- Username
- Anonymous
- Date posted
- 1y ago
For those who have loved ones with OCD false/real
Should you let them share their ruminations and intrusive thoughts with you? How do you listen but not reassure them?
- Username
- Chickens_FrogsChickens_Frogs
- Date posted
- 1y ago
I say just listen. Maybe just change topics without making it noticeable. That’s what I would hope people would do for me. People not listening to me though would not have got me off my thought loop. If it did then it would have just pushed me into depression side of my brain. That’s how I feel but I don’t pretend to be a professional.
- Username
- AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 1y ago
@Chickens_Frogs Listening I can definitely do. I like your advice of changing topics but at this point the content of the intrusive thoughts is hard to ignore. They think it happened and I know it sounds too absurd but don’t want to affirm whether it happened or not
- Username
- UH52UH52
- Date posted
- 1y ago
It’s indeed a very delicate balance, like being with them and offering a listening ear is undoubtedly the best thing to do, but since it’s OCD and there is a huge chance of reassurance seeking loop to get in. Then one of the best course of action is to listen to them and hear their worries, but at the same time tell them that it’s just OCD, you are safe and well, it’s just OCD messing up and it’s not at all their fault. So we can indeed stop answering their reassurance compulsions at the same time make them understand that there are people for them, and they are definitely not alone in their healing journey and are by no way singled out! Hope it helps!!
- Username
- AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 1y ago
@UH52 Thank you appreciate your advice here. By seeking out therapy, what do I hope my partner gets out of these therapy sessions? So far no tools or help provided by the nocd therapist
- Username
- UH52UH52
- Date posted
- 1y ago
@Anonymous I totally get it, therapy while incredibly useful does take a lot of time and understanding to start being effective, and it’s often not a linear progress too. And regarding what we might get out of therapy, it completely depends on what is the exact issue we are facing, the severity, the therapist doing, the approach using and all, if it’s ERP, then it’s by gradually exposing to our feared cases and thus slowly making the situation less fearful in the long run, but if it is central CBT (ERP also comes under it) and all it’s changing our unhelpful thought patterns by setting more realistic and helpful patterns in its place. The speed of the therapy, the effectiveness and all is completely dependent on each case! But usually it will make us handle such issues in the long run much better, and make us live a better life despite OCD. Hope it clears somewhat!!
Related posts
- Username
- lunalady
- Date posted
- 25w ago
Only Conscious Person Obsession
Currently obsessing over me being the only “real” or conscious person in the world, and that everyone I love isn’t actually real. I know deep down that this is ocd, but I feel like by not ruminating I’m just ignoring the fear (which feels so real and scary). Has anyone experienced anything similar and how did you get out of this worry? Trying not to seek reassurance as it’s one of my compulsions, but I’m very distressed.
- Username
- bb.99
- Date posted
- 23w ago
Rocd advice needed 😫
Can anyone share advice on how you differentiate between actual relationship issues and ocd issues? And also how to stay connected with your partner during a hard time? I get really frustrated with my partner (disclaimer: he’s a great guy and his heart is in the right place) but he’s not aching the way I want him to (I recognize how that sounds haha) one of the things is that he doesn’t show much expression or excitement when talking to me so it’s really hard for me to feel loved through that. I’ve expressed that time and time again (which could be a compulsion) and when he tries to improve it just feels disingenuous, furthering my frustration. It could just be that nothing feels good enough for me, or that I’m just fed up but then idk if I should make myself hang out with him as an exposure, or just be alone. I fear that I’m not going to get my point across efficiently, or that it’s just the way he is and it’s something I’ll have to put up with. When do I decide to take action and when do I sit back and deal with it as ocd?because for me it feels like there’s no way of knowing! i don’t want to sacrifice my needs but I try to resist a lot of what I’m thinking due to the possibility of it being a compulsion. On the other hand however, I could just be silencing myself and in turn being quiet and he is ok with that but I like a lot of communication as it makes me feel connected. This could be a real issue that persists, or it could be an ocd spiral…idk and I hate that because I just don’t know how to move based off that info so Im open to any advice!
- Username
- hopefulxmess
- Date posted
- 9w ago
Do/did you have this issue? Please help😪
When an intrusive thought comes I can’t just say “that’s not true” and just move on. I always feel like I have to disprove the thought and be able to say it with confidence but the problem is that the ocd doesn’t allow me to feel and say it with confidence so I get stuck for hours or even days. How can I stop feeling like I need to do this?
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond