- Username
- mindfull
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Yes, like a kid you tell him not to do it because it will hurt but regardless he does it. In another hand is excellent to Have those triggers and provoque feelings on yourself like ERP until you desensitize and those triggers won’t have an effect on you
I just downloaded this app and am still trying to figure out ERP, really confused by it for some reason. For some reason I always felt like it was supposed to be the opposite. I feel like as I’ve been going to therapy my triggers and OCD has been getting so much worse. I know people say that it gets worse before it gets better but sometimes I feel so suffocated by it, and also super alone.
When I was younger my ocd was way different than it is now. It was a lot of touching the passenger side lock and unlocking and locking it the entire drive to school and being in a retail store and having to touch certain things and if I touched it I would have to bring it to my mom so she could look at it, and only then could I put it back.
Okay I definitely am understanding a little bit better now. I really have no idea what type of OCD I have and have been researching and trying to figure it out. My therapist has been amazing and giving me great tools but I just really need to try harder at utilizing them. The way I “cope” with my triggers is something I’m really trying to work on and I’m just trying to figure out what my situation is. I mean we’re human beings and all so very different yet so very similar, I feel like labeling mine would in fact become a trigger for me in a way. But that advice you gave about the 5 minutes a day is great, definitely going to give that a try tomorrow
@mindfull what kind of OCD do you have?
Unsure? I’ve been diagnosed since I could even think and have been on and off meds my entire life. I’m 24 and just now in therapy realizing that some things I have been doing since I was a toddler is OCD. It’s very overwhelming for me and I try to force myself not to do certain things but I know I’ll always do it anyways. I was fine a few months ago, I was meditating every day for like an hour. I know nothing is linear but I’m just trying to figure this out more, I’ve always lived with it but never gave much thought to it and let myself kind of suffer and just deal with it
I have contamination OCD so I hope I can try and give you my best advice for what your going through even though it might not be the same. Maybe try and find out what type you have that way you can target it better. ERP is exposure therapy so for example if you wash your hands alot after touching things. Try touching things and shaking hands then eating a sandwich. If your scared of public toilet seats go use one. It just gets you to realize your 1000% fine after you've experienced your fears. Try and make a schedule for yourself only 5 minutes a day allowed at a set time to think and dwell and talk about your OCD. Then the rest of the day live your life it will help you not let this consume your daily life. It might be worse because you are starting therapy and it is hard and very overwhelming. Time will help and keep your head up it will get better.
Try to stop your rituals. I know someone who had that OCD and he is no longer doing them! Its Absolutely possible but forever something you should keep up with therapy.
It's an every day struggle alot of people dont understand! I struggle everyday as well you are not alone. Wish you all the best!
Yes I guess I would call it a ritual! Great way to put it. The most complicated one that I do I cannot find on the internet anywhere and have searched forever. My Mom said I’ve been doing it since I was in the crib. I’ve read a lot about this reassurance thing on here and I think I’ve been searching for that for a while. I can’t find anyone who does the same thing as me but it doesn’t mean I can’t fight it.
Thank you!
Reasurance is the worst struggle. I left my house drove 20 minutes away and went back just to check if everything was shut off ? I would keep looking for someone who can relate to you. I haven't met anyone who has mine yet. I even tried looking for actual support groups and nothing so far. Found this app though lol!
I do things like that all the time. I’ve been looking for support groups too. But yes this app is a positive step in the right direction.
Have any of you been stuck in what feels like an OCD loop? It’s like being held hostage by OCD. It’s like everything becomes a trigger. Like there isn’t a part of the day where I’m not having intrusive thoughts because it’s the only thing my brain can think about. So every conversation I’m thinking of horrible things I could say, every time I pet my dog think of things I could do to hurt her, anytime I drive I think of hitting pedestrians, every time I’m alone I think of ways I could hurt myself. It honestly feels like my brains on fire I’m starting to think I might have some kind of destructive brain tumour because I can’t comprehend how this can all be mental illness. It’s the ‘urge’ I can’t deal with it feels so real. I’ve had mental illness and likely OCD my whole life but nothing has ever made me feel as scared and hopeless as this. I’ve been having horrible migraine attacks daily for months and I think the trigger is the stress and anxiety these thoughts cause. I feel like I can never rest. It’s like my head is caught in a vice and my eye sight is constant flashes and static. Blood tests normal and two eye tests back normal. I can barely work as my whole job is computer based. I don’t even know how I would begin to do ERP because it feels like I’d have to tackle EVERYTHING about being alive! I also don’t think I have any compulsions. If I do none of them provide any relief so it’s basically just me feeling like I’m going insane every single day since October. It’s impossible to relax when my brain thinks we’re either going to die of a brain tumour or going insane and hurting myself against my will or doing something to someone else that would mean I would have to kill myself. My brain honestly believes it’s inevitable I won’t be along for much longer and it’s petrifying. I don’t know how to get better until I can reset my body to get out of this cycle. How am I supposed to move forward when my brain and body is in constant fight and flight? Does anybody relate? My brain doesn’t even believe this is OCD anymore… I guess this is reassurance but I’m having such a terrible time.
I get triggered by so many things. It's always video games. I will always ruminate and I can't stop. It's terrible
I don't know why maybe it's the OCD in me but I just can't comprehend why I'm currently so stressed about my relationship and questioning my feelings towards my boyfriend because I thought about changing the color of my hair or the way I present myself physically??? My brain immediately associates "change" with "this means I'm probably unhappy with my relationship and that I want it to change too" why??? I don't want to have these thoughts and I don't want to associate every little desire I have to change my routine or my appearance with breaking up with my boyfriend. Anyone can relate to these triggers too?
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