- Username
- Ridethewave
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Yeah, but not finding girls pretty anymore is so unbearable that it's complicated even knowing that.
Yeah I understand. Just try to distract yourself. Gain some hobbies, go to the gym, read some books. Just to take the focus off the thought
Yes? the gym and fitness have been my savior for years, and it’s one of the healthiest hobbies I think you can turn to. Remember you’re not alone. OCD is a monster but it’s also a blessing. Some of the most successful people in the world have mental issues/ disorders. They just learned how to use them to their advantage. My psychologist said that the other day and it gave me some motivation ✊?
@Ty94 Did you notice a massive difference in your mental health since going to the gym? I used to go alloooott about 2 years ago but then I suddenly stopped and my mental health plummeted ever since ? I need to go back but school is so hectic
I'm trying but you know.. The fear of sequelae doesn't help. Thanks for your amazing answers btw.
NocturnalGyal, 100%. It’s amazing what consistent rest and exercise will do not only for an OCD brain, but anyone who suffers from anxiety, depression etc. Even if you don’t have 3 hours a day to be in the gym, be open to just doing something that clears your mind and releases some of those chemicals that counter what’s driving OCD. All I can tell you too is try new stuff both with your exercise and your life. When I finally began to step out of my comfort zone with everything, the OCD storm came to a calm. I know it’s hard to be uncomfortable at first but force yourself. Do it for you. For the future you that will thank you for being strong and breaking through the wall of change.
Thank you for the words of encouragement :) it's true, stepping out of my comfort zone right now seems so risky because I fear that my OCD will become worse, or my OCD will be proven correct somehow. The hardest part of overcoming mental health is the first step to recovery! You've inspired me to try going back to the gym :) thank you again!
Glad to hear it helped!? I agree, the fear is in stepping out you think it means you are going to make it true or become real. That’s OCD’s lock it has on you. That is the chain that must be broken to see the light. Trust me, I’ve broke it before! Facing the fear physically or mentally is OCD’s kryptonite. That feeling you get after you do an exposure, or face it purposely, that is OCD starving and weakening ✊?
I needed to hear this today ? thank you again for the advice! I'll definitely be taking more action toward overcoming OCD instead of isolating myself with my own self pity ????
I hope. I'm so afraid it will not come back :(
My theory is that they tell you this so you're not as fixated on the attraction anymore. If they tell you it probably won't come back, that's one less thing to worry about. And it'll come back naturally and slowly. Just stop checking and comparing your feelings of attraction to both sexes. It'll be okay, I promise
My situation is a little different. I'm no longer afraid to be gay, I know I'm straight, but after I understood that and made intrusive thoughts, ruminations and anxiety about being gay disappear, I had two normal weeks, then overnight I lost my aesthetic attraction to girls. It's been like this for eighteen months, I'm afraid it'll never come back entirely, that it'll be a sequelae.
Have you been fixating on this loss? Can you leave the house without with trying to "check"?
I check less girls to see if it's back, but I think about it almost constantly.
Yeah, so because you're constantly thinking about it, you're in a constant mode of anxiety and therefore your perceptions are all out of wack. I watched this YouTube video and the guy gave an analogy of what's happening : imagine you're at a club, and you see an attractive woman. You'd probably want to talk to her and get her number or whatever. But imagine if that same attractive woman threw herself at you and forced you to dance with her and give her attention. You'd probably be like "wtf, get away from me". So when things are forced... They probably won't have a desired outcome. Same with groinal responses. When you focus some much on that area to check if it moved, even though you don't want it to. The groinal moves. So we pretty much receive the exact opposite response to what we want.
Anytime ? goodluck, keep in touch, and never settle
Therapists make reassurance seem like the most horrible thing ever. When in reality for me...that’s the only thing that makes the thoughts stop for a very long time. Like months or sometimes even years, in a way ocd helps me get rid of it. Certain compulsions make me feel okay and safe, that’s why I do them . So I feel calm
Read a comment on here that really triggered Me “you don’t avoid / run what you’re attracted to” I’ve always avoided guys & hanging out with them alone because I’m scared to embarrass myself & scared of intimacy. My lack of self confidence & lack of experience with guys always made me doubt myself and avoid it all together... also I would always have intrusive thoughts like “what if they aren’t the right one for me” or “what if they want to hurt me” ... I’m so scared that this means I’m just in denial :/
Does anyone else’s therapist to answer the thoughts back by kind of ALMSOT agreeing with them like - yeah, maybe - it is possible - that’s a problem for future me - that will suck Anyone bc I’m feeling like this will make my brain think all my thoughts r okay… I just started ERP therapy pls help.
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