How do you get through tough days?

Hey, great question :) I try to make healthy eating and exercise a priority, and I, too, notice that when I do OCD tends to be less noisy. Thanks for sharing that. It's really important to realize that no matter what our theme, we can't possibly "prepare" for everything that will trigger us. What we prepare for is handling the triggers, so no matter what pops up, we handle it the same way (non-engagement). For me. it's kind of an ERP lifestyle. Something just came in the mail that triggered me. I found myself wanting to take care of it immediately, made a call, it's something I'm going to have to wait on. Previously, that would have been a problem for me - I would have done a ton of checking, reassurance seeking, rumination compulsions. I realized I was headed down the rabbit hole of compulsions, I made the decision to allow the uncertainty to be there. I decided to hop on this community to engage with people (a value). Every time I start to judge the situation, project ahead as to what is going to happen, wish it hadn't happened etc. I note that "OCD rabbit hole" and redirect my attention back to what I value.

My therapist explained it to me like this: What is the function of the behavior you are doing? Is the function of the behavior to relieve your uncertainty? to decrease your distress? Is there an urgency with which you need to perform the behavior? For me, note taking was a compulsion because I felt an urgency to do, the function of taking notes was "to be sure" I covered every angle, and to have something to check later on if the same worry came up. Initially, I didn't think so, I would journal about the trigger and then I would feel better. But, I found myself having to reread what I wrote the next time the doubt came up. Then I found myself checking the journal again and again. However, if you find yourself in a rabbit hole and taking notes gives you clarity, allowing you to move on without having to review, check, etc. then maybe taking notes gives you the space to move through the obsession. Exercise works that way for me. If I'm triggered, I find exercising allows me to put some distance between my trigger and my brain. Exercise isn't something I have to do for relief. I often don't really want to exercise, it doesn't function as an urgent behavior that relieves distress, rather, I know from experience, that it gets me out of my house and out of my head.

This is so helpful. Thank you so much. It definitely makes me feel less isolated by OCD. And maybe I can take up exercise as a coping tool.