- Date posted
- 1y
OCD and period
Hi friends, Everytime my period comes around my ocd tends to get worse. Just curious if anyone else deals with this and if you have any tools/tips on how to deal?
Hi friends, Everytime my period comes around my ocd tends to get worse. Just curious if anyone else deals with this and if you have any tools/tips on how to deal?
Yeah Hormones are low during that time, and then estrogen starts going up, without progesterone to balance it out. That comes later in the cycle, the second half. Progesterone is the relaxation hormone. Low hormones = low serotonin And I do believe low serotonin causes OCD and anxiety to get worse, depression too. I just wait it out, knowing the better days of the month are coming. For me, it’s days 11-28, end of cycle right before period. That’s when my OCD & anxiety are non-existent.
@SomaticSun🌤️ This was actually super insightful! Thank you!
yup!! usually the week leading up to my period is absolutely awful and the intrusive thoughts i have are super convincing. i don’t have a lot of tips to offer besides the usual ocd ones, but sometimes it’s a nice reminder that your thoughts are so much more intense because your period is coming/has started and there’s a whole mess of hormones going around in your system. you are not your thoughts :)
@ivyleaftea Thank you so much this is helpful as well! It’s nice to know I’m not the only one dealing with this!
i’m the exact same way! i know it sounds cliche but please prioritize self care during this time. utilizing your methods of challenging your OCD is always important, but it can be much more difficult during your period. keep fighting against it, but always remember to prioritize your self care and give yourself grace during this time! 🩷
@lyssielou3 This is super helpful! Thank you! 🙏
probably.. I feel like periods cause a lot of more moody feelings- for me it does
the same happens to me! it’s actually what made me pay attention to the thoughts i was having and question if i had ocd before i started therapy and got a diagnosis. i know it probably sounds silly but i just try and be more gentle with myself i guess, and try to remember that it’ll pass, i use the self care app finch where you take care of this little bird and ive recently added ocd specific goals into there and so far it helps with the day to day so im hoping it’ll help me tackle the period flare ups better too
this is such an important topic! and there’s not enough research on it because so much of women’s health is just women talking!!! i’m there rn too my ocd and life stressors make me super emotional and my thoughts tend to race so much and my mind just feels like that inside the head ocd feeling buzzing, i just sitting with it, not adding too much energy to them even tho it makes me feel anxious. for me i have rocd so my sex drive lowers and i have those stressful thoughts i don’t usually get at any other time of the month!
Does anyone Else’s ocd flare up bad when in stressful life situations? I was doing amazing and now that I’m having some drama with my life it seems to have come back with a vengeance. Anyone else?
As the Chief Clinical Officer at NOCD, I like to check in with our community when we enter a new season, especially knowing how OCD responds to change. The arrival of spring can bring many changes—longer days, increased activity, and breaks from school or work. These shifts from the pace of winter can be refreshing, but they can also affect our energy, emotions, and stress levels. As a result, OCD symptoms tend to ebb and flow during this season, just as they can during any time of change. I encourage you to pause and check in with yourself in these early days of spring. If you're noticing OCD feeling more intense, know that you're not alone. Instead of judging these feelings, try to focus on how you respond to them—because no matter how OCD is showing up, there are tools and support to help you through it. Here in the NOCD Community, you're surrounded by people who relate, who care, and who are rooting for you. I hope you'll lean on your support system and seek care if you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Therapy can be a powerful way to gain skills for navigating life's changes, and our team is always here when you're ready to take the next step. Have you noticed any changes in your OCD as we enter spring? How are you managing them?
I’m a teacher, and for the last two school breaks, my harm OCD spikes regarding my girlfriend. The first one was winter break (It came back after three years), and when I was recovering, it came back in the beginning of June. Just out of nowhere. Even though I know it’s OCD, it still scares the hell out of me and I spiral for weeks and weeks. Does anyone else have spikes and relapses when there are breaks in your routine?
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond