I saw a post saying that thinking about something for a while will bring it to you. Now I’m scared and panicking because I think about illnesses and getting a disease almost everyday. What should I do? Im very scared
i totally get where you're coming from—i've been there too and wish i could say something that would magically make it all better, but i don't want to give reassurance to your OCD. think of OCD like a pesky mosquito buzzing around your head—if you keep swatting at it, it just gets more annoying and persistent! but here's the thing: you're NOT alone, and your OCD is just being extra loud and obnoxious today. it's throwing all these "what if" thoughts at you, but remember, thoughts are just thoughts—they don't have magical powers to make things happen! so, just do your best to let those worries float by like clouds in the sky and try not to engage with them too much. you've got this, and it will get better with time and practice! keep hanging in there! 🌟
My suggestion is taking a step back and looking at some examples around you. A lot of people buy lottery tickets and wish for winning the jackpot. If thinking about something for a while would bring it to people, then everyone who whishs for winning the jackpot would win the jackpot, yet the chances of winning the jackpot are only 1 in 300 million. I suffer from Magicial Thinking OCD, for years I had been afraid, that my thoughts could make thinks happen. I did compulsions to make up for my intrusive thoughts, as I thought that was the only way to make sure my thoughts would not come true. In 2021 I started ERP for my MTOCD and I nearly completely stopped doing compulsions. None of the things my OCD told me would happen ever happened. 😉
@Zoë_84 Oh my god this was so helpful. Thank you, you made my day!
@Lauriee I love you picture, by the way. ;)
@Zoë_84 Thank you you’re very sweet!
You are very welcome. OCD is a very tricky and sneaky illness, that tries everything to make us anxious.
I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. I understand how frightening it can be when thoughts like these seem to take control. I’ve been there too. I used to worry constantly about getting sick, especially after hearing or reading about someone else's illness. It felt like every little symptom was a sign of something serious, and it would spiral from there. Just the other day, I read an article about a rare illness, and it brought back some of those old fears. It’s hard, but you’re not alone in this. Try to remind yourself that having these thoughts doesn’t mean they will come true. Our minds can play tricks on us, especially when we’re anxious. It’s okay to feel scared, but you are strong enough to sit with this uncertainty. Have you been able to find any strategies or techniques that help you manage these thoughts? If not, it might be helpful to talk to a therapist who specializes in OCD. They can provide guidance and support tailored to your needs. Remember, you are resilient and capable of overcoming this.
i can totally relate to what you're going through—it's like our OCD loves to latch onto anything it can, right?! i wish i could say something to make you feel better, but i don't want to provide reassurance to your OCD because that just feeds it more. think of OCD like a really annoying song stuck in your head—the more you try to get rid of it, the louder it gets! you're definitely not alone in this, and it's just your OCD being extra annoying and loud today. just do your best to not listen to it and keep moving forward~ you've got this!
I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. It must be incredibly unsettling to have those thoughts and then see something that seems to reinforce your fears. I understand how overwhelming it can be when your mind starts spiraling like that. I remember when I used to have intrusive thoughts about something bad happening to my loved ones, and how a small comment or post would trigger a wave of anxiety. Recently, I read an article about accidents, and it sent my mind racing with 'what-ifs.' It's so tough to sit with those feelings, but you're not alone in this. Try to remind yourself that thoughts are just thoughts, and they don't have the power to make things happen. It's okay to feel scared, but you have the strength to get through this. Can you try to gently redirect your focus to something that brings you a little bit of peace or comfort? A favorite book, a calming playlist, or maybe a short walk outside? Remember, you're much stronger than these thoughts, and you are not defined by them.
Does anyone experience ocd really bad with posts they see online? I just saw a post just now about someone who said they’ve come to terms with dying in their early twenties, and it popped up on my Instagram for you page and i panicked. I’m 20 myself and posts like this genuinely scare me because I always think “It’s a sign or there is a reason it’s popping up on my page.” Has anyone dealt with this before or had an instance like this? Especially with those posts that say if you don’t share or like it something bad will happen, it genuinely freaks me out and I love instagram.
idk why this is such a recurrent thing for me , I get so scared through the day when I’m not distracted when I think about psychosis. or being put in a mental hospital that it gives me bad anxiety, one time I had a panic attack at the thought of having it 💔 I can’t pin point if it’s intrusive thoughts because it’s a fear of mine .. or not. I think this is the worst thought / fear I have
I'm going to try and be coherent because I know that sometimes during these moments I tend to babble in fear. I have a mole on the left side of my chest that I've had since I was a kid. Been there for as long as I remember. And I never paid attention to it; it was just a part of my body. I even felt a little sad considering that I might not have it anymore whenever I get top surgery. Yesterday I went down a rabbit hole and landed on Melanoma. Which, of course, prompted me to look at my mole again. And again. And again. It's large, bigger than my other moles. Always has been, at least to my knowledge. I always thought it was cute whenever it crossed my mind. Now...now I'm just scared... I'm not asking for reassurance. None of us on here are medical experts (unless youre an actual doctor) (also insert OCD joke here). I sent a picture to my doctor, and she said that if it hasnt changed size that's a good sign. But she also suggested a follow-up with a dermatologist. And that's what scares me the most. All of this started yesterday, but I sent the message to my doctor this morning. And ever since then...I havent been okay. I can barely eat, and every time I try to I can barely swallow. I've isolated myself in the guest bedroom of my parents house. I cant move. I cant think straight. And...let's just say my thoughts havent been good. Like I said, I'm not asking for reassurance or medical advice. I just...I need help to not feel like I'm dying. I didnt mention that yesterday, in the midst of going down the rabbit hole, I realized how badly I didnt want to be afraid, and yet I also felt like I needed to be afraid. And I realized that that's what ERP is (at least for me in case it's different for everyone). I really did naivietely think that it was just going to be about avoiding compulsions. I didnt realize that accepting uncertainty would feel like a death sentence. And now this has happened. I just...I'm scared. And I dont want to be. I dont want to live in this reality where I'm sick and dying. I dont want to have to tell my family. I dont want to live in that world, but it feels like I'm already in it. My body is just preparing me for it. I dont know. I dont know why I'm even making this post. No one can help me, can they?
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