- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
progress/compulsions
how to not develop the mindset that if you slip up and do a compulsion you are set back in your progress and all of your hard work is gone?
how to not develop the mindset that if you slip up and do a compulsion you are set back in your progress and all of your hard work is gone?
A slip up is a way to know what not to do next time. Your awareness is good that’s how you know work isn’t gone because you acknowledged it now the step is to not do that compulsion next time and remember if you give into one for a minute or five minutes or more you can always STOP and walk away.
I think it is good to accept the possibility of slipping up or even getting to the older states because then there is no pressure on yourself. Trying too hard creates resistence and therefore generates more problem. Just accept it as a journey that is one step back two steps forward. Also once you've gotten to this level, you know you can get there again.:)
When I catch myself doing compulsions mentally during exposure sessions, it seems alot of the time like the realization that I was just doing a compulsion is more distressing than the actual trigger I'm trying to expose myself to. It feels defeating having to admit the prompt at the end that I performed a compulsion yet again. I still think I've made progress overall, and generally speaking I don't think I'm performing compulsions as much as I used to, and my distress has also gone down noticeably (not completely) but exposure sessions have been kinda tricky for me from the beginning since its all mental. Additionally, I am a bit concerned that I could start using exposures to rid myself of anxiety rather than expose myself to it properly.
I've been doing well the past month in cutting down on compulsions and have been feeling better however, last night I had a set back that carried on into today. I had gotten very poor sleep (4ish hours) and then something triggered my memory. I think with the sudden anxiety spike and lack of sleep I didn't have the strength to ignore my compulsions. Last night and today I've realised I've gone back into rumination and mentally reviewing the event excessively again and comparing my situation to other people's, but most of the times that I start going down these rabbit holes I don't even realise I'm doing it? Also been fixating a bit on the fear that I've ruined my progress and that I will fall back into the deep end of it all again, that I have done so much work getting myself out of, although trying my best to not be too discouraged. Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with rumination more specifically?
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