Chris85Floki
- Date posted
- 1y
Can anyone explain?
Hi, I pretty much understand ocd but can someone explain it to me in a simplistic way. Thanks
[Deleted][Deleted]
- Date posted
- 1y
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VGHVGH
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Hey hang in there. I was once where you are. I literally spent hours a day locked in the obsessive-compulsive cycle. Have you reached out to NOCD for therapy? It was life changing for me. There is hope, have you explored NOCD's YouTube channel, there is great info there. A book that helped me so much was "Needing to Know for Sure" by Winston and Self. Something that helped me was to understand we are not trying to stop the thoughts (no matter how terrible they are). The things we do to try and relieve our distress is actually making the OCD worse. Rather than trying to stop the thoughts or convince yourself you are not your thoughts, learn to accept that you have OCD, you have intrusive thoughts, the thoughts make you uncomfortable AND that's ok, but don't engage with the thoughts in any way. Let them be there while you go do things you value. It's going to feel horrible, irresponsible and that's ok. By allowing the thoughts to be there, and doing nothing about them, you are showing your brain these thoughts are not important. It takes time and practice, but over time, you will get less and less of the thoughts and the emotions that accompany them. You see, when we pay attention to the thoughts it's like we are shining a big old spotlight on them and of course it's hard to ignore something that a spotlight is shining on. It definitely takes practice living your life anyway, but I'm here to say, it does get easier. Wishing you all the best.
Chris85FlokiChris85Floki
- Date posted
- 1y
@VGH Hi, thanks can I do what you said without a therapist?
VGHVGH
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
@Chris85Floki Yes, I believe it’s possible. Of course, having a therapist trained to deal with OCD is ideal. It’s difficult to be objective with ourselves, especially when we are triggered and in heightened emotional states. If you don’t have a therapist, it’s important to have support from people who understand how OCD works. I tried for years without a therapist, I was never able to do the really difficult exposures on my own. But, I didn’t have any support. There are more affordable options/programs that can help. Nathan Peterson, Jenna Overbaugh, Kimberley Quinlan all over alternatives that are more affordable. I’d suggest you read/learn what you can, reach out for support. Here is a link to a discord server that is very supportive and allow direct messaging I am GH there, I’d be happy to offer support https://discord.gg/WJdNFd45tY
VGHVGH
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Let me try, obsessive-compulsive disorder is a cycle of behaviors that we do to alleviate distress caused by a thought, feeling, urge or sensation (these are called the obsessions). We get a thought, feelings, urge or sensation that causes us distress. The distress may come in the form of thoughts, urges, feelings/emotions, and sensations. They are very uncomfortable (and that is putting it mildly). We then try to get rid of these thoughts, feelings, sensations, urges. We may try to prove them wrong, figure out what they mean, ask for reassurance from others or try to reassure ourselves. We may even perform behaviors such as washing, checking, counting, praying, the list is endless based only on a person's imagination. Sometimes these behaviors we do to alleviate the distress work and for a time we will feel better. Sometimes. However, and this is why this disorder is the OCD cycle or loop, the next time the same subject comes up (or it can be a totally different subject that creates doubt and uncertainty) we will feel the need to do the same or similar behaviors (compulsions) to get rid of the thought, feeling, urge, sensation. To recover from OCD, we have to break the cycle. When an obsession (thought, feelings, urge, sensation) comes up, rather than trying to get rid of the distress by doing compulsions (behaviors such as reassurance seeking, checking, ruminating, praying, etc.) we learn tools to use such as ERP, ACT, Mindfulness. We learn to allow the distress and not engage with the thoughts, urges, feelings and sensations. There are effective therapeutic tools. I had untreated OCD for over 35 years and I was able to overcome it. I hope this helps.
Ellie4 Ellie4
- Date posted
- 1y
I asked chatGPT to explain it in a simple way and this is what it came up with: “A person with OCD experiences obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are thoughts, feelings, or images that bother you a lot and won’t go away. They can make you feel scared, sad, or angry. Compulsions are things you do over and over again to try to make the obsessions go away or feel better. They can be actions, like washing your hands or checking the door, or mental, like counting or praying. But compulsions don’t really help, and they can make your life harder. People with OCD have both obsessions and compulsions that they can’t control. OCD is a problem in the brain, but it can be treated with therapy or medication”
Ellie4 Ellie4
- Date posted
- 1y
Is there a specific part of it that you’d like to understand better?
Chris85FlokiChris85Floki
- Date posted
- 1y
@Ellie4 Thanks :) what I struggle with is I know it’s just a thought and not doing a compulsion won’t make bad things happen but I still feel I have to them.
Ellie4 Ellie4
- Date posted
- 1y
@Chris85Floki I have the exact same experience, I think it’s part of OCD. I even pray sometimes as a compulsion and I am an an atheist!
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- Date posted
- 17w
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Joe87
- Date posted
- 15w
Is OCD basically thoughts that are stuck?
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AnthonyB71
- Date posted
- 10w
Mild OCD and mostly compulsions
I think I have mild OCD. Maybe that's why I can't relate to many of the difficulties experienced by other posters. My OCD is more on the compulsion side performing certain rituals at key transitions or points during the day. I honestly cannot figure out what the underlying obsession is other than some kind of weird mental hoarding to acknowledge and cherish a moment but also to protect my family and even my pets. I get little or no anxiety (I used to when I was younger). Even mild OCD absolutely sucks and is debilitating to an extent.
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