Somatic OCD

@Anonymous I definitely feel you on this. I have health anxiety. I also have the breathing awareness and manipulation. It’s very distressing but learning to just let it be and go about my day. Progress is slow but I’m hopeful. Have you been seeing a therapist for this? I have and it definitely helps. Those the are tools I’m using to conquer this.

@Anonymous Really it’s just acceptance, sitting with the discomfort and not avoiding it. Overtime this will get better, but you have to put in the work to just let it be and move about your day. The more you put negative attention or do compulsions, the longer it will stick around.

@Anonymous OCD feeds off compulsions and anxiety. If you can tell yourself this is just your OCD and it may or may not get better, that will go a long way in recovery. Hope that makes sense.

@Anonymous Unfortunately it’s not a quick fix. If you can keep applying your ERP and avoid safety behaviors and conclusions, it will lessen over time. It’s not an instant fix. I’m sorry to hear you are struggling, it’s not easy, but I have faith if you put in the work you will see results.

@Trish18 Thanks, I’m trying my best. I think what triggered me today was seeking too much reassurance or trying to find an answer. I’m getting impatient. If you went through this, what did you do in ERP therapy to get over breathing awareness?

@Anonymous I’m going through it right now. I’m also impatient and thinking it will never end. But my ERP is to sit, notice and do nothing when I have the sensations and just identifying it as OCD and going about your day. The less you react or give fuel, it trains your brain to eventually not fear or create anxiety around it. Also doing some breathing exposures to reduce anxiety. How about you? What are you learning in ERP?

@Trish18 During my ERP I have to run around to get my breath up then come back and sit and either do nothing or try and focus on my homework. Then once I notice breathing try to focus on what I’m doing. Do you do meditation or breathing exercises?

@Anonymous I want to try meditation. I think it might work well. It’s on my list to find a guided one online to try. No breathing exercises as it’s counter intuitive to OCD. It actually reinforces there is a problem when there is not.

@Trish18 Okay, I think I may try meditation. I can see how it would make us think there’s a problem. Has this stopped you from doing what you used to enjoy or are you breaking through those fears? For me it’s caused me to not want to make plans with my friends because I worry I’ll feel bad and they will notice.

@Anonymous I push myself to go out and do everything I need too. This helps show OCD you are not afraid. I may feel like crap, but I push myself. I’m sitting at my sons swim lesson as we speak feeling crappy, but doing it. I think you should start small and do the same, push yourself. Keep doing ERP and try and eliminate the compulsions. Are you on medication? It may help in conjunction with the therapy.

@Trish18 I am pushing myself to do things I need still. But going out and hanging with friends is hard for me now. I did it last week and it made me feel very anxious but I got thru it. I may start going on medication cause it’s getting hard to manage on my own.

@Anonymous Good for you. I would definitely recommend getting on medication. Just know it may make it worse before it gets better.

@Trish18 Medication makes it worse at first or u mean the process makes u feel worse before getting better? Yesterday I felt pretty good and myself for once in a while. Then when I went to class I started getting anxious and not focusing and it ruined my day.

@Anonymous Medication can make you feel worse at first before it gets better. Can take 4-8 weeks to feel the full effects. Everyone is different though.

@Trish18 Oh then maybe I won’t use it.

@Anonymous I think it’s worth investigating with your doctor if you’re struggling so much