- Date posted
- 6y
- Date posted
- 6y
I totally do.... The constant question of "why" or "why am I doing this" or "why does this matter" follows me and plagues me throughout every activity. I feel as though I have no idea what "Compulsions" I am doing in my head to exacerbate this and all the other intrusive thoughts in my mind. S OCD has been a by-product of my own E OCD and depression. Honestly, I'm amazed that other people have this same issue that I do. If you ever need to talk... Just lmk
- Date posted
- 6y
Would definitely love to talk. My email is jmtaglienti96@gmail.com
- Date posted
- 6y
@jtaglienti18 I will reach out
- Date posted
- 6y
I think i struggle with existential ocd and i worry whether ill become depressed then suicidal. I dont believe that to be true but i went through a stage of checking i wasn't depressed 24/7 it was like ocd for checking i wasnt depressed.
- Date posted
- 6y
I feel the same way. My most common compulsion now is just constantly reassuring myself that I want to be alive. But it's just not working. So I've been doing my ERP every morning.
- Date posted
- 6y
@jtaglienti18 Ye its annoying having to reassure yourself to a thought. Its whats so annoying with ocd subjects, theres always uncertainty. A guy who is unsure he loves his gf cant have any proof so has to wake up every day telling himself he does for reassurance. Ocd plays on uncertainty and the biggest question of all...whats the point? I cant seem to shake that one. Everything i do i ask myself, why am i doing this? And when you're trying to have fun. Pub, restaurant, work, anything..."why are you doing this, whats the purpose" its hard to enjoy. Hence worrying about being depressed, coz if you cant enjoy yourself then whats the point. Jeez man we have it hard haha
- Date posted
- 6y
@DrBurnzz I feel EXACTLY how you feel. It's so tough. It's like it attacks at all angles lol
- Date posted
- 6y
@jtaglienti18 My email is jmtaglienti96@gmail.com if you want to talk
- Date posted
- 6y
Yep. I don't use other social media, but you can hit me up here. I've been on the S bender for about a year now too, and existential comes and goes, but has been a strong theme for me throughout the years. But if you're concerned if it's depression, SSRIs are used for both OCD and depression. Are you on anything? You can have both illnesses at once.
- Date posted
- 6y
I was on SSRIs for about a month last year, but then I found a new OCD therapist that wanted me to try ERP without them. But, I've been considering going back on them.
- Date posted
- 6y
@jtaglienti18 S thoughts are no joke, even if it's "only" just another OCD obsession. Most SSRIs are considered to take 3 months to even know how they'll work... I'd seriously consider talking to your doctor about the possibility of trying them again. A plain old therapist is not the same as a medical doctor or even psychiatrist... Though I'd be careful about mentioning the S thoughts to a Dr because of the risk of involuntary commitment, I'd just mention that you have OCD and possibly depression, and you would like to try some antidepressants to see if they would help your depressive thoughts and feelings since you weren't on them for very long last time, and that you are already in therapy but would like some extra help. Not trying to be pushy here, but I don't see a reason to suffer more than you already are. I don't understand your T's reasoning for going off the pills to do therapy... Usually they're both used in conjunction, and the pills help expedite the therapy because the thoughts and feelings aren't as sticky... Anywho, that's enough yapping from me for now lol.
- Date posted
- 6y
@loudmouth Thank you for this! I completely agree. With the SSRIs it's almost like the idea of "what do I have to lose." If I have some depression it treats that, but it's for treating the OCD.
- Date posted
- 6y
Whats the difference between Existential ocd and an existential crisis. It seems they're both quite similar
- Date posted
- 6y
I agree. However, in my mind, the difference is the heightened anxiety and black and white "I need to know right now" thinking people with OCD experience. People without OCD in an existential crisis, in my mind, are able to be like this sucks but I'll figure it out. Us on the other hand don't accept that. What does my life mean right now? Why am I doing all of this? And for us there is really no answer at all. It's just a loop you're stuck on.
- Date posted
- 6y
I always felt like E OCD was like being permanently trapped in a state of existential crisis
- Date posted
- 6y
@bloomviolet Yes that would explain that i've been stuck on it for around 2 years. No matter what conclusion you come to with ocd the question that comes after is 'are you sure?'
- Date posted
- 5y
@DrBurnzz I'd be open to talking more if you would like.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 24w
Been struggling with existential OCD lately. Very hard to describe the thoughts/feelings, but it is a constant feeling of being stuck in my head. Like what is consciousness and where do I think from? Like I think it’s OCD, maybe it is maybe it isn’t. But if it is, what would be good ERP exercises? Just existing (lol)? And what would be my response prevention? I’m not even sure what mental compulsions I may be doing.
- Date posted
- 22w
Hey guys so I’m new here and just recently started struggling with some health ocd and thinking I had a brain tumor but it’s taken a turn for the worse and become this existential ocd where I’m questioning quite literally everything in my life, the purpose of being here and stuff. I just started meds yesterday, which is scary for me cause I’ve never been on them before. I keep having thoughts like, why does everything feel like a blur, what’s the meaning of this and I wake up every day with just existential dread. I’ve been having very vivid dreams that make dreaming and reality confusing I also am scared cause I’m dealing with some DP/DR as well. I just wish my life could go back to a few months ago before I knew all of this was possible. I guess I’m just writing this too get it off my chest and see if any of you all have gone through something similar and made it out okay?
- Date posted
- 22w
I’ve recently been struggling a lot with OCD. I have had OCD for a long time I just didn’t realize it until more recently. About seven months ago I developed panic attacks one day randomly at work. I thought I was having a heart attack and went to the hospital where they told me it was just a panic attack and I assumed I would snap out and be better within a few days. However it didn’t. Here’s where it gets scary, I was staying at my then boyfriends house while dealing with blurry vision, anxiety attacks everyday, and more (unsure of what was going on). But at some point I saw my bfs (pew pew 🔫) on his table and it sent me into an anxiety attack after sudden thoughts that I was going to hurt myself with it. I begged him to put it away when I’m not looking so I didn’t know where he put it. He did. These thoughts lasted for about four days but began to go away. (I thought that was it and I would be back to normal). Unfortunately though I ended up moving back in with my family when we couldn’t get my panic attacks under control in time for me to get back to work and pay bills. However, coming home brought up a lot of trauma from when I was kid. My anxiety got worse but I didn’t have those thoughts again. About two and half months ago though, I got sick and went to the hospital where they gave me steroid pills and a steroid shot but sent me into some kind of psychiatric event. Ever since then though, I have been suffering from harm OCD, I have had moments of intense anger that I usually have to completely walk away and go on my own because of how intense they are, and it feels like it’s getting worse. Today I felt fine until about and hour and half ago where I started to dwell on the fact that my suicidal thought was influenced by my OCD and at the moment my OCD is at the worst it’s been. This caused me to get suddenly really depressed and I started crying thinking about how I can’t handle this. I then saw a post talking about how suicide rates are high for people with this form of OCD and it made me question if I am mentally strong enough to pull through this. I fear that at times I’m getting worse. I have good days but I have a lot of bad days. Unfortunately this sent me into such a bad panic attack I went over to my nanas crying about how I can’t deal with this. I took a 0.25 mg Xanax which helped calm down the panic attack portion of it but my brain is still uncomfortably active. I guess I just need hope. I’m so saddened by this. It’s like my life took a total 360 in 10 months and got even worse since the steroid shot. Idk what to do about it. I can’t stop the spiral. I talk to two different therapist weekly and start more next week, making it 5 times a week. I feel no improvements…
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond