Is there anyone out there who has tips and tricks or getting out of a spiral or preventing one. Lately I’ve been struggling with not giving in to my compulsions but it’s so hard. Any good advice or tips on anything reducing anxiety or spirals would be so helpful.
Have you done ERP? Can you afford to do it at NOCD? In my experience, intentionally sitting in with the discomfort for a few minutes and then carrying on with tasks that usually get/need my attention has helped. For example, playing a game which I love or socializing with friends and doing something that needs a lot of attention. Make sure you’re not doing them as compulsions and are not avoiding the anxiety that comes with whatever theme you are spiraling about. Also, do mental exposures during the activities if possible. This has helped me.
@multiprez101 Yes I have done ERPS but it’s been a while. I have tried a lot of things but I feel like it’s starting to take a hold of me again. So I think I need to do them again. Yeah I do agree that focusing on something else helps like just sitting with the thoughts. It’s hard though but with a lot of work it can help.
Hello,I saw your profile, and like me, you also have contamination OCD so my advice set a specific time for washing or showering and gradually reduce the duration or do your compulsions wrong, and when anxiety arises, trust your body that it will pass soon. Allow it to be present for as long as necessary. Remember, you must eliminate all your compulsions mentally and physically. Reading books can help you on your journey. Without taking action against OCD, it creates stricter and more challenging rules, shrinking your life. Trusting yourself is crucial. Whether you choose therapy or other programs on your journey, just believe that they will be effective and lead to your recovery. Everything is based on belief; our minds perceive germs or other perceived threats as real, but there was a time when we believed differently. If you have not had OCD since childhood, you can better comprehend this, but if you had, reflect on the things in your life that you once believed in.
@Anonymous - Thank you for you advice. I will try to continue ERPS and I will try to just realize the thoughts are just thoughts and they are not bad or real.
@whitecm2004 You're welcome. I wish you a good recovery.
I go outdoors and change environments and do something physical.
Feel like my compulsions have got on top of me. I give in to all of them because it's easier in the moment and I'm dealing with other things. Does anyone have any tips to help stop doing some of the checking? For example washing and scrubbing hands, checking under bed and wardrobe before sleep, checking plugs, locks etc. My intrusive thoughts are more about my actions harming others. Thanks :)
Hey community, hope you’re all having a good weekend. I was curious if anyone has tips or strategies that are helpful to you to catch yourself when you’re in the rabbit hole of rumination? My main compulsions are mental. The good days have been great, but then my obsession sets in and I start down the rabbit hole of rumination because of the overwhelming fear that it might be true. It almost feels like I’m aware that I’m gaslighting myself, and then have the urge to disprove it because believing it would be horrific. How do you catch yourself when you’re doing mental compulsions and accept the uncertainty in moments of high anxiety? Thanks so much!
IM SICK OF THIS !!! One thing after another ! There’s what ifs that are coming at me where ocd is telling me to go to extreme lengths to fix them and save my self from future distress and I can feel myself close to performing them !!! I’m sick of this ! Does anyone have any tips on reframing from doing a compulsion ?! Please !!! Anything will help !
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