Hi! I have recently realized that I have OCD. I have, since my childhood made compulsions, but until now I haven't recognized it like a serious problem, since it is very disabling when my triggers occurs in my daily life. I have fearful thoughts about losing someone, or that something awful can occur to that person ( normally a close person) when he doesnt answer a msg in a while, or doesn't pick up the phone in a call, when I can consider that is a time that normally he have the phone, or that is not «normal» that at that concrete time he doesnt answer. A lot of unvolunteers thoughts and feelings of abandonment start to.pop up. Feelings that I live as it is actually happening in the present moment, or that may occur imminently. So the compulsions start non-stop, and I cant allow myself to.relax, even less to sleep, until I get an answer of that person and I confirm everything is ok. That have become really disabling and frustating, and carry with it mire problems that make things worse... idk if this is a common OCD thought or not, but I am sure that it is due to the obssesive thoughs and compulsions.. I have read about the EPR therapy, and I wanted to ask to this.community about RESPOND PREVENTION STRATEGIES and how it has worked for some of you guys. And may that can help. Thank you so much in advance, and i ll be very happy if I can help.in some way too :)

Hey, thanks so much for your reply, and for the tips, in that situation I appreciate the advise :-). The catastrophisizing thing I find it difficult to understand for me, I guess i have to do more research on that, I' m new in the therapy . But how can that help when the problem is that I unvolunteerly create these catastrophic thoughts and that s the key for my distress? I would love to understand ir better, but in that moment if I think about that awful things I would do the compulsions more and more.. As to the mocking voice I get it , it is good to rest importance and make fun out of that voice..I think its a good strategie. Thank you again for your feedback and support, Let's get a way out of that OCB completly. I'm sure we can

Thank you very much rachel! :-) I'll give it a try

That is definitely common OCD, and I suffer from that all the time! When my boyfriend messages me when I'm studying, my first response is to ignore it so I won't get distracted, but then OCD says: "what if he's messaging you his final goodbye? What if something is wrong?" So I always have to check, but not one time has he messaged me giving his final goodbye because he's always fine! So I get it, and there is ways to fight this ocd!! :) One strategy that I use is called catastrophisizing, it is a mental exercise where you imagine that the worst really does happen. You message your friend to check up on him but he doesn't answer because he's in the hospital with a broken neck, and then make it even worse from there. This will be terrifying and horrible at first, but that is normal!! The more you do it, the less anxious you will feel. This is active treatment for your ocd because you are confronting the thoughts saying, "You know what OCD? If you think this is so likely to happen, let's imagine how it might go." I like to have a mocking voice when I do it to make fun of that ocd voice in my head for being such an idiot. It helps me realize that the thought is irrational, but a mocking voice is totally optional! I 100% voice for catastrophization as it has worked wonders for me! It is a type of ERP, but can be intense (once again this is normal) so maybe start out small by thinking "okay, maybe hes just sick." Then graduate to "maybe he sprained his ankle" then next "maybe he got a concussion" and increase the severity bit by bit! This might seem daunting but I promise promise promise it works and your life will be a lot better after doing it! You can do hard things, you can stand up to OCD, and the more work you put in the more control you will have over your brain and the less OCD will interfere with your life! :)

Btw congrats on taking the steps to get the help and treatment you deserve!!! :)

Wow i love your positive attitude!! :) Well the thing about the catastrophising thing is that you don't just worry about and stress over an imagned event, instead of worrying you remind yourself that it is only a thought, nothing more, and that it is okay to sit here and think about this without letting it make you do compulsions. Easier said than done, but I have been doing this for years and it is very effective, and you improve faster than you think you will, you will surprise yourself with your progress! :) It is kind of hard to explain the catastrophization so I think it's a really good idea that you're researching more about it because hopefully others can explain it better than me! :) I definitely think it is worth some tries, and if the first time is awful that's completely normal, just keep trying and it gets better :) We can beat this as you said!! :)