Has anyone got any tips on how to fight the feeling of wanting to avoid and escape? That’s my main compulsion, wanting to sleep to avoid my thoughts and feelings but I can’t spend my life in bed. I have a young son! I’ve fought this before but it’s so difficult. Anyone know a way to make it any easier? The feeling is so intense
This is me during an “OCD moment”…. Yesterday I was in this exact situation. I called off work and laid in bed all day. Honestly, I didn’t feel any better and I didn’t sleep much regardless. Today I decided I was just going to take the first step of getting out of bed and dealing with whatever I need to. I’m still stressed and anxious as I sit at my desk, but I am believing/hoping that this will soon pass because I’m “pushing through”.
Show yourself compassion first of all. I think for me - you have that STRONG avoidance feeling or blank feeling and you need to push your energy to just STOP - do t think about it, just jump up out of bed or yell stop in your head. Then start small - just do a small part of what you have been avoiding. Every day do a little more. Don’t overload yourself and remember your trying to build a healthy lifestyle and habits - it takes time - don’t put your body in a crisis by doing more than you can handle. It’s better to go slow and steady, building your tolerance, just like ERP. :) I hope this is helpful. You have got this!
@BrazenSam Thank you. The issue is I can’t go as slow as I’d like as I need to go back to work Monday and also need to look after my son! What I’m avoiding is being awake and feeling my feelings
@Jennielouises That’s so much pressure. I’m sorry this is all happening. Do you have outside help? Also making a list of the “must do” items so there are clear priorities might make things mentally easier. Either way though that’s a tough spot and I’m sorry.
@BrazenSam I do think your comment about just yelling stop is right though. I know I just need to get on with things. Then when I’m functioning better I can tackle all the compulsions once and for all. I have had treatment in the past and I have a habit of getting myself functioning then stopping treatment. Sometimes without realising it. So then I fall again. I guess if I continued it everyday then I wouldn’t fall as hard!
Need tips on battling intrusive thoughts.
Sitting with a thought, feeling incredibly uncomfortable. The physical effects of not giving into a compulsion are not often spoken about. Nausea, headaches, weakness, rapid heart beat, cold shakes (all a result from anxiety I assume). Any recommendations to aid this? I’m really trying not to give in 😕
I tend to avoid situations where I feel I could become uncomfortable or anxious, or things can trigger an unwanted thought. Avoidance seems to be the biggest thing I struggle with. Once I get a bad thought about a situation, I want to avoid it as much as possible. my mind runs so many different scenarios of unwanted thoughts happening, which makes me want to avoid the situation altogether. because then I start to feel anxious and panicked and worry “what if something does happen”. It feels like my brain is constantly looking for ways to make me uncomfortable, so it’s easier to avoid situations where I feel like I may feel triggered. I’m not sure how to deal with this. certain situations I can’t avoid. I know I’m going to have to sit through discussions I’ll find uncomfortable. it’s going to ruin my day. And I’ll spend the rest of the day analysing every detail of what happened or how I reacted. im not sure how to combat this.
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