Motivation check-in

Are you better? How do you fight back?

@Misstama65 Yes. It’s been years and a mix of therapy, medication, and plain stubbornness to not let it control me. It used to be very bad and I lost about everything, but not anymore

@glücklich Mine comes and goes. I went years with no symptoms then a very stressful life change brought it back

@Misstama65 Stress often brings it back for me too. The catalyst for mine was a traumatic event, and now when I’m struggling with something often (but not always) my ocd pokes its head in and says “heyyyy” but I can slam the door on it much better than I used to

@glücklich Glad to hear that. It was just a year ago that I discovered it is ocd. It's really helpful to hear others say the exact thoughts I have had

@Misstama65 What do u mean it comes and goes? I asked because I feel this happens to me often

@kd88 I can go very long periods of time with no symptoms but a stressful life event will trigger it

@kd88 I just mean that I have periods of time that are easier and periods of time that are harder. But the harder times are easier than what they used to be because of the work I’ve done and whatnot

@glücklich Sorry I didn’t read that right thought you were asking me haha

@glücklich No worries but do u think it posible without meds?

@glücklich No worries but do u think it posible without meds?

@Misstama65 I feel this happens to me as well but then I worry about feeling good because then I think when is the next round going to come😩 did u do this without meds?

@kd88 For the most part. Yes. I'm not a fan of meds.

@Misstama65 Same I don’t like them because they make me feel awful

@kd88 Meds helped me at a time but I’m not on them anymore so I do think it’s possible

@glücklich I agree

Progress > perfection !!!

@Misstama65 Me too

@glücklich How long were you on meds? My therapist is recommending meds to help me better engage with therapy. Looking for psychiatrist/nurse practitioner now to prescribe. And how long did it take before you got used to meds and they made difference?

My life gets smaller and smaller when I get into the OCD. I still do it sometimes even though I'm considered an OCD conqueror. I had a real victory yesterday. I went into the ocean to wade for the first time in many years. Some health related fears were keeping me from doing it.

Stay strong—you’ve got this!

Exactly! I just turned 50 last year and wanted to start the rest of my life free of being tied down to my fears

@Ray N Yes. Going through a tough time now. End of summer is sending me down a rabbit hole. The idea of cold weather and keeping myself busy seems stupid but I think that is really triggering me.

@mazzy I just ruminate a lot and try to figure things out when they don’t need to be figured out. But then it feels like I am lying to myself.

Yes! OCD's a liar.

Yep, it's all lies. When I'm out of it I see how silly it is. It's stress for me to. It goes away. I've had years in between

@Misstama65 It’s a beautiful thing to be out but also a dread to be in the thick of it. I used to have so much self confidence and was able to be present in the moment, but once I lost my dad I lost all of that.

@Misstama65 I would want to see your perspective of OCD and how you lived in between these years. Mine comes in spurts also. Always when it’s least expected.

@Ray N I had my ex I expectedly leave me, covid, life threatening illness, my Dad also died then got into a great but stressful relationship all within 24 months. It's been up and down since. I've had bouts of it in my life before with years in between but I didn't know what it was. I just thought of it as my weird anxiety that happens when I get stressed out

@Misstama65 I also had my father pass away and witnessed it. Very traumatic experience that has put me in and out for the last 7 years. Sometimes I feel like idk who I am anymore.

@Ray N That's awful. I was with my dad in the hospital. He had an accident. End of 2021

@Misstama65 Yeah witnessing a heart attack and paramedics trying to revive him took everything out of me. I honestly know this is the root of my mental health issues but I feel like I am blaming his death for my problems. It doesn’t feel fair to me and makes me feel like I use him as an excuse.

@Ray N Stress triggers ocd from what I've experienced and heard. Sounds like what happened. No one is to blame. It is what it is

Love this - keep going!

YES!

I just joined today and found out I have ocd, my life is the same rn.

@Anonymous Learning you have ocd is a good first step to learning how to treat it. I hope you are able to recover from your ocd .

Having goals is a wonderful reminder that you are the one in charge of your life, not your OCD. Keep it up!!

Keep going!!!

Absolutely!

Yes!!

100% - you are not alone!

A great reminder! Sometimes holding on and fighting OCD makes it grow stronger.

You are courageous!

@lotxi Thanks for reminding me to get back into artists way.

@lotxi All great ideas. Thank you. Unfortunate, Genomind test was not helpful since every drug that was in the green column had side effects that would be detrimental to my chronic physical issues. Other than that, great proactive list and ideas. Thank you. PS h going to look into Holographic Breathwork

Living the life YOU want to live, not the life that OCD wants you to live!

You doing the work on yourself I'm sure inspires them the most! Keep it up!!

Same, Caitlin :)

@Brenna - NOCD Team Member 😊🥰

Believe in yourself; you’re doing awesome!

@Anonymous We can all do it!

YOU'RE STRONGER THAN YOUR OCD! :)

This was so me before. It's still a work in progress but my life is much better.

The world IS big and beautiful! Sometimes OCD can make it hard to see it that way... but your OCD isn't as strong as you!

OCD doesn't have to rule your life - you're stronger than it! Keep going!

Love this!

You are BRAVE!

When are you set to start ?

@Anonymous Friday. I’m scared it’s not going to work tho.

@Anonymous Yeah, ocd is a lying sac of crap. It might work! Do you know about erp? My psychiatrist had me read a book about it so I really understood what erp was. It helped me so much. Even after 6 months of erp I still find myself during sessions finding myself noticing more sneaky ways ocd tries to create doubt.

@Anonymous I’ve had a few themes before but I get stuck on one that just doesn’t make sense to me. But I can’t get over it. I hate it so much.

@Anonymous Like I’m going to lose my whole life and losing my wife would be the end of me.

@Anonymous I get it. Especially if it's a taboo one. There's no judgment here for sure not from me. Do you have a prevention statement for those thoughts? Let me know if you'd like some assistance on making one.

@Anonymous What do you mean?

@Anonymous You said you get stuck on a theme and your going to lose your wife etc. I asked What would you say to that thought; which would be the response prevention statement. If you need help I'll help, I just like permission before I give help.

@Anonymous Sure I’ll take it

@Anonymous First off I read this book by Jonathan Grayson so the response prevention statements I have are quite out there because of that book. They work for me. Caution: below might trigger you. The statements in response to the thoughts are imo insane and they work. Idk your theme & don't need to. It could be SOCD, POCD, harm, you said " i get stuck on a theme that doesn’t make sense to me. But I can’t get over it. I hate it so much." So try not to have it make sense. It could be any version of " oh, hello lovely thought that makes no fucking sense and tells me lots of lies. Well That's OK. I might never be able to get over this thought. Maybe this thought will be with me forever, I don't know, right now, I'm not going to let this thought control me, so I'm going to go watch TV, or do what I was going to do BEFORE I had this lovely thought. Actually I hope this thought NEVER leaves. I love this thought so much, I'm so glad I have this thought. Oh, I'm going to lose my entire life and my wife, fantastic. That's great! Oh, it would be the end of me? That even better, I'm so happy I'm having this lovely thought. Really take it far. Say stupid shit that's the opposite of what you want. I won't lie, it's hard as hell, however for me it works the more insane I go. It's anxiety inducing however it shortens my loops or stops them entirely. I personally say these things outlook if I can. It helps for some reason. Hope it makes sense.

@Anonymous It makes total sense. I’ve been on medication for a few weeks now and the anxiety is low. Sometimes I get no anxiety. And that scares me that this must mean it’s true. My theme that’s been the hardest is HOCD. I’ll try what you’re saying. Thank you for all the help.

@Anonymous My meds helped me too. Wow your ocd is trying to sneak in by not giving you anxiety. Tricky little ocd yours is, taking the . "Oh I'm not going to give any anxiety because it's secretly true" route. Remember ocd lies, so maybe you could agree with your ocd. Yup, I'm gay. I love men etc. That could be really hard, I find the more out there I go the easier it's for me to do. Good luck. Remember ocd lies.

@Anonymous Just sucks because I’ve never had any kind of feeling or attraction toward men in my life. I knew when there was a good looking guy because I would make sure my wife wasn’t staring at him. Lol but that was the extent of it. Thank you for the kind words. I know being gay isn’t wrong and I’m definitely an ally for them but I just couldn’t imagine my self in that relationship

@Anonymous Your welcome.. remember we can't logic ourself out of ocd. Take care my friend.

You got this!!!

I'm sure he appreciates you so much.

Haha! Keep on going!!!

Do you have to work though? Cuz I'm really thinking I can't work and it's embarrassing to say

@LKAnonymous You don't think you could work? As in have a job?

@Anonymous Well I've been fired 20 times since 16 years old but I just don't know if my whistle blowing outbursts and PTSD breakdowns are autism or what! But I definitely cannot work without being in control or by myself or mostly by myself. I'm really fun and generous and outgoing but I can't keep a job or a boyfriend even normal friends and my parents can't stand me in my siblings can't stand me. Even my own friends can't stand me really they've been dropping like flies. So I mean I can do well if On My Own Boss and I can only like work small spurts at a time like a few hours here in a few hours there.

You got this! You're stronger than your OCD!!

This!