- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Trust the process, continue therapy no matter how hard, take your medication and be kind to yourself. It will get better, I promise. š«¶š¼
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Love the "be kind to yourself" part - such a great reminder!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
I actually write to my past self as an exposure all the time. Today, I wrote to me/her telling her not to internalize intrusive feelings, no matter how real they feel. I still struggle with guilt about them
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
It can be challenging, given how 'real' it all feels. Keep it up!!!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
@Brenna - NOCD Team Member Thank you ā¤ļø
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
just do it. be scared.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
You never know what's on the other side of fear if you don't try!!!
- Date posted
- 1y
There is something so simple and beautiful about this comment. Thank you
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
I would sayā I know this is a really scary situation to be in. I know others are judging you but let them. You are not your thoughts nor what others think you are. Joining NOCD will give you the courage to live again and most importantly smile again. You will learn so much through this app and will meet some great peopleā āJust keep swimmingā
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
@Rissa94 Love this so much!
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
"You are not your thoughts" - SO TRUE! Great encouragement for our community!
- Date posted
- 1y
Itās worth every penny. Steer into it hard. When it pushes, push back. Donāt let it lie to you anymore.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
We're all stronger than our OCD!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Sometimes you donāt need to try harder but try different. Itās ok to change therapists if you feel like youāre not getting anywhere. It isnāt hopeless even though it feels hopeless. You have the ability to do this- you just need the right people to get you there and itās not your fault.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
OCD is not your fault - you're right! Having a support system can be really beneficial for many people as well.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Learn all the evidence based treatments that are available (erp/icbt/act) and combine them to crush the disorder
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
There's tons of hope :)
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Those exposures that you promised were absolutely impossible to do end up being exposures you do every day with very little distress š
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
YES!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Man I would tell myself two months ago that it is possible to get better even though it feels impossible in the early stages and like you are physically dying - with help and a desire to get better man. You will.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
You're a lot stronger than you know!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Oh boy - so much š„¹š„¹ itās going to be the hardest thing youāve ever done and requires you to fully experience the things that give you the most fear but you can do this!!! It takes work but is SO WORTH IT!!!
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Agreed!!
- Date posted
- 1y
You will feel better . There is better days . You won't feel this way forever.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Trust the process and do ERP faithfully.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Couldnāt agree more!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
It will get better. Be patient and be kind to yourself. Trust the process and give it time.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Self-compassion! Is SO important!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Don't believe "I'm sure I'm guilty and nothing can help" Take a leap of faith, and do the ERP, you have nothing to lose but so much to gain.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
"you have nothing to lose but so much to gain" - so much to gain, including a life living towards your values!!!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Itās going to be an uncomfortable, wild ride but itās going to be worth it!
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
A great reminder that OCD and the OCD recovery journey can feel much like a rollercoaster!
- Date posted
- 1y
Be strong and face your fear and discomfort, you can't run from your problems forever. It gets so much easier with time, patience, and practice. Nothing good comes easy!
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Time, patience, and practice are all great reminders throughout your OCD recovery journey!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Push through even though itās hard and scary, you are capable of doing all the hard things, you are a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Awesome encouragement, thank you for sharing!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Donāt give in to it. Just let it take you and eventually youāll be stronger than it and its power will become weaker and weaker
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
You're stronger than your OCD! Sometimes strength means not "white knuckling" your intrusive thoughts, but letting them come in without a reaction.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Be afraid and do it anyway!!!!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Anything worth it in this world requires hard work.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
This needs to be on a t-shirt! :)
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Homework and writing out WCS actually decreased my anxiety! Instead of thinking of them in my head on a loop when I write them analyze and get neural, I can disconnect from them.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
ERP is going to help you reclaim your life in ways you didnāt think were possible. You wonāt know the magnitude of your hard work until you feel hope again. But when you feel it, youāll know why you continue to do ERP on your hardest days. ā¤ļø
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Absolutely! ERP can be scary and challenging at first, but it can help you live the life you want to live.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Donāt let the fear of facing your fears lead you to think that suicide is the only way to find peace and quiet the thoughts ruling your life and making you question what is real. One you face your fears and learn how to deal with feeling uncomfortable you will slowly get your life back
- Date posted
- 1y
Things can get better; your worst day in the present will still be better than your best day in the past.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
The concept of hope truly is game changing for a lot of people (including me!)
- Date posted
- 1y
I would say...don't expect overnight results. I would tell myself to keep a journal an go back and review certain situations and how I managed them in the past. The number one thing I would say is to...love myself no matter what. And , know that I am God's beloved.
- Date posted
- 1y
It's a never ending journey. Try enjoy it when you can
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Don't place a time stamp on when you're supposed to be "fixed". You're going to have hard days and that's okay. Rest and continue working and using your tools. Keep them close to you and don't be discouraged because things get tough.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Exactly!!! There's no timeline for OCD or for OCD recovery. Everyone is on their own path!
- Date posted
- 1y
Just start. Tiny baby steps in the right direction, don't expect massive overnight changes.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Stay the course! Try to be patient. Self-compassion really helped through my journey.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Same here!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
There is such relief in facing thoughts head-on! Recovery is so possible š«¶š¼
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Yes!!
- Date posted
- 1y
@sincerelyme Thank you for that!
- Date posted
- 1y
I would start by saying Welcome to the journey! Itās not a race itās a marathon and itās going to require hard work, patience and love. You were made to do hard things and you can ! No matter what it feels like, no matter how it comes in - be strong, be courageous and stick to the tools you learned to overcome this obstacle once and for all.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
It's definitely a journey! "You were made to do hard things and you can" - love this!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
That I can be afraid and still do erp. That once I try it and am able to do it my confidence will grow
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
You CAN handle uncomfortable feelings!!!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Itās going to be alright, not all your thoughts are you. KEEPGOING.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
& no such thing as "bad" thoughts! Keep going!!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
You're in such a better place than you were before starting treatment! You got this š
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
...and learning so much about yourself throughout it all!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
You are not crazy. You just have OCD
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
...and you're stronger than your OCD!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
I think I would tell myself āit truly wonāt feel like this forever, even if thatās what your brain says. You are going to gain so much confidence in yourself and your strength through ERP. And working on ERP for OCD will make everything in your life better, even when itās hard or scary. You are stronger than you know, and you will conquer!ā
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Love this! Agreed that ERP can help many different aspects of life, not just OCD. Facing your fears is a great lesson for all!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Never give upā¦. Believe you can⦠the other side of this will be better
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Thank you for sharing!
- Date posted
- 1y
Trust the progress you will recover
- Date posted
- 1y
You are not those thoughts. Remember who you are. You will find out what you are going through soon and one day you will be happy again. I love you<3
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Love the self-compassion!! We all need more of that!!
- Date posted
- 1y
It's worth it. It gets better. With every moment you hold strong, it gets better
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Donāt let the shame of these thoughts and fear of judgement stop you from getting treatment, you deserve to have everything you ever wanted in life.
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 1y
Agreed!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
I would say: please hold on. Thereās help for this.
- Date posted
- 1y
Itās going to be tough to go through ERP but it will be worth it
- Date posted
- 1y
Trust the process, and aim toward your values.
- Date posted
- 1y
There is help out there. You donāt have to suffer. Donāt hesitate to reach out for help. Reaching out for help sooner rather than later will result in you feeling better sooner.
- Date posted
- 1y
Be kind to yourself! Way kinder. Focus on the good that is in front of you. It makes sense that being present is scary...take that risk
- Date posted
- 1y
ocd will interfere with the things you loved to do and will take away the extent of the happiness you felt while going on trips and doing things you previously thought were fun. it sucks, but maybe itāll go one day.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Stop praying for help....go out and look for it..... after 5 decades, waiting for religion to help miraculously, was a terrible mistake....be proactive maybe that is God's help.
Related posts
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 25w
I just completed a check in with my therapist today so naturally I reflected on my journey with OCD. Summer/Fall of 2023 feels like a swath of darkness. Bombarded with horrible intrusive thoughts, I thought my life was over. I did not see the light at the end of the tunnel. I hated myself. Life lost meaning for me and it felt as if every hope and dream was shattered. Needless to say my life was lost to me during a time when I should have been enjoying it the most. I was post grad with a good job lined up. But none of it mattered- my mind was as broken. Thank God, I had some small voice in me that urged me forward and to get help. So I did. I felt so scared and unsure. Was I doing the wrong thing going to therapy? I was not. It was the best decision I made for myself. Fast forward to nearly two years later, my life couldnāt be more different. I see and feel the light. I have so much love and gratitude for myself and for everyone who helped me along the journey. My therapist, my family, all the brave content creators who openly speak about their experiences, no matter how taboo. I wonāt lie, it was a lot of work. And I had to learn to be uncomfortable and deal with frustrations. I had to learn to trust myself. I still deal with sticky and intrusive thoughts but my response and my daily life despite them can not be more different. So I am here to be proof to you that there is so much hope. If you donāt have the little voice in you urging you forward, than I will be just that. Go to therapy, get help, put in the work. It is so worth it. Every time there is a setback, and there will be many, push through. Feel free to ask questions! But no reassurance will be given.
- Date posted
- 21w
I'm anxious about looking for/starting therapy even though I know it'll be worth it. I'd love to hear any advice/experiences anyone is comfortable sharing!
- Date posted
- 13w
A reflection I never saw myself being able to write⨠One year ago today, I was spiraling for a second time because I wasnāt sure what was happening to me, again. Getting through it once was doable but twice? I truly thought I was losing my mind. OCD wasnāt just a shadow in the background ā it was a loud, relentless voice narrating fear, doubt, and compulsions into every corner of my life. I couldnāt trust my thoughts, couldnāt rest in silence. I was questioning everything. I was exhausted coasting through the motions of life trying to survive every minute of every day. But today ā Iām here. Still imperfect, still human, but finally free in a way I didnāt think was possible. I got here by learning the hardest, most empowering lesson of my life: I had to stop depending on anyone else to pull me out. I had to stop outsourcing my safety, my certainty, my worth. I had to become the person I could rely on ā not in a cold, lonely way, but in the most solid, liberating way possible. You see, healing didnāt come when others gave me reassurance ā it came when I stopped needing it. When I realized no one could fight the war in my mind for me. It had to be me. Not because others didnāt care ā but because I had to be the one to stop running from fear. I had to choose courage over comfort, again and again. And boy was that rough. But I did. Through therapy, I retrained my brain. (Shout out to Casey Knightšš¼) I stopped dancing to OCDās obsessive rhythm and started rewriting the song. And yeah ā the beat dropped a few times. But I kept moving forward. Slowly, I started turning my mind into a place I wanted to live in. I made it beautiful. Not by forcing positive thoughts, but by planting seeds of truth: š± Not every thought deserves attention. š± Discomfort doesnāt mean danger. š± Uncertainty is not the enemy ā itās just part of being alive. I started treating my mind like a garden instead of a battlefield. I let go of perfection and started watering what was real, what was kind, what was mine. And letās be honest ā there were still a few weeds. (Hello, OCD ā always trying to ācheck in.ā ) Because healing isnāt linear, I still have days where I feel back to square one, but itās a day, not a week, month, or another year of surrendering. But hereās the āpunnyā truth: OCD tried to check me, but I checked myself ā with compassion, courage, & a whole lot of practice. To anyone still caught in the spiral ā I want you to know: you are not broken. You donāt need to wait for someone else to save you. No else will. The strength youāre looking for? Itās already in you. It might be buried under fear, doubt, and rumination, but itās there ā patient and unbreakable. Start small. Start scared. Just start. Because when you stop relying on the world to reassure you, and start trusting your own ability to face uncertainty, you get something even better than comfort ā you get freedom, resilience, power & SO much more. You donāt have to control every thought/urge to have a beautiful mind. You just have to stop believing every thought/urge is the truth. You donāt have to be fearless , you just have to act in spite of fear. You are not crazy You are not a monster You are not evil You are human You are capable And if OCD ever tries to take over again, just smile and say, āNice try. But not today.ā ā Someone who came back to life, one brave thought at a time š§”
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