then i should really get away from everyone i love. They deserve better :( After a lifetime of struggles (nothing super serious) i’m just getting started with therapy and i’m so.. scared. What if it won’t help? What if it turns out i’m the bad person i fear to be. Is there any way i can prepare or some tips or literally anything else? I would appreciate any wise words
ConcernedSib...
- Date posted
- 20w
How to convince to start OCD therapy
I'm writing today as a concerned sibling. I respect you all for your hard work, sharing and the guidance everyone provides. I've been reading comments about how helpful OCD therapy is, but have yet to convince my sibling that it can help. They respond that they probably wont learn more than what they've already realized and that they can't actually stop the OCD behaviors for them.. I say that there are professionals with tips and would help to consult on ways to battle OCD. My sibling has realized that they cant give into the thoughts, but from that realization to action, is hard, as folks know. I've been taking note of people's reviews of getting better and plan to share those with my sibling, but does anyone else have other advice how to help them get more help? It seems the issue may be Contamination OCD and general (heavy) anxieties and depression (which has been around for most of their life). Thank you in advance for any more guidance.
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