New perspectives

Not everything has a meaning. Things just happen, life is random and uncertain.

That the thoughts have no real power at all and you are the one who gives them power.

I can tolerate uncomfortable sensations like a racing heart, tense muscles, fast breathing, etc. I just need to ride the wave and it will pass. Even though it’s very uncomfortable, it won’t kill me.

Oh gosh where do I begin?? That OCD is an illness just like diabetes, it just so happens to create feelings, thoughts, and urges that make you doubt your very identity. Also that my brain is an organ and that it creates thoughts just like my stomach produces stomach acid to break down food or my pancreas produces insulin to break down sugar. It’s taught me to view OCD as a never-satisfied like stinker that is constantly trying to pull me back into compulsions and I wouldn’t know any of this without NOCD. Forever grateful.

Can it? With OCD being all consuming. I sometimes doubt that i'll ever get better. One of the absolute heinous things OCD does is make you doubt that "would therapy be even worth it?" Not to mention, i feel for those poor souls who aren't able to afford it or are living in areas where Mental wellness centres are almost non existent. Hence, they have to rely on themselves and do ERP all on their own. Not to mention if they have any other illness like depression, GAD, ADHD. It makes their life significant harder especially those with GAD since you have lost the ability to reinforce positive or affirm yourself cause that could count as compulsion. People without these illnesses just don't realize how much these affect the lives of those suffering from them. The way they look at life change. They lose any expectation to enjoy life. They just "bear" along with it. God forbid, some even are hoping for escape each day. Point is, i hope any person reading this realizes that how much your support would matter to that person. Compliment their ability to deal with the illness. Let them know how much you appreciate their existence.

Dark intrusive thoughts ocd is not rare ocd, a lot people with ocd have it. Pure ocd or mostly mental compulsions is not rare ether. I learned sadly a lot of peaple have the same ocd thoughs I do and do not meet the stereotype of ocd. For a long time I did not know I had ocd because I do not do the stereotypical compulsions showed on social media. I wish the public know more about ocd so people with ocd would get help sooner.

Not everything is black and white

Just because a real event is involved does not mean it really happened in the way that I fear. That intrusive thoughts can really alter how you see your reality and yourself as a person if you give into compulsions. That reassurance truly is the worst possible thing for me.

My counselor told me, "Your OCD is not you, those thoughts are not yours, and they don't define you as a person". That was the first time I was told that in my whole life of struggling with OCD. It forever changed me.

I’m not a magical superhuman, I just have pattern recognition. This took me off a pedestal I didn’t like.

Thoughts are thoughts and feelings are feelings.

At the start it’s a burden and I’m not saying ocd has any positives (not my words) but life after ocd, you don’t get worried about a lot of things not just the things that you used to worry about but things a lot of quote on quote normal people would worry about you also learn that your stronger than you ever thought you could have been

I think understanding that what I associated with fear from my past became what I now see as OCD. Instead of facing the fear, I pushed it away and did all types of compulsions, such as looking up on internet or seeking reassurance. The moment I faced the fears and responded differently I saw the light. Content does not matter and ERP works

I have power over my actions and decisions.

My biggest perspective shift was when I realized I don’t have to struggle in silence

I no longer view my thoughts as absolutes.

My overall perspective on life changed for sure 🙌

I have learned my mental health illnesses can treated if I am willing to put in the work I need to do to treatment. It was very hard but I treated/ treating my ocd and I recently learned my long term depression is bipolar 2 disorder and I am finally after years starting to become mentally healthy. Don’t just life though or pass life because of mental illness .learn how to treat it and learn how to be mentally healthy and get the help you need.

A thought is just a thought! But we miss out on the present moment of life's joy and purpose!

I don’t need to be perfect, my surroundings don’t have to be perfect - i can complete daily tasks and work in almost any setting

That I am not my thoughts and it’s okay to feel all the feelings and not run from them.

That there is actually truth to some of my fears. Things I’m scared of happening CAN happen but there’s nothing I can do about it and worrying about it won’t help either. Even reassuring myself by saying “everything will be ok” or “it won’t kill me” is a compulsion because I have no control and that’s ok.

My thoughts are just thought. My thoughts are not me. So, I won't bother ruminating on intrusive thoughts.

I was in therapy as a kid (not for OCD) and I think it made me ruminate on how defective I am 1000x more. Turned a flame into a forest fire really quick

Mainly, that there is hope. And that not everything has a meaning

I keep thinking I'm going to die and I see how I'm going to die. I feel alone and it's running my spouse and son crazy. anyone got any ideas of how to get this under control