Has Anyone Beat OCD?

@Nica As Thal17 said down below…the intrusive thoughts stop scaring the 💩 out of you. The relapses or spirals stop coming as often. It has improved significantly, don’t get me wrong. But, I run into my main trigger three days ago and 💥 I’m back to Red Alert DEFCON 4. I really dislike this, but I wish I could learn to love it. Maybe that’s the only way to take its power. Thank it for making me want to cry and hide…it’s trying to keep me safe, right? 😖

@Joey_867 Have you spoken to your therapist about this? You sound like you need more coping mechanisms, possibly curbing mental compulsions as well. And maybe lots of life style changes.

@Nica Agreed. I will definitely speak to my therapist about this. I do need more coping mechanisms and absolutely need to curb mental compulsions. Do you have any suggestions? Distraction? Music? Is that what you mean? Choose to disengage from the thoughts? I’ll say this, the frequency of the relapses has improved. My OCD is locked on an ex associate of mine who is sick and dangerous. I fear they’ll ruin my life because I’ve cut ties… I know, my OCD thinks it’s different and unique. I saw the person for the first time in 6 months the other day on the street. It sent me spiraling. I’m not sure what type of lifestyle changes you’d recommend? I was exercising, saw them and💥. If I could move, I would. My spouse, family, and therapist say that you can’t move from OCD and it would just find something else.

@Joey_867 Okay, here we go… it’s a lot 😆 and some things might work and other won’t so you have to try it out and see how it goes: -Drink more water/stay hydrated, -Cut back and eventually all the at once mental compulsions, -Minimum 7 hours of sleep per night, -Get on a daily and nightly routine (as in you have a schedule and you go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time unless you’re sick or on holiday), -Cut back on sugar and carbs and focus more on protein, healthy fats, and veggies, -Go outside for at least 30 minutes a day, -Exercise every day or every other day. This includes weight lifting, cardio, and stretching, -Pick up a hobby or two (or more!) that can be done with others and by yourself, -Check out Yoga with Adriene on YouTube for free yoga content, -Check out either the Calm app or Insight Timer app for meditations (20 minutes per day as the end goal but start with 5 minutes and work your way up. It WILL take time), -Practice mindfulness all day, every day. And this is a life long process, -Seek out therapy (also for life), -Medication if it works for you, -Look into grounding techniques for when things get hard, -Spend more time with loved ones (it does not have to be blood related if you have abusive family members).

@Nica Thank you!!!!!

@thal17 This…this is all I want. What has helped you the most?

@Joey_867 Realising that it’s OCD and no matter how real it feels, it’s just not. You have to be stronger than your mind otherwise you fall victim to it each time. Recovery is the way, you have to be committed to your recovery/ healing journey, once you learn more and more on your type of theme etc you can notice it as just that, a theme. Nothing more nothing less. And don’t half ass anything, don’t work on your bigger compulsions or obsessions and forget the little ones that don’t bother you so much because that’s your gateway back into a deep spiral.

@thal17 Thank you!

@djkaz I am right with you. I had 10 beautiful, amazing, incredible years! I suffered with health OCD bad for three challenging years. Finally, I broke down and gave it…I accepted I was dying. Well, I am still here and very healthy. A year ago, I thought I didn’t need meds anymore. Wrong. I wish someone would have told me that I’d need it for the rest of my life.

@Joey_867 That's it. You don't know when it'll strike. I can also relate to that. I had bad Health OCD. Exact theme. I was dying. Guess what? I wasn't. Still here. And the thought of dying doesn't even phase me now. I'm already onto a new theme. But OCD was kind enough to give me a 3 year break before coming back stranger.

@djkaz That is it exact. Hey, I’m here if you need to talk! We got this. We can handle the hard stuff!!

@Joey_867 Thank you! I appreciate that. :)