Does anyone else think of their ocd as like, a separate entity? I do, and I think it’s helped me a lot. I feel like it kind of is a parasite sometimes, especially with intrusive thoughts. What do you guys think?
Yes!! I call it the tapeworm, no matter how many times you feed it, it just wants more and more
I often have felt that I had another voice in my head that would compete me. Sometimes I feel that the distinction is large and sometimes it blends together. As I’ve gotten further into therapy and become more aware of it I have become more able to realize that the “voice” I’m hearing is OCD’s, and not mine. But that’s just me
I think its a reflection of our personality. Perfectionism in my case. But once you learn you have it and receive proper treatment, you can overcome it. Problem with ocd is we conceal it well and dont want to disclose our obsessions and compulsions because they can be VERY VERY ODD.
Yes, I can tell when I’m not me but sometimes it gets to me that I am those thoughts.
Hi NOCD users, I wondered if anyone is having difficulty separating yourself from your symptoms? We talk about this often during therapy sessions and within the ERP program. I understand that when you are dealing with these strong obsessive/intrusive, unwanted thoughts and images, it feels like it is a part of you! It is not a part you like or want. So many clients have shared how much they wish they could stop and how it feels like the OCD obsessive thoughts and compulsions are taking over their lives. They don’t feel like themselves anymore. This creates quite a dichotomy because what they believe can be the opposite of what they are thinking. How confusing this must feel! To believe in something so strongly and have your mind be telling you that you are the opposite in your thoughts. It can make you question who are are! This isn’t good for your self esteem/self worth. How much you like yourself and how valuable you feel as a person. Decreasing OCD obsessive thinking and compulsive actions is going to make you feel better. Staying true to who you are, not allowing the OCD symptoms get in the way of who you are inside. Challenge yourself to separate your “self” - who you really are including all of your beliefs - separate that true person from your OCD symptoms - they are just a thought and they are not real or factual. Let us help you separate yourself from these OCD symptoms, let us help you separate your true self from the uncertain thoughts. They are just that, uncertain. Learn to be more comfortable in uncertainty. We here at NOCD understand the pain this gives you and can help you by teaching you the first line treatment skills of ERP! If that sounds familiar to you, I hope this suggestion will help.
OCD isn’t a separate thing? It’s an integral part of who you are and what you’re experiencing. It’s not something sitting in the corner of your mind, it’s an integral part of your brain and it’s processes. Let’s be real here. You can put lipstick on a pig 🐷 it’s a cute little piggy 🐷, but it still rolls around in caca 💩.
I am conflicted if I should treat my OCD as a part like they do in IFS therapy (no bad parts) or if it's something I need to suppress and deny until it is "killed". I don't mean to make it into a personality but it can feel that way. I feel like i am always switching between both methods and when I try to take control I feel like I'm suppressing, then i deal with backlash and relapse, when I try to accept it and understand it, it starts justifying itself and bullies other parts then i stop caring to change. It's like i have inside me both a power hungry kid and a parent with no authority skills
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