I’m about to go on a trip with my partner and the last time we went my POCD flared up like crazy. I couldn’t enjoy any of our time together and he super noticed and I’m worried that I’ll ruin everything all over again. Idk I might take a journal with me to help. What do I do?
You have to accept the thoughts. I KNOW it’s so so so difficult because I have the same subtype as you. But you have to let the thoughts come and the feelings come and just let them be. Fighting it will only make it worse I can promise you that. Take a deep breath and say ‘yeh, absolutely, I’m the worst. Please bring me more thoughts I love them.’ I know our natural reaction is to fight them, because our brain is telling us we are in danger, but we need to accept the anxiety and have the panic attack! We need to tell our brains that this is NOT a danger and that we are safe. Imagine your ocd is like a cold. A cold you get symptoms like a runny nose and a cough and sneezing. Ocd is just a virus and the thoughts, feelings and physical sensations are just symptoms. Chewing gum does help with things, it keeps your mind busy ☺️ I really hope this helps you. You can do it! If you need any further help try ALI GREYMOND on YouTube. Also Nathan Petersons channel is good it’s called ‘OCD and anxiety’. It just gives you a boost when you need it, and it’s free!
@katieR94 So i suffer from the same sub-type and every time i think about it i try so hard to block it out of my head, because it’s mostly about harming my own kids. I feel like if I give in to the thought I’ll enjoy it and then act on it, and that is what is so scary. I feel like there’s two voices in my head going back and forth between wanting to do these things and fighting every ounce I have not to do them. It feels like an evil entity has become apart of me and I just want it to end.
@Yellow11! That’s the ocd sweetheart. I swear to you that is exactly what ocd is. It causes doubt and catastrophes every situation. I KNOW it’s hard and so so upsetting, I don’t have kids myself but I have a niece and nephew that I’ve had POCD with. I know it’s frightening and unthinkable but they are JUST THOUGHTS. You have to let them come and go. Don’t fight the panic let it happen. Acceptance is not agreeing. It’s not doing anything wrong. But if you keep fighting it will get more and more convincing with it’s scary thoughts! You can do this. Ocd wants to keep you stuck so it’s going to send more and more scarier thoughts because it WANTS you to react. Please try the YouTube channels I’ve suggested. They will do you the world of good xx wishing you all the best
@katieR94 Thank you so much for sharing your advice and experience. I didn’t reply earlier bc I honestly didn’t want to think about it on my trip. I ended up taking guanfacine, which I usually only take two weeks out of the month for PMDD, and it really calmed my thoughts. It is such a scary thing, and I really loved your advice. “I’m the worst. Please bring me more of the thoughts I love them” it absolutely took me out haha, and I can see that being super effective Anyway, if and when I need methods outside of medication to ground myself, I’ll definitely keep this in mind
Do u have medication to take or a kit of something for you to keep calm ?I use air pods listen to music or chew gum ,lotion with lavender,soft plush toys,using anything that will keep you distracted
@Anonymous I have bipolar disorder so it’s been really tough finding anything affective for both. So right now I’m just on lamictal. I like that gum idea, I might do that. I just want to be as present as I can, you know? And I hate how much OCD like robs us of that Thank you
I’m experiencing anticipatory anxiety related to OCD. I have an important trip in 7 weeks and travel triggers my ocd. My feelings are just a dull ache in my belly constantly, and a jittery feeling. I’m confused about the actual obsessions. I used to have harm OCD that sprung from a travel incident years ago and ever since then, travel has been very fear inducing. I get the physical symptoms then my mind starts going hard. I ruminate about whether or not the stress will cause intrusive harm thoughts which in turn causes some intrusive harm thoughts. It’s very confusing and hard. I want to be someone who enjoys traveling and experiencing new things. I want so badly to enjoy this trip. Any advice helps. Thanks.
So me and my boyfriend are going on our first short trip together and as an avoidant person who tends to be very anxious about being seen in a relationship and being in a relationship in general, it could become a very triggering experience. I have had previous OCD themes but the last few years have been very latched to the topics HOCD and ROCD. I just know that spending so much time together could lead to intrusive thoughts about him and our relationship and result in micromanaging and being irritated. Anyone tips on how to enjoy this and not put too much pressure on myself ?
As the title says, I’m having a severe breakout while abroad with a friend. It is contamination related and mostly STI related. I am at loss what to do and that ehat I’ve learned I am not able to follow and my intrustive thoughts are going rampant. I am not able tk enjoy my time and I am faking it for my friend. Going back earlier is not an option. What can I do to survive this period? I am not able to distinguish realistic fears from unrealistic ones anymore
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond
