Help! Need advice :(

I don't know what to do or how to stop this : ( if anyone has advice please, please let me know! It's happening to me that whenever I watch/read TV at night, get into an argument with a loved one, or haven't talked to them for a while I start to have intrusive thoughts/images that they're gonna get fatally hurt. For example, about seven months ago I had a car accident. I don't think I was left necessarily traumatized, but rather every time I have (the previously mentioned) intrusive thoughts I begin to reimagine my loved ones in that same (or similar) situations... and no matter how much I try to NOT acknowledge them...they often lead me to having anxiety or panic attacks. The only way that I seem to be able to stop these intrusive thoughts is by sleeping it off… but then that leaves to lack of productivity throughout the day and affects my life… I try my best to not give in into compulsions…especially because I also have dermatillomania so I KNOW that if I DO give in…it’ll end up bad. I’ve tried writing things down to see if it helps to calm me down. Although that did work for a while, I’ve started to feel/think that if I write my thoughts down they’ll increase possibility of actually happening :( so I’ve stopped doing that for a while now. I don’t know what to do anymore!

Username: UH52UH52

Date posted: 38w ago

Totally get it, it’s indeed so difficult to feel that way especially when we are trying to resist falling into compulsions and it’s loops, but no matter what, our thoughts and the actual reality have no direct relation at all, I clearly know it might definitely not feel that way now, but thinking or even writing down something never have any direct cause or consequence to the real world or situations, we just “feel” that way due to OCD and anxieties that clouds our judgement, it’s definitely not a cause and effect, reality is indeed independent of all this. So by understanding that what we feel are definitely not facts and have nothing to do with the actual reality would help us keep a perspective in the long run, and moreover just being kind to ourselves, it’s cliche, but still completely forcing ourselves to “not” do anything, even compulsions, would actually backfire and work paradoxically making us more in distress, so understanding it’s not on us and it’s the nature of the disease so be gentle towards ourselves as it’s never our fault to control it, might help a bit to gain a bit more clear picture on the issues at hand as time passes!!

Username: Mang0c@ttoMang0c@tto

Date posted: 38w ago

@UH52 Thank you :) Yeah! I agree. I feel like part of me knows all this already, knows that neither my loved ones or I are in actual danger…but another part of me cannot let go off that thought. I didn’t mention this in my main post, but that day of the accident I was having a really bad feeling/intrusive thought that something bad was going to happen. Coincidentally, the accident happened that exact day..so it’s been making me think that my intrusive thoughts could happen :/ despite how much I try to reassure myself that it isn’t the case

Username: UH52UH52

Date posted: 38w ago

@Mang0c@tto I can completely relate to this, like I personally even knowing that my loved ones are “technically” safe, won’t even let them leave alone fearing about their safety, like what you pointed out is the essence, like just “knowing” things won’t help a lot especially because we are dealing with OCD and intrusive thoughts that don’t deal with logics but pure emotions!! And definitely such coincidence that seems too real like having an intrusive thoughts and then that happening might be next to impossible to reason, like technically it happens due to our own confirmation bias and pure coincidence, but sadly such logical arguments hold little value in front of irrational OCD!

Username: Mang0c@ttoMang0c@tto

Date posted: 38w ago

@UH52 Exactly 😓

Username: Don’tLoveDrama-itLovesMeDon’tLoveDra...

Date posted: 38w ago

I get it sometimes writing it down makes it more real. Also I actually sorta relate to this post in a way I didn’t know others felt so thank you for posting it. Anyway, this is simple but hard to apply: You cannot think your way out of rumination. Another thing is Diaphramic breathing (look up a video on it) Breath in though nose for 5 seconds Then HOLD for 5 (trust me the hold makes ALL the difference) Breath out through mouth for 5 seconds REPEAT each time in-between trying to find: 5 things you see 4 things you can touch 3 things you can hear 2 things you can smell 1 thing you can taste Tip: try to look at BOTH sides of the room your in/alternate when finding the 54321 stuff This will be like bilateral stimulation and get the LOGICAL side of your brain working👍 I know this is WAY easier said then done especially after a fight with a loved one etc. but calming down is the only way you can have a reasonable conversation💗

Username: Mang0c@ttoMang0c@tto

Date posted: 38w ago

@Don’tLoveDrama-itLovesMe Thank you SO much for explaining this…I’ve heard of it before and tried doing it but it never really made sense on how it ACTUALLY worked…so thank you. I will try it next time..!

Username: Don’tLoveDrama-itLovesMeDon’tLoveDra...

Date posted: 38w ago

@Mang0c@tto I’m glad!!!! Yeah I also don’t really try methods to help unless I understand how they work

Username: jelpk

Date posted: 5y ago

LONG POST: Can someone help me by answering this? I’ve had intrusive thoughts before but I used to just push them away. In September, I had intrusive thought about life after death and it sent me into a spiral of fear and anxiety. I had trouble falling asleep and focusing during the day. I went to see a therapist a month later. It was a walk-in session and they told me to do CBT. Accept uncertainty and move on. This gave me even more anxiety. Eventually, with meditation, i was able to keep the thoughts at bay. Then in December, I began to have intrusive thoughts about my sister. They were sexually disturbing and I even wished that I could have intrusive thoughts about death again. I then it switched to sexual thoughts about my brother and he’s only a kid so I feel even more disgusted by myself. It’s been like this for three months now. I’ve tried meditating but it’s not doing much. I’m ashamed to tell my parents and I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid I’ll act on the thoughts all the time. Then I wonder if I actually want to have them. It’s so draining. I hate waking up each day to these thoughts. I wonder if I actually want to have them since I have had them for so long. I’m so frustrated with myself.

"Pure" OCD

Username: G.M

Date posted: 43w ago

I need to rant

Hi, so I’ve been dealing with OCD for the past four years intrusive thoughts and all. At first it started with being scared of panic attacks then the thoughts went to being scared I’d harm myself and now they’re associated around harming other people especially my family which is very very scary. It feels like I’m deeply rooted a bad person. I can’t even tell anyone my thoughts. It also makes me confused on if I want these thoughts. I’m not even sure if I have any compulsions bc I try to just ignore the thoughts and distract myself. Lately I’ve noticed my anxiety getting a lot worse Notjhing seems to calm it down anymore and I just want to stay alone in my bed and make it all go away. I’m scared I’m scared of myself and I’m scared these thoughts could happen one day and I’m scared I want them. Sometimes my thoughts can make me feel like that… does anyone have any good resources im doing ERP but it’s so expensive. I haven’t tried medication but I want to I’m just scared it will make me worse or make me gain weight. But I’m at the point where I’m desperate and something needs to change bc I can’t live like this. I feel like I’m fighting my thoughts all day. And one second I feel confident I’m ok and the next my whole body gets hot and I feel like it’s all possible and I want these thoughts. Someone please give me advice?

Username: Godisgood777

Date posted: 37w ago

I need help asap

I struggled with severe ocd since I was in 2nd grade and now I’m turning 19 so I’ve had it basically my whole life, I’ve had it bc my dad abused my mom when I was little all the way up until I was a teenager and it really hurts me and affects my life. I have intrusive thoughts and images of loved ones getting hurt and I constantly overthink about my relationship and it got worst since I became a mother bc I ALWAYS worry about my daughter and I’m scared and it makes me panic I always think that if I listen to certain songs,take showers,get cute,put on certain clothes,or just take care of myself in general that something will happen and it makes my mental health worse and i have severe anxiety I struggled with pyschosis for 2 weeks and addiction to pills I don’t have money to get a therapist or even health insurance please help me how to stop it bc even when I try to let the thoughts pass through it hurts me and makes me freeze and not even be able to breathe bc of it and I can’t even say certain words bc I overthink that something will happen and it makes me want to take my life

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