Seeking reassurance often worsens feelings of denial and self-doubt.

Reassurance

One fun thing about what I’ve experienced is that even if I go to people for reassurance, more often than not it doesn’t help and makes things worse. I see how from an outside perspective it looks like denial and the moment I open my mouth to talk about it the instant thought is “you’re faking it, you know it’s true and you’re faking it”. And it’s great when people say maybe you are this or that like it’s no big deal, …but it is? And then again it’s like maybe they see something I don’t?

Username: mjabel25 mjabel25

Date posted: 6w ago

Reassurance always makes the OCD stronger. For a lot of people (myself included) it can be a compulsion so that’s why it feels so much worse afterwards

Username: fexasfexas

Date posted: 6w ago

this. i can really relate to what you're saying, and i wish i could tell u something to make it better, but i know reassurance isn't the answer. just know you're not alone in this, and it's really just ur OCD being extra annoying and loud today. try your best not to listen to it and keep pushing through. i'd recommend checking out Jon Hershfeld’s article on how to respond to intrusive thoughts, it’s really insightful and might help you understand how to deal with those pesky thoughts. also, maybe try this app called choiceful for OCD therapy tools, which has a mindful noting exercise that's personalized to your specific obsession & situation—kind of like what Jon Hershfeld talks about but with more guidance. it's helped me a lot when i'm spiraling!

Username: hamigi9463hamigi9463

Date posted: 6w ago

i can really relate to what you're saying, and i wish i could tell u something to make it better, but i know reassurance isn't the answer. just know you're not alone in this, and it's really just ur OCD being extra annoying and loud today. try your best not to listen to it and keep pushing through. i'd recommend checking out Jon Hershfeld’s article on how to respond to intrusive thoughts, it’s really insightful and might help you understand how to deal with those pesky thoughts. also, maybe try this app called choiceful for OCD therapy tools, which has a mindful noting exercise that's personalized to your specific obsession & situation—kind of like what Jon Hershfeld talks about but with more guidance. it's helped me a lot when i'm spiraling!

Username: DigitallDigitall

Date posted: 6w ago

Might be, reassurance isn't really a good thing for OCD

Username: Secret, coll...

Date posted: 2y ago

Do you guys really benefit from having people here tell you "yes, I experience that too" sort of things? I see it as quite reassurance-y but I wanted to give benefit of the doubt so I'm just wondering if I'm missing something

Username: Dothewalkofl...

Date posted: 2y ago

Vent of my feelings

Basically. I’m scared that at some point I will feel no anxiety and ‘give in’ and accept it. I have a really hard time believing I have ocd (because I can’t get diagnosed because of my age) sometimes I feel like I do because I remember the days where I was crying on the floor with how real it felt and I DIDNT want it to be real. I worry that I am in denial and I’m just not accept it. Or that it’s suppressed. Or internalised homophobia. Anything really that means it’s all real. I have my moments where I feel normal again but they don’t last long. I wish I knew if it was hocd/ocd but then again I know I’d doubt it if I was told it was. But then again I feel like hearing a professional say ‘you have ocd’ would mean a lot to me. If anyone feels the same or similar I would love to know (btw reassurance very rarely helps me anymore. I just love knowing if I’m not alone and not going crazy) Maybe maybe not doesnt help. I always spiral more with that but I often use ‘I don’t need to know right now’ and that brings me some relief (not sure if it should but it does)

Username: Anxiousaddie

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

Compulsion of trying to get reassurance frm others

Does anyone else talk to family or friends to try to get reassurance and then sometimes get it but later ALWAYS find something they said to ruminate on? That makes you think its true or that they think it is?

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Seeking reassurance often worsens feelings of denial and self-doubt.

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