Hello, I have just recently been diagnosed with Pure O OCD and found this app by chance. It’s so amazing to see that other people experience similar things that I do. Now that I know about Pure O, so many things make sense. Thinking back over my life, I never knew so much aligned with OCD. I just figured it was cause of my severe anxiety and depression. Anyways, I’m glad I found this community. :)

Pure o is a form of ocd where the person experiences unwanted and intrusive thoughts and images. They are the opposite of our character that's why they bother us. So a weird thought pops into our heads and we find it so awful and distressing that we try to get rid of it. Our mind is "sticky" so the thought gets stuck leading to an obsession. All mental stuff. The compulsion aspect is us trying to get some relief from the thought. It's a. Hellish merry go round. So the goal is to just let the thought be there without doing the mental compulsion. Make sense I hope?

I too am dealing with both..feels like I’m going crazy It’s caused me a lot of fear

Well your not alone!! Same I left my job as well. I would never hurt a fly and my thoughts were awful. I was so confused. An ocd therapist is the way to go for sure. OCD is mean and will attack anything that is important to you. I haven't told anyone for fear they would not understand. These books changed my life for the better: Overcoming unwanted intrusive thoughts By sally winston Everday mindfulness for ocd: tips tricks By shale nicely These books saved me. Once I understood more about the disorder. I felt better. However we need to take control of our recovery.❤

Welcome! I'm recently diagnosed as well with pure o. I'm also new to this site. I agree it's nice to know there's a community just like us. ?❤

I’m really looking for a buddy that has harm OCD/pure OCD. Someone to message about the condition. Would you be interested, I really feel helping someone else in my shoes would be so beneficial for both parties.

I've been dealing with this for months now. It's extremely challenging never had this before or if I did have obsessions didn't seem to interfere with my life. I'm seeing an ocd specialist. You? How are you doing in your recovery?

Well -you'll begin to take your power back. Ya gotta start somewhere. Hang in there! ❤?

I hear you step back and take a breath! Get the support and start doing the work. I'm currently looking for a job getting back on track. We can't allow ocd to rob us. My job was so stressful I burned out. OCD was the result. Now I'm clawing my way back. Please get support and try to finish school. You got this!!?❤?

No I appreciate your comments..it helps not to feel so alone knowing someone else is experiencing the same things I’ve listened to Philipson before- he is knowledgeable How long have you been dealing with this and what started it all for you

I'm happy to hear that. Im okay. ?Going to a mindful meditation group!

What exactly is Pure O?

Yes! I agree. I'm open.

Hi Janie, do you suffer from harm/pure ocd

Both.

I know. Did you listen to the OCD specialists tonight? He was really great explained much.

No I just found this app Haven’t listened to anything yet How long have you been dealing with this ..it’s been a couple years now for me and I had never had this problem before

I went through a traumatic event beginning of the year and was diagnosed ocd a couple months ago. These past months have been hell. There are great sources of info out there. Can I give you a book suggestion ? Understand that your not going crazy. Can you see an ocd therapist?

That’s how my ocd started..I had a traumatic exp/nervous breakdown and it has gotten so bad I quit working - feel terrified by some of the thoughts I’ve had I’ll take any suggestions you may have I just finished a phone consultation with someone on this website

Thanks for the suggestions... I’ve been struggling with this and afraid to even tell anyone..feel very alone in this

There is help. I get it. We can all support each other line. If you get the mindfulness book you'll be really blown away -changes your perspective completely. Hang in there!!!

Thanks..I’m already reading the first few pages offered for free on the web- I really appreciate it

You bet! The authors are so knowledgeable. There is so much information out there. Also I love the adaa (anxiety depression assoc of America) great articles. Actually if you Google ADAA you can read sally Winston's article on unwanted and intrusive thoughts. ✌

Janie I’ve just started treatment. Feel powerless.

Hey pross- how are you feeling today?

Hi guys! After learning about OCD, I realized I’ve had it all my life, but recently it has been so much worse. I saw some of you said you had to leave your job... that’s kind of the point I feel like I’m at. I’m so close to graduating university, just two more semesters after this one, but I have been missing so many days of classes and my internship because I have panic attacks from intrusive thoughts. It’s getting to the point that I may not be able to recover my grades and it feel like I should just drop out. I’ve come so far though and it seems like a waste to quit now. I’m so conflicted and this whole experience has made me not even want the career I’m going for anymore cause I can’t promise I can show up everyday :(

Struggling today

Awww I'm sorry. Be gentle with yourself.

Prossw! How are you feeling today? ?❤

Having a lot of intrusive thoughts today - isolating in my room

I totally understand that happened to me recently. Allow the thoughts to be there. You don't have to do anything about them. Do something positive for yourself. ✌?❤

You see thoughts in and of itself aren't intrusive - It's our reaction to them..

I try to do things to distract my mind but nothing seems to help

Ok that's the problem. Distracting does NOT work or thought stopping or thinking something positive. When these thoughts come in let them float by like a cloud. Even if they freak you out, don't react. The problem is the more we fight the thought the more it sticks!!! I know it sucks. Notice the thought don't react.

Hi there. Please read my suggestions. ? ?

Hey quartzmooon- I agree. Why is it so hard to do that?? Non reaction. Do you ever feel in that moment you start throwing all the tools you have at that thought. I still haven't found 1 response consistently to use. Yesterday I was in a store and had an overwhelming feeling of fear over me. I wanted to leave but I didn't. ??

That's a great suggestion about thoughts.. I need to start journaling again. Yesterday I had a thought I resisted compulsing and welcomed anxiety. Does your stomach hurt sometimes from anxiety?

I pretty sure anxiety may be causing mine. I eat well and exercise.

Pross - how are you doing? Just checking in with you..

Trying to deal with the intrusive thoughts today..pretty depressed today

Can you tell yourself to let thoughts float by like clouds? Found a great Instagram ocdrecovery.uk. Robert bray. He's helpful! ✌

I try to do that but it doesn’t seem to help ..I get stuck in my thoughts somehow and they can be really disturbing

I completely understand. I'm having same issue. I would check out Stuart Ralph's OCD stories podcast. I've had to do so much of my own research. I have a great one- Dr. Steven Phillipson. He's so knowledgeable. Great article ADAA Sally Winston intrusive and unwanted thoughts. Know your not alone if I'm bugging you let me know. ✌?❤

I hit my out of the blue in February. The last few months have been awful. I diagnosed myself I read everything I could get my hands in. I'm seeing an ocd specialists but can't afford it much longer tho. My intrusive thoughts were awful scared to death. I have pure O.

Did something happen that started the pure o..or have you always had it

No. In fact I've never had depression and anxiety in my life. lack of sleep, stressful job, moving, taking care of dying family member led to onset of depression and anxiety. I heard Dr Phillipson say that ocd can be caused by "extreme distress surpassed my coping skillsI" What's your story?

I had a nervous break down in 2017 and that was when the intrusive thoughts started They have been so bad I can’t function normally

Are you seeing an ocd specialists? Therapist? This is tough stuff to handle on your own.

I haven’t been seeing anyone on a regular basis but I’ve had several trips to psychiatric hospitals and I’m on medication for ocd but still having distressing thoughts

I'm so sorry. I'm no doctor. Maybe a consistent therapist to help you recover. Do you Have a meditation practice? Exercise? Eat well? A good friend/family to support you? I understand about thoughts but at some point We need to let go and take a leap of faith. To understand the thoughts Are thoughts it's OUR reaction to them that create problems.. Thinking of you!!!!

It helps to talk to someone who is going through the same things. I have felt so alone due to the thoughts

I know. It's weird and bizarre and scary.. We need to remember it's treatable!!!!! We need to do what we can to help ourselves!

Do you have any other ideas that may help me with this problem

Do you have trouble sleeping..I have insomnia pretty bad

I've had insomnia off and on for years. It's so frustrating I know. ?i do what I can to relax meditate listen to soothing music. One thing that helped hugely is don't lie down to sleep unless I literally can't keep my eyes open any longer! They say going to bed too early creates a vicious cycle if insomnia. I started on lexapro. Which has helped me as well.

Prossw checking in. How are you doing?

A little better today..how are you doing?

How is it going prosw?

I’m doing ok today ... How about yourself

In okay thanks.