No end to this nightmare ocd

@Someone99 Thank you. Idk why this past week my ocd has been so bad. It’s draining me. I’m not sleeping or eating and I get such amazing support and advice on here but my ocd has a grip and won’t let go. It hasn’t been this bad in a long time.

@hopefulxmess Yeah this can hit us anytime. Can you identify any other stresses in your life that came up recently? Maybe even the holiday season can be stressful? For me, when the "stress meter" is in the high side I tend to spiral, even when it's totally not related. Try something different today. I mentioned writing the thought down. Of course in a secure place. When I was in ERP my therapist had me do that, and after sometime I actually started laughing reading it. Like "I would never do something like that". That's when I began to believe in the therapy process. :-)

@hopefulxmess I can tell you're an awesome person, someone I would be proud to consider a friend. 🙂

@Someone99 Ty! I can’t think of any stressors. It just got bad out of nowhere. My ocd sometimes targets my kids and I think that’s why I an spiraling so badly. It’s a horrible feeling and I just can’t seem to get past this flare up.

@hopefulxmess I can imagine it's tough! Any theme is challenging, the ones that are also attached to "sexual" attraction are multiple times more so, especially when it's family. But that's because you value them, love them, and would do anything to protect them. So you're mind is telling you that you're the "enemy" who you need to protect your kids from. It's a natural brain response to react when you're in danger, like a lymbic response. Someone throws a ball at your face, you react without thinking. That's why it's so difficult to break. We must do opposite of what is or seems natural. It's weird at first, but eventually it becomes our new normal. Our brains can form new pathways, they are all the time.

@Someone99 What confuses me is they say don’t engage or try to disprove the thought but don’t ignore the thought..what exactly am I supposed to do then?

@hopefulxmess Just allow it. That's the trick, it's not normal for you to do, or any of us. So in ERP therapy, the therapist should know how to guide the process at first, eventually we learn how. I find success separating in my mind by either placing it on a table in front of me, or writing it on the sail of a sailboat passing by. It's there until it goes away. Let me send you a meditation video my therapist sent me that taught me that one. Also, you're not responsible to address the thought. It's not your responsibility, it's just not. :-)

@hopefulxmess Put earbuds in and listen to this when the thoughts are too much: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phm_VPjijh8

@hopefulxmess I'm not going to let you alone in this

@Someone99 Ty so much!

@hopefulxmess You're welcome. I'll be checking in on you. 🙂

@hopefulxmess I saw a post yesterday about your pics and your daughter. That's a good place to start. Write those thoughts out in front of you. I know it's something you don't want to do, but by seeing it, you'll realize how not true it is.