NOCD
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 34w
OCD & holiday travel
How do you manage OCD while traveling or being away from home?
kamilgkamilg
- Date posted
- 34w
It’s challenging but I won’t let OCD take travelling from me. I actually noticed that more I prepare, more anxious I am. So I do the absolute minimum.
Mackenzie - NOCD Team MemberMackenzie - ...
- Date posted
- 34w
@kamilg Always remember, you are stronger than your OCD!
gixmogixmo
- Date posted
- 34w
@kamilg I can get caught in the loop of preparing thinking of every little possible thing and trying to address it prior to leaving. Pretty much anything i might forget will be available later. I need to live with that.
AnonymousAnonymous
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 34w
I tell myself that my ocd might flare so that I'm not surprised if or when it does, when in the moment I just dismiss the thoughts the best I can and use my tools and try to focus on having fun!
Mackenzie - NOCD Team MemberMackenzie - ...
- Date posted
- 34w
@Anonymous No matter how hard OCD tries to convince us otherwise…we CAN do hard things! Keep up the amazing work!
ERP is the way to be ERP is the w...
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 34w
@Anonymous Maybe it will flare up maybe it will not , who knows and who cares
kamilgkamilg
- Date posted
- 34w
@Anonymous Exactly, maybe or maybe not, whatever.
Wolfram Wolfram
- Date posted
- 34w
Preparation helps.
Mackenzie - NOCD Team MemberMackenzie - ...
- Date posted
- 34w
@Wolfram For sure!
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 34w
@Mackenzie - NOCD Team Member What kind of preparation?
Wolfram Wolfram
- Date posted
- 34w
@Anonymous Anything to reduce stressors is the short answer. You can prepare to deal with future situations instead of improvising all the tine. Less stress, less triggers. Do this but let go of expectations too and allow for unforseen to catch you off guard as well
Dee CDee C
- Date posted
- 34w
I bring it along for the ride. However, like a crying baby sitting next to you on a long flight, you can choose to put on the headphones or pay attention. I choose to put the headphones on and take a nap. While the turbulence rocks me to sleep!
gixmogixmo
- Date posted
- 34w
There’s so many unknowns with traveling and OCD wants to prep for it all. I have really pared down on what I “need” and don’t let my brain start making lists more than 10 days out.
Ray NRay N
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 34w
Stay true to yourself and prepare for the worst case. Be confident and love yourself.
GreenAppleGreenApple
- Date posted
- 34w
Having a strong support system willing to help me and also tell me when my OCD is getting worse when I'm not noticing helps me!
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 34w
Bring your meds with you because psychiatrist cannot prescribe medicine out of state
Hopeful58Hopeful58
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 34w
I try and keep what routines I can… Stretches, pray Breakfast, read the paper, read scripture, coffee… these get my day started right and ready for fun…
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 34w
Why does it flare up when traveling?
InfiniteInfinite
- Date posted
- 34w
It’s really difficult. Really, really difficult. I have a known tendency to overpack before traveling. I always bring a lot more luggage than everyone else. My emotional baggage, I call it. I pack several extra outfits, as much film equipment as possible, as many electronics as possible, all of that. Because WHAT IF I need it? What if I don’t pack fourteen pairs of underwear but wish I did? What if I don’t pack my lavalier microphone but wish I did? And so on and so forth. My psychiatrist diagnosed me with hoarding disorder. As a person known to already have autism, ADHD, OCD, depressive symptoms, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, and several others, hoarding disorder has to be one of the hardest ones I deal with. I don’t just hoard— I have to keep all of my belongs in my bedroom. Accessible only to me and nobody else. When it comes to packing, yes, it’s like I hoard my own belongings along with me to other places. But I do love to travel very much. So I’m working on that.
gixmogixmo
- Date posted
- 34w
@Infinite I have become better at trying to guess every single thing I need for any situation. (Partly because bags cost so much!) I did a lot of work on my flying fears and can be ok with 3 or 4 distraction items rather than 20 just in case items. And if I forget white sox, I can buy them or wear something else. It is difficult though. I make myself cut out things before the final zip up. Best wishes !
InfiniteInfinite
- Date posted
- 33w
@gixmo Thank you!!
CoachCoach
- Date posted
- 34w
Chat GPT. It sounds dorky but if you explain the circumstance and that you have OCD, it can help in a pinch!
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 34w
@lmikowski37@gmail.com i love chat gbt! It's kinda a compulsion but sometimes if i get really worked up and reassurance will help me avoid a panic attack i make it read me statistics lol.
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 34w
Po9
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 34w
P00
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