compulsion/self compassion

how to not get frustrated with yourself when you do a compulsion (especially if it’s one that you always do)

Anonymous

Date posted: 1y

Through therapy, I've learned some interesting things about the brain. When you do an action so much (in this case a compulsion), your brain moves it from the conscious side to the subconscious. Similar to how you know how to ride a bike, or you can be driving to work, zone out, but still get there safely and think, whoa how did I do that without paying attention. It's because it's a process that your subconscious recognizes so it's automatic. That's also what happens with compulsions. You've done them so much that now they're stuck in the subconscious part of your brain. Your brain just does them without you really knowing. But the fact that you're recognizing that you're doing them, and getting help is great! Like the others said, it's a journey but tell yourself at least you're working on it.

J1000

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y

Just understand it’s a learning process and the healing process is an rollercoaster ride with many ups and downs. One of my OCDs is checking the doors often to make sure they are lock. If I do a compulsion and double check the locks I usually say “Damn dude you had it locked and are ahead of the game. Now I know I’m on it and I don’t need to check for next time.”

WorriedWart

Date posted: 1y

Sometimes it's hard to win against what our worried brain is telling us. It happens to me a lot too. I haven't really thought of self compassion for myself until I read your question. It's alright, as simply put as that. We can't be expected to cure our compulsions overnight, and progress isn't always an incline. One day in the far future our compulsions won't be as big problems as we put them out to be today

Joe87

Date posted: 1y

I'm also working through this

Tony Davies

Date posted: 21w

Question

What to do when we feel guilty about our ocd checking and compulsive behaviors?

smiles72!;82@

Date posted: 21w

Compassion

So I just joined and I’ve been reading through this forum. And I feel a strong sense of compassion for everyone here. Reading about people’s OCD concerns shows me that people with OCD may be particularly sensitive and caring. I have struggled with OCD since I was a kid, but having compassion for other people’s OCD is helping me have compassion for myself. Maybe that perspective might help another person. If we can have grace for another person, we can give ourselves grace as well. I’m working on self forgiveness and gentleness when normally I beat myself up for my intrusive thoughts

moon0270

Date posted: 17w

Realised I have another compulsion

I actually didn't realise this til now because I just assumed it was a coping mechanism from when I was really young. But when I tend to get stressed out or overwhelmed, I'll often start talking out loud to myself (which mostly means just whispering to myself because if i spoke really loudly, my mom would hear me lol). But nowadays with my fear of being surveilled, I keep having to catch myself because it's such a habit at this point for me to whisper out loud. Especially with me trying to reason through my false memories or really bad intrusive thoughts. Another compulsion. And then I keep thinking omg did I have my phone with me when I said that. Is anyone watching me rn? What if this person (that probably doesn't even exist) thinks my thoughts are true? What would everyone else think? And then I spiral afterwards. It sucks because I feel like I'm policing myself even when I know these are all just things I'm saying out loud and they don't mean anything— they're just thoughts after all. But I have this worry that if someone overheard me or all of this was suddenly revealed, that it might change how people see me or people might hate me or think i'm a bad person. And then I worry about me being worried about that because then I ask myself would a good person be worried about this? Anyways, another long post with me waffling and rambling. Thank you for taking the time to read this ❤️‍🩹

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