- Date posted
- 41w
Life Style Changes
Has anyone seen improvement from lifestyle changes? If so, what changes did you make?
Has anyone seen improvement from lifestyle changes? If so, what changes did you make?
Of course! You need to make lifestyle changes to see continual improvement. Some things will work and other things will not, but here’s a list: -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).
The seeking out therapy for life is something I'm considering. Not to get better, just to improve. My brother recently told me about a lot of his friends who get therapy weekly and some of them don't even have stuff drastic to deal with but it keeps them on track for their goals. Kind of like a life coach
@Wolfram Therapy is great! 😊
Exercise has helped me a huge amount. Particularly running, and it’s something I incorporate into my daily life as much as I can. I have also cut back on eating processed food/ eating out as much. I think that’s also helped keep the OCD at bay. A huge triggering factor for me was caffeine, I don’t drink coffee at all now. I just drink tea
@guitar4444 That first cup of the day is magical, but you are right, caffeine is a trigger
Ones that helped me in the past were morning and night routines. Going to the gym, not to get big or fit but to be healthy. Coming up with ways to manage stressors a bit more tactfully rather than trying to do them in my spare time. If I do that, I have no spare time 😅
@Wolfram Love the idea of a morning routine. My OCD is such a jerk in the mornings
I quit drinking alcohol… it made the world of difference!
@Lake12 Probably a good idea, especially with the meds I am on
Hi everyone, I’m Andrea and I am a member of the Intake Team here at NOCD. In junior high, I was known as the “aneurysm girl” because I was convinced any small headache meant I was dying. At just 12 years old, I read something that triggered my OCD, and from that moment on, my brain latched onto catastrophic health fears. Any strange sensation in my body felt like proof that something was seriously wrong. I constantly sought reassurance, avoided being alone, and felt trapped in an endless cycle of fear. Over time, my OCD shifted themes, but health anxiety was always there, lurking in the background. I turned to drinking to numb my mind, trying to escape the fear that never let up. Then, in 2016, everything spiraled. I was sitting at work, feeling completely fine, when suddenly my vision felt strange—something was “off.” My mind convinced me I was having a stroke. I called an ambulance, launching myself into one of the darkest periods of my life. I visited doctors multiple times a week, terrified I was dying, yet every test came back normal. The fear never loosened its grip. For years, I cycled in and out of therapy, desperately trying to find answers, but no one recognized what was really happening. I was always told I had anxiety or depression, but OCD was never mentioned. I was suicidal, believing I would never escape the torment of my mind. It wasn’t until 2022—after years of struggling, hitting rock bottom, and finally seeking specialized OCD treatment—that I got the right diagnosis. ERP therapy at NOCD was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it saved my life. Today, I’m 34, sober, and living a life I never thought was possible. Do I still have hard days? Absolutely. But I am no longer a prisoner to my fears. The thoughts still come, but they don’t control me anymore. They don’t dictate my every move. Life isn’t perfect, but it no longer knocks me off my feet. If you’re struggling with health OCD or somatic OCD, I see you. I know how terrifying and isolating it can be. But I also know that it can get better. If you have any questions about health & somatic OCD, ERP, and breaking the OCD cycle, I’d love to tell you what I’ve learned first hand. Drop your questions below, and I’ll answer all of them!
For those who have had success with medication for OCD/anxiety, how is your life different now compared to before starting medication?
I understand that everyone is different but lately I have been debating on medication just because of past experiences but does anyone have any good experiences with medication that has helped them with their OCD as well as therapy or treatment? As of now I’m dealing with it by myself but it feels like it may be getting worse
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