why is it when i try ‘accept’ the thoughts to let them pass, or try sit with them, it spirals into another one, each a little more realistic as they go. i was doing so well. i’ve not felt so deflated in years 🫤
Two things help me..one I named my ocd. I am not my thoughts. And two I yell at ocd and call her name when doing so. I've found the response prevention piece is super important to stop my looping. I also try to remember ocd ebbs and flows. I was doing good for a month or so and some life stuff happened and right now is more challenging, especially the ruminating in my head. Me and audiobooks are becoming a thing cause it distracts me after I do my response prevention especially when thinking harm thoughts. You said you were doing so well.. can we focus on that? I'm super proud you were doing so well.
@Anonymous what is the response prevention peace? thank you for your support ☺️
@lolplzhelp That's when you leave things uncertain. Ocd hates uncertainty hence the reassurance, ruminating, for me googling, asking people etc. Are you in therapy w an ocd therapist doing erp?
@Anonymous No, not anymore. I was in camhs but i’m nearly 19 now - i was kept in for other reasons but i have one more appointment. thinking about going to see a new therapist i think
@lolplzhelp I don't accept the ocd thoughts, I yell back at them. My response prevention is casting doubt for the thoughts I have. For example if I thought I should put the knives away or hide them cause I might lose it my response prevention would be something like. Well I guess I'll just worry about it when I lose it. I don't know for sure I'm not going to off someone because I'll have lost it. I'll just worry about it when it happens. If I think someone hates me or j did something wrong etc and I want to text them again or message them to get reassurance I say we'll maybe I did something and maybe I didn't. Ocd is yelling at me so I'm again just gonna wait and see. There's a lot of Maybe, we'll I'll worry about it when and if it happens, it could happen i don't know, for my response prevention. If it's harm thoughts about suicide or self harm I say my response prevention then listen to an audiobook.
It takes practice. We're desperate for relief and so we tend to believe that "accepting" or "sitting with" thoughts should work like magic. You have to ride the entire wave. As much as possible continue to live your life :-).
@Ben84 I think it just scares me that i could end up sitting with/accepting the thoughts for a long time and have them not go away, that that would make it a reality sort of thing. I’m not sure. it’s scary!!
You were doing well and are still doing well. Remember Ocd ebs and flows and sometimes there's a spike. I'm in a spike right now and I have to push back and it feels like I'm pushing an entire mountain up a never ending hill
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