It feels like I’m going to explode 🤯

@Will86 Thank u 🙏🏼 I am trying to. It’s so draining and so hard. It causes me so much stress that’s what I’m scared will kill me. I am refusing to let it control me. I’m fighting back. I’m at a restaurant right now eating lunch even though I’m terrified. What have u found helps j the most?

@Anxiousashley What are you having? I'm deciding on lunch as we speak. Reminding myself of the tools I learned thru erp. Things like challenging the thoughts or one upping them is my fav. I can say it doesn't always help my mood but I make it thru the day. Stay strong sounds like you're in the right mindset 🤘🏻

@Anonymous I’m so sorry that you’re also experiencing this demon we call OCD. I haven’t had this particular theme, but all theme content is irrelevant. It feels sooo different though. I’m sending you loads of sunshine 🌞 and hope and positive vibes 🙏🏼 I believe in you.

@Will86 I’m eating a strawberry chicken salad 🥗. I used to not even be able to eat due to a food related theme. So I’m so thankful that I can finally eat again. Ironically I’m trying to loose weight, but at one point I would down as many regular sodas as I could. I stayed Ali e by doing this and a few chips here and there I’d force down each day. It’s crazy how themes change lol. I know it’s not funny but sometimes all I can do is make a joke and say “damn I could really use that food theme right now” I do wish we could switch themes at will- think of how that would be- it could be a super power I’d we could control it 😅🤷🏼‍♀️

@Anxiousashley Also dig the 🤘🏼

@Anxiousashley I think most of my intrusive bits are funny anymore so personally feel it's a great part of healing to be able to. If we're laughing at it then we aint running from it! Btw that salad sounds great it's so warm here it'll be refreshing. I'm glad you're able to enjoy it!

@Anxiousashley Had the same issue a couple of weeks ago at a restaurant. I just concentrated on the next moment, and then the next. I did my best to stay present. When I couldn’t stand it any longer I excused myself and went to the bathroom for a few minutes. I came back out and just reminded myself I would be out of the restaurant and to just hang on. I was mentally exhausted afterwards but that is how I dealt with it. I wish you the best. I know the struggle.

@Anxiousashley My thoughts exactly

@JEH3 I’m sorry you’re dealing with this too. It’s so hard to excuse yourself and return especially when tears are streaming down your face. Ppl don’t understand. I’ve bee there multiple times. It sucks😔 I understand though. I applaud u for staying and trying to stick it out. That takes an immense amount of courage. Keep it up!! I hope the ppl with u there were understanding & supportive.❤️

@Anxiousashley I’ve honestly tried to give up caring what people think. This is my life and, right now, it’s hell. I’m doing the best I can. What others think is not near as important is what I think. I don’t want to embarrass myself so it’s a fine line to walk. What I don’t do is pressure myself to be someone I’m not. Not sure if that works for anyone else.

@JEH3 That’s very well put and one of my all time favorite quotes is “It’s not really my problem if they think I’m weird..”-Sid Vicious (yea i know- but hey it’s not really my problem if u think well. U get it)

@Anxiousashley I do get it. It’s hard to live by but the most authentic in my opinion. Heck, I don’t hide it from my own girls. I want them to see a daddy get knocked down but get back up and fight. I want to show them what to look for in future partners; not perfection or an IG partner but someone who will fight. That’s more important than the superficial things some folks look for. So I do it for me, my wife, and my girls. I’m trying to be an example of a fighter. I might get knocked down. I might get a bloody lip. I might cry. But I’m going to get back up eventually.

@JEH3 That’s such an awesome and meaningful reason to GO FOR YOUR GOALS SND NEVER GIVE UP!!! Love is a beautiful thing that can motivate us to do our best and that’s what motivated me to get better too.

@Anxiousashley OCD will kill me before I give up. I mean that with every fiber in my body. I will not give up. I might have to regroup and continue the fight another day but I’m not giving up. I’ve come too far to stop now. My girls (wife and daughters) are my world. They are my motivation when I don’t even want to do it for myself.

@JEH3 That’s beautiful. Hold onto that. I hope they reciprocate that love ❤️ it’s life saving

@JEH3 Thankfully my girls are tough like their mom. I’m so happy that’s the case. But I don’t want them to fear a future partner who is willing to put in the effort if it comes to that. On the other hand I want them to walk away from a future partner that will not fight. It’s not the outcome of the fight that’s as important as the willingness to fight. That’s what I tell them.

@Anxiousashley They do. My baby is home from college and came and told me not to hide from her this summer. She said she knows I’m struggling but she sees the fight and that she is proud of me.

@Hopeful29 Thank u 🙏🏼

@Will86 I’m ok… we’ll I’m trying to be ok with not being ok. Honestly I’m struggling. What happens when your #1 support system (my husband) becomes an alcoholic and cheats on u with his secretary? It happened a year ago. At first I left and then I went back bc I still love him. I tried to have one her relationships while we were separated but bc of my ROCD I ended them bc the other ppl don’t deserve to deal with my problems and my husband said no one will ever “put up with my problems” and I know it’s fucked up but I believe it. .. I know it’s true