This is why reassurance seeking is NOT so bad

When OCD strikes, and you turn to someone who knows you struggle and they say, Oh come on, you’ve been through this one before, and you always beat it. You know what to do. ^ This right here gives you some encouragement and makes you feel not so alone in battling the mind demon. And for the people who say yeah but that makes the OCD come back and you shouldn’t rely on others blah blah blah Well guess what? OCD comes back anyway. It always does, whether you tough it out or ask for some reassurance that you can, have, and will beat this thing Why not ask for support and comfort, when the struggle is real. It’s almost like not telling your problems to a therapist, and forcing yourself to suffer alone. Just my thoughts..

Username: NicaNica

Date posted: 51w ago

There’s a difference between seeking support and then working it out vs. constantly seeking reassurance by outright saying or posting the same question or wording it ever so slightly differently but its still the same question asked 5 times that same day. That doesn’t help you in the long run either OCD.

Username: SomaticSun🌤️SomaticSun🌤️

Date posted: 51w ago

@Nica 😂 I have seen that on here before, yes. Same problem/obsession, just different wording

Username: JazzCrabJazzCrab

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 51w ago

I agree with Nica. And I think one of the biggest differences is leaving the context out. Nothing wrong with occasionally telling someone "I'm struggling, I need some support", but asking "Is this normal? Is this a normal thought? Am I a bad person for thinking this?" etc, is more compulsive.

Username: SomaticSun🌤️SomaticSun🌤️

Date posted: 51w ago

@JazzCrab I just like to say.. the same repetitive crap is coming back to bug me. And everyone here already knows what I mean

Username: FJustRightOCDFJustRightOCD

Date posted: 51w ago

There’s a difference between healthy encouragement Nd validation and reassurance seeking :)

Username: FJustRightOCDFJustRightOCD

Date posted: 51w ago

*and validation I mean

Username: SomaticSun🌤️SomaticSun🌤️

Date posted: 51w ago

@FJustRightOCD I always wonder what people in general are doing on this forum. It can’t be purposely reading other people’s themes, that’s a potential trigger. Especially if you have something called open-minded OCD (what I like to call it) when your mind is constantly scanning for new, scary themes. If it’s to support others, in a way it could be a huge reassurance-seeking fest. I just come on here when I have a random thought to share, but I try not to read others’ posts because my a-hole mind will grab anything. Except for the sex OCD stuff, or physical compulsions. Unfortunately, 99% of my compulsions are mental. I’m fact, I’ve been told by a few therapists that they can’t even find the compulsions when it comes to me, more like it’s just intrusive games and images that play on autopilot. And when I say autopilot, I mean I wake up and I catch my mind already flipping thru 100 magazine pages at once before I’m even truly awake. Or seeing flashing lights changing from one color to the next, think like a street light going red yellow green but at warp speed. Creepy stuff I might try carnivore diet

Username: ocddreams

Date posted: 6y ago

Can someone explain to me why reassurance is bad for OCD?? I often have overwhelming anxiety that my boyfriend is upset with me. So I will sometimes ask him if we’re good. Even though nothing has happened to suggest anything is wrong. He knows I have terrible anxiety so he never makes me feel bad for asking. And as soon as I’ve asked I feel better.

Username: Catperson10

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y ago

Reassurance seeking feels intense

Hi ask in in the middle of an argument with a friend. And I'm having a major urge to seek reassurance. Like chest pain amount is anxiety level. I have failed my ERP today by trying to get reassurance but both people are aware of my OCD and rightly answered may or may not. Anyone have tips on how to get through this? I thought I was on the other side of this but OCD is raring up.

Username: willow93

Date posted: 2y ago

How to ignore a need for reassurance?

Sometimes I am triggered so badly that if I don’t receive automatic reassurance or consolation it feels like the OCD attack will linger until I ultimately seek out the compulsion (typically confessing to my mother or a therapist.) How do you go about your day when something so huge is nagging you? I need to go on a drive and visit my father but what I really want right now is for someone (usually an authority figure) to tell me that it is all OK.

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This is why reassurance seeking is NOT so bad

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