I’ll have an intrusive thought and get a little anxious but then it almost feels like I’m outside my body. And it’s terrifying because then it makes the thoughts feel even more plausible. Especially with harm ocd. I wish I could explain. But like if I’m eating, it doesn’t feel like I’m eating and I’m spaced out. Or if I’m driving. I’m so scared.
This is dissociation! Derealization and depersonalization, where you feel like your surroundings are unreal, like you aren’t real, etc are very common, they’re a trauma response and I get it a LOT when I’m anxious/tired/during panic attacks/etc. This is just your brain protecting you. I promise even though it’s scary and a weird sensation, it’s safe and you are safe.
@jade_05 It is so scary. I hate it because I feel like I’m not functioning or about to go crazy. What do I do?
@Catlove9 I know it’s scary and I’m so sorry you have to go thru this. I wouldn’t wish DPDR on my worst enemy. I know how it feels like to think you’re going to go crazy but I promise you won’t. You are in control and you always will be. I’ve had moments where my entire body goes numb and it feels like my body isn’t my own or I’m in a dream. What helps me is grounding techniques, breathing to calm yourself, I like to put on a tv show or something to keep my mind off of it because thinking of it and fearing it makes it worse. What you’re feeling is safe. Even though it’s very scary, I understand, it can’t hurt you. It’s not permanent and never will be. You’re going to be ok, I promise. When you feel yourself starting to space out or dissociate, remind yourself even though this sensation is scary, it’s safe and can’t hurt you. You’re not going to go crazy because of it and dissociation is very normal.
@Catlove9 I promise you can get thru this, I was in a position not that long ago where I was dissociated every day, feared even getting up to grab food or leave my bed in fear of my surroundings feeling unreal. What you’ve gotta do is power thru it. Recovery is possible. It’s not easy and it’s gonna be uncomfortable in the beginning but it really does get better. You’re stronger than the dissociation, and you’re stronger than your anxiety/ocd. You’ve got this :)
@jade_05 Yes. You explained it well. It’s terrifying. It’s almost as if you’re going to fall asleep but it’s not really sleep. It feels like something else. Like a different state of mind. And it keeps feeling like that’s going to happen. Like when I was driving him I kept thinking “omg I feel so weird. I’ll never make it home because I can’t see.” Even though I could see, it felt like I couldn’t? It makes no sense.
@Catlove9 Exactly! Like the feeling that your entire body is asleep but your mind is the only thing awake? Like a limp type of feeling, lol!
@Catlove9 I know it might sound impossible but you gotta befriend the dissociation. Be like “thanks brain but I’ve got it from here” since dissociation is the brain just protecting you. The more you fear this feeling and the sensation, the more power you give your anxiety to make the sensation stronger. The only way out is through. :)
@totallynotjade_ Thank you so much! I am going to persevere.
I feel like our thoughts are hard to explain because it's almost like we're obsessing over how to pinpoint how to explain what we're feeling! Just remember that safety is top priorities so regardless of what you're worried about right at the moment just make sure you're as safe as possible and take deep breaths through your nose and out your mouth like five times.
@LKRoseCity Thank you!
:( I’m going through the same.. the thoughts seem less bad almost? I feel like genuinely consider it for a moment and it’s horrifying. I feel like it’s almost a form of testing myself?
@issphra 🫶🏻 I understand. It feels awful. Keep powering through. It will start to get better. Even though at times it does get better, the next moment feels like it’s getting worse 😂
My ocd has been flaring up lately I’ve noticed some things that I don’t know if it’s ocd or something else whenever I seen someone like drugged or sick or just not “normal” I feel like or get scared that’s gonna end up being me? Does that make sense or then after a few minutes I feel like I’m them I don’t know exactly how to explain it I feel like I’m gonna start acting crazy or like I act weird or like them ? Idk exactly how to explain it and I have such a drop in my stomach thinking of it because it makes me feel insane, I haven’t had such an ocd episode so it’s getting hard again and making me feel insane specially because I don’t know how to explain this that I feel, I feel so scared rn can someone please comment on this?
harm ocd is the bane of my existence. people always tell me that if you have anxiety over a thought, that’s ocd. and these intrusive thoughts cause me IMMENSE anxiety. i’m constantly looking for reasons why i’m not what these thoughts tell me i am. but WHY DOES IT FEEL SO REAL?? it’s like i can’t reassure myself that this isn’t me and i don’t want to do it, but i also look for reasons why it’s not me. my brain is constantly telling me “if you don’t act on this, you’ll never feel free”. WHAT EVEN IS THAT?? and why does it feel real?? anytime i think about getting therapy, i constantly think that it’s not going to help me positively but help me realize i am this person. i just wish someone with harm ocd could get into my brain, understand me, and tell me everything will be okay. i wish someone in recovery could tell me that they’ve been where i am, felt the same feelings, thought the same thoughts, and got through it when they thought they wouldn’t. i feel like i’m drowning in it. another thing is i think about how my mom knows a surface level understanding to this form of my ocd, but if she knew it all, i’m scared she’d never look at me the same. i’m scared she’d be scared of me and think i need psychiatric help. IM TERRIFIED.
I have really bed harming intrusive thoughts and sometimes feels like it’s feeling! The thoughts happening every day and the hardest part is that I’m testing my self in head all the time if that’s what I am or want!!! Also, so many times feels like I’m been tricking myself and doctor or people and maybe I don’t have OCD, just that maybe it’s me really!!!! How can I know who I am really 🥹???!!??
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