Obsessing over diagnosis

I had this And it came to - if I have it … ERP will assist If don’t have it … ERP won’t hurt But yeah just sounds like OCD about OCD

I questioned my OCD diagnosis obsessively for about the first year of my treatment. If the ERP treatment is benefiting you, then that’s what matters

I was diagnosed with severe OCD and GAD when I was 17, Autism when I was 18, bipolar I when I was 21, and ADHD when I was 23. I’m 26 now. I feel like when you gain some distance from your diagnosis it’s easier to put it into perspective and you realize that diagnoses and subtypes are there to help the professionals treat you, but they don’t define you. Especially with OCD, it’s always changing. There are some subtypes I’ve had in the past that I don’t necessarily have now and some I have now that I didn’t have when this whole thing started and I’m sure I’ll have a few more before I’m done. That’s just the nature of it.

I literally have ocd about my ocd and making sure my symptoms line up with the definition and that has been so distressing lol. Also then fearing my own brain because I have ocd, but tbh I’m just overthinking it all and need to keep reminding myself that. Hang in there, and try not to get too caught up on the logistics and fit yourself into a category, trust me it doesn’t help or give you relief even if you feel like it will.

I actually just shared with my therapist that I feel like I have ocd about ocd! After finally having clarity - after ten!!! years of previous therapy where not one therapist picked up on my intrusive thoughts/compulsions - I know find myself ruminating over all the OCD themes I have. They provide me momentary comfort in feeling understood. I can’t stop reading up on things. My therapist told me it’s so super common, so we’re not alone 💞

It is totally normal for people with ocd to question their diagnosis or believe they were misdiagnosed. It’s just ocd trying to mess with you

I had this a lot when I started and I still have it a bit today. OCD wants certainty and something we can’t get are test results that show our OCD. This leaves room for mega uncertainty and imposter syndrome, OCD’s favorite combo. I stick with ‘maybe I have it, maybe I don’t, and I will still do an ERP.’