A new perspective. The opposite side of what ifs.

It might just be the opposite of what I fear; it might just be OCD. The whole thing about being uncertain of something that you're not willing to tolerate not knowing is a sign of how distressed you are by it. Having uncertainty and obsessing and worrying about not being certain about something should be self-reassuring because it means that you're wondering and thinking painfully about an issue that many wouldn't even question or doubt themselves within; it bothers you and it scares you. It suggests that you're clearly not what you fear the most. All this time, you thought that in order to not be a monster, you should never even notice and think about these scary and disturbing things in the first place. But maybe the fact itself that you're obsessing about this bothering stuff, trying to figure it out, confirms that you're the furthest thing away from being that monster. Not wanting to be is an enough answer. All the things that are triggering us daily, are just tests in which we have to always recognise when we're about to ruminate and pull ourselves out of it, and thinking it as a chance and a challenge to practice exposure and response prevention.

Username: Nameless000Nameless000

Date posted: 36w ago

We probably don't believe the other side of the what ifs because the bad stuff is more sticky and more serious so more weight to them, they stick out more. A convincing and dangerous lie is stronger than just the truth. We're more incline to believe in what is more dangerous for us, morally and identically. We follow the script, we're costantly investing in our nightmare, thinking that it must be true because it is a frightening reality that sways and convinces us, drawing into a cycle of destructive and highly triggering rumination, with the most disturbing questions and scenarios

Username: Angel20Angel20

Date posted: 35w ago

Yes this makes sense. I also think that whatever we’re obsessing and ruminating endlessly on is the opposite of reality. We go round and round in circles trying to prove the fear wrong and get ourselves stuck as there’s nothing there in the first place in reality. The problem is we’re unable to “feel” like we’re safe even when logically we know we are.

Username: JimmyOc🇮🇪🍀JimmyOc🇮🇪🍀

Date posted: 35w ago

This makes a lot of sense....however, just watch that when you start to make progress in treatment you don't fall victim to the backdoor spike! Where when you start to notice a reduction in distress/anxiety/discomfort etc...you start to get worried that you actually like the thoughts because you don't feel as bad anymore...which is mad because that's the whole point of treatment! 😅

Username: Anonymous243Anonymous243

Date posted: 36w ago

You are 100% right

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

Date posted: 35w ago

GENUIS

Username: Kamisamahaji...

Date posted: 2y ago

Part of my OCD is always trying to get into the bottom of things (if I freak out thinking about death or illness or losing someone or contamination, then I will roam all the internet for searching for informations on the subject even though it worsens my anxiety and never leaves me with a "clean" feeling of certainty or peace or acceptance). And recently I realized that if I have an anxious thought that arises in my mind it'll just go away if I leave it be and don't stop what I'm doing. But stupidly enough I feel guilty for doing that because I get the feeling that I should engage more with my fears and if I just ignores them and they go away I'm worsening the situation ... What is the line between ignoring the problem by distracting yourself and simply allowing your mind to move on ?

Username: MisterNegative

Date posted: 2y ago

POCD

How detailed can thoughts be? Can it make you question if it even is OCD or just denial? I have talked to friends and therapist in the past and they have said based on everything you've told me you aren't what you think you are. And it felt like a weight had been lifted. But doubt creeps up saying "you are a pedophile, you are just in denial!" And that feeling comes in my gut followed by intense anxiety. I've heard OCD can make you question who you are as a person and I think that's what is happening now. I'll get a thought like "even if you are one, its not that bad" the I think but I don't feel like one and I've talked about this with mental health professionals in the past and they have agreed based on everything I've told them, then my mind claps back with but what if you are? It is a back and forth I get so exhausted having. I know I have to be ok with never knowing but it is hard to not want an answer because of the fear you may become your thoughts one day.

Username: Thanks for t...

Date posted: 1y ago

What if it’s not OCD?

Does anyone ever get scared that they are just trying to convince themselves that it’s OCD. I have this fear that my intrusive thoughts about harm aren’t actually intrusive nor is it actually OCD and I’m actually some sort of crazy evil human being all of a sudden. As I’m writing this I can see how silly that is. Of course it’s OCD, but there is always that “what if” and it makes me scared of myself. I know that this could be considered “obsessing about obsessing,” but like I said, there is always that, “What if you are different? An anomaly.”

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A new perspective. The opposite side of what ifs.

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