What’s the first intrusive thought you had that took you into an ocd spiral which eventually led to your proper diagnosis? This is a judgment free zone!
My first thought was about believing I drank a full bottle of bleach as a kid. One day at 9 years old just woke up and walked about into the living room and looked both my parents in their eyes and asked them if I drank an entire bottle of bleach under the sink. Feels insane typing that, but after that my parents got immediate help and I was officially diagnosed.
@Anonymous Wow! What parents you have🙏💪
@Anonymous So happy your parents stepped in for you!
@elliss2 yes and Amen!!
@bebecoll30 Thank you so much ❤️
My first intrusive thought that triggered the onset of my OCD was about losing my hearing. I was 9/10 at the time and had no idea what was going on. It ended up going away for a while but came back years later with different thoughts. About 2 years ago I had an intrusive thought about my sexuality and it all went downhill from there. I got diagnosed a few months later.
@blazed I know how scary the somatic ocd can be. Blinking used to get stuck in my head as a kid and i would hyper-fixate on it so badly i was scared it was never going To go away.
I was 7/8 years old I was obsessed with religion, I had to pray 3 times at 3 am. And also I had to ask every hour my mom if She loved me, I couldn't stop It.
But i didnt get a diagnosis for more than 10 Years, only when I started to have rocd and then hocd they finally diagnosed me with ocd
@Marharet I’m so sorry you went through this. I didn’t develop full blown ocd until i was 22. i am now 27 and learning how to successfully cope with this mental illness.
The first i can ever remember was a fear of getting attracted to a family member. I didn't develop ocd then but was still highly conscious around them. It went away and I haven't had it since but still have other themes of ocd.
I can’t remember I’m In such a mess right now I know I like men in veiny arms but I watched a vid about a women having them and now I’m getting a fealing that I like girls in veiny arms when I don’t I know I like men in veiny arms could u plz help me I don’t think I can live anymore like this I know I like men
@Anonymous I think if the thoughts are bothering you then they are intrusive it isnt you.
@lost_ Yhh
@Anonymous I watched a podcast recently about a fellow OCD friend who struggled with believing he liked men to the point of putting his face down when walking past other men because of the thoughts he felt and the things he thought he liked and wanted. You don’t like women with veiny arms. You like men with veiny arms. Go to google and remind yourself of the guys you like with veiny arms. Heck, even set one of the men with veiny arms as your phone background to put it in your mind and fight the thought. You got this.
@Anonymous Thanks u
@Anonymous I just at my female freind and I felt so thing I’m scared I don’t want to like girls I like boys
@Anonymous don’t be scared. you know you like boys. repeat it again, “i like boys”
@Anonymous Ok
@Anonymous Hi! I’m so sorry you are going through this. I think it’s important to circle back to this is a fear… not a desire. You are afraid there could be a chance you like women. Not the actual desire to be with women and afraid of others opinions. The obsessions are totally different from someone who actually has desires. If you desired it you wouldn’t be so extremely distressed and it wouldn’t even be a question to begin with. It would feel natural and right to you… i have had intense fears of becoming lesbian and even suffered from one that try’s to convince me that i want to be a man, when in reality that scares me to death and is the farthest thing from the truth. We give our ocd power when we argue with it, and when we do compulsions. It is cognitive distortions it is not real or logical thinking. unfortunately the advice that was given below with all due respect to them, is just a method of reassurance seeking. Putting a picture on your phone and repeating to yourself over and over that you like guys is just fueling the fire it’s exactly what your ocd wants to keep you in the loop. Instead, let the thoughts be there, acknowledge accept and say thank you. Continue to do what you planned to do that day, understand that ocd intrusive thoughts are a symptom of this mental illness. The content so much doesn’t even matter, i have obsessions about harming myself, about becoming bipolar or schizophrenic, ive had the insane constant fear of getting herpes even from sitting on a toilet seat and I’ve been scared of somehow deep down wanting to be a man. it’s all a crock of crap and lies, the brain produces junk thoughts with ocd! If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts i highly encourage you to call or text the Suicide support hotline. you are not alone and you will overcome this!
I can't remember it as it was long ass time ago, but the first real one I had a massive issue with, that brutally tortured me mentally for years was violent thoughts. Everyone was a target for these thoughts and nothing was off limits to how far they went. Imagine the worst stuff possible, it was worse than that. I tried repressing them so much that they became voices in my head as I dissociated myself from them. I knew they were me but it sounded like someone else's thoughts because I didn't want to believe I could imagine that stuff.
@Wolfram I’m so sorry, i know how hard that can be. I often have violent mental images when picking up a knife or scissors. Just remember ocd is a bully and it’s the opposite of who you really are. In reality you are probably a gentle and kind person.
@bebecoll30 That theme is long behind me. Thanks for the kind words though ☺️ I hope you get better too
@Wolfram Thank you so much!!
my first intrusive thought I was in first grade and my dad was watching some show on the discovery channel about demons and then I had a thought what if I get possessed by demon and for months and months I would refuse to go to sleep and cry all night long
I don’t have an official OCD diagnosis, but I will be asking my doctor tomorrow if I can get referred to a psychiatrist to get an official diagnosis. The way I came to the conclusion that what I’m dealing with is OCD is because a month ago I just started having the most horrible disturbing intrusive thoughts that go against all my values and beliefs and attacking the stuff/people I care about the most. Mind you, I have never had anything like this happen in my life. I feel that I have always been someone with a peaceful mind and one of the worst intrusive thoughts I can ever remember having before this happened, was “what happens if I cut my finger right now” while I was cutting fruit. That’s pretty much it. After this whole horrible intrusive thought spiral started happening I was so scared because I have never had such awful intrusive thoughts like this that were the complete opposite of me, it just quite literally started out of NOWHERE, and that’s what was so scary and terrifying. It was like my whole life got turned upside down because of this and I’ve been mainly isolating in my room, feeling so much anxiety and dread and guilt/shame. I get four of the same thoughts and one intrusive image repeating over and over again even if I would not try to think about them, and it caused me so much distress and anxiety that I would be so anxious and cry everyday just thinking how I could ever possibly think such horrible intrusive thoughts like that. It’s caused me insomnia which I’ve never dealt with before and I went three days in a row without being able to sleep no matter how hard I tried (even while taking melatonin). Other days I struggle so much to fall asleep due to the intrusive thoughts being much more present at nighttime, and even when taking melatonin that doesn’t do anything because of my mind being so active and having so much anxiety. Is this what they call an OCD flare up? After constantly looking up all the symptoms of ocd (the more and lesser known ones alike), I noticed there were some symptoms of it that I displayed in childhood when the ocd could’ve been more dormant or mild you could say (skin picking), because once again I have never had such horrible intrusive thoughts like this out of nowhere and constantly repeating in my mind that felt like they were out of my control. I noticed that these intrusive thoughts started on the second day of my menstruation when I was in a lot of pain and was feeling very emotional/stressed. One of the things I’ve heard a lot is that during the menstruation cycle is when ocd flares can happen more often due to the increase in hormones during that time, and I wonder if that’s what happened to me? I’m also overall such a big over thinker and have been for as long as I can remember. I also have had anxiety and depression since middle school as well. Any insight would be very much appreciated 😭
This my first post and frankly I am so scared. I was diagnosed with OCD as my first diagnosis, at only 10 years old. Ever since, my OCD has COMPLETELY overtaken my mind and actions. Im scared that if I ever get my OCD figured out and under control, I may loose a part of myself, because its so familiar to me and all Ive ever known. As someone who is ready to tackle their extreme OCD thinking, where should I start? I am open to any/all suggestions. PLEASE leave any advice that you recommend and that has benefited you in your own journey!!!! Thanks!
I don’t have an official OCD diagnosis, but I will be asking my doctor tomorrow if I can get referred to a psychiatrist to get an official diagnosis. The way I came to the conclusion that what I’m dealing with is OCD is because a month and a half ago I just started having the most horrible disturbing intrusive thoughts that go against all my values and beliefs and attacking the stuff/people I care about the most out of absolutely NOWHERE. Mind you, I have never had anything like this happen in my life. I feel that I have always been someone with a peaceful mind and one of the worst intrusive thoughts I can ever remember having before this happened, was “what happens if I cut my finger right now” while I was cutting fruit. That’s pretty much it. After this whole horrible intrusive thought spiral started happening I was so scared because I have never had such awful intrusive thoughts like this that were the complete opposite of me, it just quite literally started out of NOWHERE, and that’s what was so scary and terrifying. It was like my whole life got turned upside down because of this and I’ve been mainly isolating in my room, feeling so much anxiety and dread and guilt/shame. I get four of the same thoughts and one intrusive image repeating over and over again even if I would not try to think about them, and it caused me so much distress and anxiety that I would be so anxious and cry everyday just thinking how I could ever possibly think such horrible intrusive thoughts like that. It’s caused me insomnia which I’ve never dealt with before and I went three days in a row without being able to sleep no matter how hard I tried (even while taking melatonin). Other days I struggle so much to fall asleep due to the intrusive thoughts being much more present at nighttime, and even when taking melatonin that doesn’t do anything because of my mind being so active and having so much anxiety. Is this what they call an OCD flare up? After constantly looking up all the symptoms of ocd (the more and lesser known ones alike), I noticed there were some symptoms of it that I displayed in childhood when the ocd could’ve been more dormant or mild you could say (skin picking), because once again I have never had such horrible intrusive thoughts like this out of nowhere and constantly repeating in my mind that felt like they were out of my control. I noticed that these intrusive thoughts started on the second day of my menstruation when I was in a lot of pain and was feeling very emotional/stressed. One of the things I’ve heard a lot is that during the menstruation cycle is when ocd flares can happen more often due to the increase in hormones during that time, and I wonder if that’s what happened to me? I’m also overall such a big over thinker and have been for as long as I can remember. I also have had anxiety and depression since middle school as well. Any insight would be very much appreciated 😭
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