Alcohol and Intrusive Thoughts

I don’t believe anything is coincidence, I myself struggle with harm intrusive thoughts. I have two cats, and I live by myself with them, and I love them dearly but I have intrusive thoughts that remind me of the possibilities of hurting them or myself, and I have never had a good relationship with alcohol as most people don’t, but when I do have strictly IPA beers, I enjoy it for a moment, and then my OCD kicks in and then, I will wake up “sober” with very very bad thoughts versus if I had not drank the night before or if I just stopped drinking altogether I feel so much better and I am able to manage my OCD much better. Alcohol absolutely will destroy any progress you have made with your OCD intrusive thoughts. I personally understand what it feels like to battle with the habit of using alcohol to just relax at the end of the day, but one thing that I can recommend is Kava. It’s a relaxing drink that will give you that same buzz, but without intoxication, and it almost allows you to free your mind safely and comfortably while you’re still in control physically. I know it’s hard to break bad habits, but if alcohol is a vice for you, and you’re struggling with intrusive thoughts, I’m right there with you and give yourself grace and allow yourself to grow. Growing also means repeating the same mistake again and again until you get it right.❤️

Wow I literally feel the same way when going out and drinking. I’ll have a good time but I then start to feel like I’m not as aware as I should be with my phobia. I used to be able to drink with no problem I’m not too sure when it started but I will try not to drink because of it. It’s super hard to trust yourself I’m still learning how to be able to know I am safe and aware even if I’m drinking alcohol. I feel even worse the next day I feel guilty and super off the whole day just thinking of whether or not I was aware or if I acted out in my phobia. It honestly the worst :(

Going through the same thing, my ocd has been good recently but i drank yesterday and my cheating ocd flares up so much - any moment im alone my brain will fill it with an image of me cheating and its so sad I just want to be normal and drink like everyone else but i dont think it will ever be possible :/

You are better off in my opinion. I wouldn’t sweat it.

I had to quit because I was getting awful false memories

Drinking makes my ocd so much worse the next day

Hey, I totally get how frustrating and confusing this must feel for you, wanting to enjoy your time like everyone else but then having those intrusive thoughts sneak up on you. It's super tough, but you're not alone in this struggle. 🌟 I'm no OCD expert, especially with this theme, so I think it might be helpful to share some resources that have been useful for me, if that's cool with you. The OCD stories podcast is something I've found really insightful; it shares experiences from others who are navigating similar challenges, and it might offer you some comfort or useful strategies. Also, there's this app called "unstuck OCD therapy tools" that my NOCD therapist recommended to me. It's pretty neat because it provides AI-personalized guidance and exercises exactly when you need them. It's like having a little helper in your pocket for those moments when the thoughts feel overwhelming. Might be worth checking out! 📱