Username: NOCD

User type: Staff

Date posted: 51w ago

The ultimate guide to managing & treating OCD

Is OCD even treatable? What’s the best treatment? Can medication help? Should I try mindfulness? Questions about OCD treatment are common, and we’re breaking down the answers to some of the most popular ones in our ultimate guide to managing and treating OCD. Get the need-to-know details on: 🔬 OCD treatments backed by scientific evidence 🧘🏽‍♀ Habits that can help you manage OCD alongside evidence-based treatment 🔗 View the full guide: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/6-best-strategies-to-combat-obsessive-compulsive-disorder Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all potential OCD treatment options, but an overview of the most effective, accessible strategies for the majority of people with OCD. What questions do you have about treating and managing OCD? 🤔

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Username: bluefire2235bluefire2235

Date posted: 51w ago

I’m doing ERP Therapy and taking Fluvoxamine and my OCD is still flaring up with this image popping up no matter if I doing nothing or anything. Currently, this irritating voice is demanding me to not to say anything in this post or to anyone (including my therapist, support groups, or family members) or else catastrophic events will happen in the future.

Username: IfiknewthenIfiknewthen

Date posted: 49w ago

You can take all the medication in the world but its not going to change your personality, logic, or reasoning. From my experience the ssri may help you to relax or be more chipper, but that comes with side effects. You have to be willing to live with the fact that bad things might happen to you if you stop doing compulsions. You may have panic attacks, depression, anger, etc. And thats ok to have those things. Just keep pushing through them.

Username: Joe87Joe87

Date posted: 48w ago

@Ifiknewthen That's a great answer. I think you have basically summed up in very plain and simple terms exactly what we need to be able to do in our heads in order to beat ocd. The way I'm trying to see it is I either A) continue on with the compulsions which means something bad has happened already because compulsions make me feel ashamed, miserable and stuck in ocd Or B) Stop these compulsions and yes I am worried that after doing them for as long as I have now that there is a chance that something bad might happen but stopping the compulsions is literally the only chance I have of getting better I suppose I just need to keep telling myself this and that everything is going to be okay because even though I'm not sure if everything is going to be okay I'm also not sure that it isn't going to be

Username: loluhmae loluhmae

Date posted: 47w ago

@bluefire2235 i’m on fluvoxamine aswell, never knew others experience bad flare ups too. i also am experiencing that SAME VOICE. it feels like the world ends when i do speak.

Username: burns1burns1

Date posted: 47w ago

@Ifiknewthen I deal with it daily and live with no meds

Username: StrawberriesStrawberries

Date posted: 51w ago

We have 60,000 thoughts a day regardless of whether we are doing something or not. When what you described happens to me - including panicking - I'll say I'll never do xyz once and it's simply an intrusive thought. I'll also when possible replace it with something more positive. Yes the future is unknown but the chance of something bad happening is very little. When I have this thought I'll say to myself perhaps something good would happen; I don't think this way but it decreases my anxiety a bit. There is something called rjaftp that might help. I can explain if you want me to Thnxs for sharing

Username: oldinoldin

Date posted: 50w ago

@Strawberries I am interested in learning more, is RJAFTP it or is that a typo?

Username: StrawberriesStrawberries

Date posted: 50w ago

@oldin Recognise the intrusive thought, state just an intrusive thought, accept and allow it, float and feel (mindfulness), take your time with fandf and proceed with what you were doing before the intrusive thought started. From the book "Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, Or Disturbing Thoughts"

Username: olive3790olive3790

Date posted: 48w ago

@Strawberries What do you mean float and feel

Username: StrawberriesStrawberries

Date posted: 48w ago

@olive3790 "Float above the fray and allow the feelings to just stay there. Return to the present whenever you notice you are out front in an imagined future. Move from all that thinking into your current senses. (What can you see, hear, smell, and touch?). Concentrate on what is as opposed to what if. Surrender the struggle." I.e practice mindfulness, grounding etc after you have accepted and allowed your intrusive thoughts and the feelings that come along with it (meaning not avoiding it). I'll try and post screenshots. I hope this helps

Username: olive3790olive3790

Date posted: 48w ago

@Strawberries It does

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 46w ago

Replacing the negative thought with a positive one or affirmation is technically a compulsion so I'd invite you to sit with the unpleasant thoughts instead! ❤️🙏 You got this! I hope you're feeling better!!!

Username: oldinoldin

Date posted: 50w ago

If your insurance covers it, I highly recommend everyone getting a genetic test for medications. Mine is a rarer case but my GeneSite and IDGenetiX tests both showed that I cannot metabolize *most* pharmaceuticals out there! However this isn’t worth worrying about, necessarily - I knew there was something wrong because all medications had strong side effects and little to no positive effect even at very little doses.

Username: orjenny26orjenny26

Date posted: 46w ago

Thank you Strawberries, I have tried a version of this, but will focus more on allowing the uncomfortable feeling to pass and see if it helps. Thanks for the advice.

Username: rhaines rhaines

Date posted: 50w ago

@AlanalsStrugglingMentally

Username: Nica

Date posted: 47w ago

OCD Tools and Resources

Username: Haybug02

Date posted: 36w ago

OCD treatment without medication

Does anyone have any success stories or tips for treating OCD without meds? There’s a meds shortage atm where I’m at and, for a lot of other reasons, I’m thinking of stopping and going the therapy route more.

Username: Nica

Date posted: 32w ago

OCD Tools & Resources Repost

I always recommend seeking professional help because it’s safer and way more effective to do it with a professional since they know EXACTLY what to do. But if you can’t see a professional right now and you have no idea when you’ll be able to seek help from an OCD therapist due to money or where you live, here’s an extensive list of tools and resources to help you get better and/or stay recovered. -Look into OCD and Anxiety’s YouTube channel. They have an OCD course you can do for a fee, -Download either the Calm app or Insight Timer app for guided meditations, -Read ALL the books by Lee Baer and Martin Seif on OCD and anxiety, -Look into Therapy in a Nutshell’s YouTube channel, -Start doing yoga! Because exercise is good for you. I suggest the YouTube channel Yoga with Adriene, -Subscribe and follow the YouTube channel, Psychology With Dr. Ana for great mental health content, -Start watching Thich Nhat Hanh’s guided meditations and talks on mindfulness. Also, buy his books on meditation and mindfulness, -Look into OCD International’s website if you’re international (or is the US but having issues finding help outside of NOCD) for help, -If you are looking for inpatient treatment for extreme OCD, look up Rogers Behavioral center’s website. You can even reach out to them for help, -How To Stop Rumination Video: https://youtu.be/CkcspsmLh9k?feature=shared -ERP scripting: https://www.shalanicely.com/aha-moments/erp-scripting-for-ocd/ -The Hidden Power of Swearing at Your OCD: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/beyond-the-doubt/201711/the-hidden-power-of-swearing-at-your-ocd -Taking The Power Away From OCD: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/taking-the-power-away-from-intrusive-thoughts -Worry Script: https://www.anxietycanada.com/sites/default/files/WorryScript.pdf -What is ERP therapy: https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ocd-treatment/erp/ -What’s An OCD Trigger? https://psychcentral.com/ocd/what-is-an-ocd-trigger -The Psychology of Seeking Reassurance: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/reassurance-seeking-ocd-anxiety-how-to-stop-cycle -Grounding Techniques: https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/grounding-techniques -OCD vs. Phobia Differences: https://www.treatmyocd.com/what-is-ocd/info/related-symptoms-conditions/ocd-vs-phobia-how-to-tell-the-difference -ERP Techniques for Reassurance video: https://youtu.be/D1O3RGnLjRM?feature=shared —— I know OCD can be very hard to deal with, but this post is seeking reassurance, which only makes things worse. Here are some helpful tools and resources to help you through this: -The Psychology of Seeking Reassurance: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/reassurance-seeking-ocd-anxiety-how-to-stop-cycle -How To Stop Rumination Video: https://youtu.be/CkcspsmLh9k?feature=shared -ERP scripting: https://www.shalanicely.com/aha-moments/erp-scripting-for-ocd/ -The Hidden Power of Swearing at Your OCD: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/beyond-the-doubt/201711/the-hidden-power-of-swearing-at-your-ocd -Taking The Power Away From OCD: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/taking-the-power-away-from-intrusive-thoughts -ERP Worry Script: https://www.anxietycanada.com/sites/default/files/WorryScript.pdf -What is ERP therapy: https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ocd-treatment/erp/ -What’s An OCD Trigger? https://psychcentral.com/ocd/what-is-an-ocd-trigger -Grounding Techniques: https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/grounding-techniques -OCD vs. Anxiety Disorders: https://www.talkspace.com/mental-health/conditions/articles/ocd-vs-anxiety/ -ERP Techniques for Reassurance video: https://youtu.be/D1O3RGnLjRM?feature=shared

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