Comfort/Identity

Does anyone else find comfort in their OCD? I know I have pretty severe issues that come with it, but it makes me feel better in a way. I want to get better, but I don’t want to lose the feeling of clarity I have from OCD. I am specifically thinking of checking (and even intrusive thoughts in a way). By completing my little compulsions and routines, I can breathe and relax a bit. If I “get better” am I going to be able to be as thorough and careful as I am now? How else will I be able to soothe myself if I can’t do these things? That is very distressing to me because I very much think that my OCD is connected to anxiety, and if I can fix my OCD, will my anxiety become worse or less manageable? Am I going to lose the ability to self soothe? At the same time, I want to get better because the compulsions and routines and thoughts can be extremely overwhelming and upsetting and I waste so much time and energy. I’m just worried that I won’t be a whole person if I can fix myself, but I also don’t feel like a whole person when I’m dealing with it all every minute of the day. Does anyone understand this? How do you go about fixing it without losing part of yourself?

Username: 120120

Date posted: 30w ago

I certainly feel OCD has strong ties to my identity, but treating it has always been the best option. With past OCD themes I’ve overcome, I still find I have a lot of insight and sensitivity with those issues. As for managing the anxiety, the reason compulsions seem to “soothe” it is because they are feeding into the OCD cycle. OCD naturally causes anxiety. Doing compulsions relieves the anxiety, but in addition to being time consuming it also leads to more obsessions and anxiety in the future. Stopping the compulsions will stop that anxiety from coming as often. Obviously there’s other anxiety as part of life, but there are better methods for managing it. Compulsions will make anxiety worse in the long run.

Username: cocchibecocchibe

Date posted: 29w ago

hey! i understand completely. im new to healing my ocd and i kinda dont want to… part of my is greatful for it because my compulsions allow me to relieve my anxiety. i dont have any advice or help to give, but i just wanted to say i understand how you feel!

Username: thebubblyonethebubblyone

Date posted: 29w ago

i totally get where you're coming from. finding comfort in certain aspects of ocd while also recognizing the toll it takes on your life is a real and tough balance. it's like you're caught between wanting relief from the compulsions but also not wanting to lose what feels like a part of you. 💔 by the way, have you heard about this new ai-powered ocd therapy tool called 'unstuck'? i've been in your shoes, feeling torn between the comfort and the chaos ocd brings. what really helped me was this free ai ocd therapy tool called "unstuck" (unstuckmyocd.com/try) that my nocd therapist recommended to me. i think it'll be especially helpful for you because it's designed to understand your specific fears and compulsions, guiding you through managing them without losing your sense of self. the ai provides personalized step-by-step support when ocd gets tough, just like an ocd therapist would, helping you find new ways to soothe yourself that don't rely on compulsions. i hate when people promote stuff, but i really think it can help you because it's changed my life. lmk if you have qs or just want to talk more! <3

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

Date posted: 6d ago

i relate to this so hard i literally just made a post about it lol. my husband just recently got diagnosed as well and says he feels the same thing. i think it’s ocd trying to trick us into thinking we need to keep it around. i’m christian so in our world we call that satan hahah

Username: garden

Date posted: 5y ago

Sometimes I feel like my life would be more empty without OCD. Even though it causes me so much stress and anxiety, I feel like that stops me from being bored. Sounds silly because I know that everybody STRIVES to be relieved of OCD and the trouble it causes. I guess I just feel like having OCD makes me different from other people (and I like to be bold and stand out). Without it, I’d just be like everybody else. And that’s why I fear NOT having it; that would mean I truly am just like everybody else and my thoughts are real. Idk. It’s also nice to be part of this community where we all push eachother forwards and celebrate eachother for all the things we do. I don’t want to lose that.

Username: Terrie Browning

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 4y ago

Hi NOCD users, I wondered if anyone is having difficulty separating yourself from your symptoms? We talk about this often during therapy sessions and within the ERP program. I understand that when you are dealing with these strong obsessive/intrusive, unwanted thoughts and images, it feels like it is a part of you! It is not a part you like or want. So many clients have shared how much they wish they could stop and how it feels like the OCD obsessive thoughts and compulsions are taking over their lives. They don’t feel like themselves anymore. This creates quite a dichotomy because what they believe can be the opposite of what they are thinking. How confusing this must feel! To believe in something so strongly and have your mind be telling you that you are the opposite in your thoughts. It can make you question who are are! This isn’t good for your self esteem/self worth. How much you like yourself and how valuable you feel as a person. Decreasing OCD obsessive thinking and compulsive actions is going to make you feel better. Staying true to who you are, not allowing the OCD symptoms get in the way of who you are inside. Challenge yourself to separate your “self” - who you really are including all of your beliefs - separate that true person from your OCD symptoms - they are just a thought and they are not real or factual. Let us help you separate yourself from these OCD symptoms, let us help you separate your true self from the uncertain thoughts. They are just that, uncertain. Learn to be more comfortable in uncertainty. We here at NOCD understand the pain this gives you and can help you by teaching you the first line treatment skills of ERP! If that sounds familiar to you, I hope this suggestion will help.

Username: rootytooty

Date posted: 4y ago

How do you keep the very few good traits you develop from ocd ? So much of my obsession is about being a good person and not hurting other people. The negative part of that is all the shame and compulsions to be perfect. But I’ve also developed a lot of compassion. I feel like my ocd is getting a little better. I get backdoor spikes now. How do I not completely lose my compassion and open mindedness in the process. I know this could be false dichotomy but yeah. Just needed to talk about that.

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