Are we responsible for doing a compulsion

@TexasOCD41 My therapist says that all compulsions feel automatic. When you start to get a handle on your OCD and learning what your compulsions are, the compulsions you listed are easier to resist and not engage with. They start feeling like more of choice than a requirement. The rumination is one of the harder ones even after you’ve learned. I think she might’ve told me that compulsions *are* automatic but I’ve heard such mixed things that idk

@TexasOCD41 I found the message she sent me: “Intrusive thoughts AND compulsions ARE automatic - they happen without conscious decision - which is what makes OCD ... OCD.” If it’s not too much to ask, what are your thoughts on this?

@issphra 🫶🏻 - mmm i don't really agree with that. To suggest compulsions are automatic is to remove our ability to prevent them. Intrusive thoughts ARE automatic, we don't control our thoughts, but we DO control our compulsions. My preferred compulsion is seeking reassurance and online research, so that means i have to actively find someone and ask them for reassurance or i have to actively log onto my computer and think of what questions to ask to look for the right answers. When i stopped doing my compulsions, i actively told myself " don't go ask for reassurance, you knows it bad for you" and " don't get online, its just a compulsion" soooo i don't really think a therapist saying compulsions are automatic is good advice at all.

@TexasOCD41 I understand what you’re saying. I am new to getting treated for OCD. My therapist has six years of experience treating OCD through NOCD, and she also has OCD herself. She believes that while we cannot control intrusive thoughts, we can learn to recognize, stop, and ultimately control compulsions. I agree that thoughts are not something we can control. The reason I agree with her—or at least want to—is because I’ve noticed myself engaging in compulsions without realizing it. I rarely feel like I make a conscious decision to perform a compulsion, even when it’s something physical. That said, I’ve been trying to learn how to notice triggers that might lead to compulsions so I can work on preventing them. Still, compulsions feel extremely automatic to me, and I often catch myself in the middle of one or reflect afterward and think, “I’ll do better next time.” For additional context, I have extremely severe OCD, and it truly feels like many of my compulsions happen subconsciously. When I discussed this with my therapist, I was upset about giving in to a compulsion without realizing it. She wasn’t trying to give me reassurance, but she did want to help me understand that these compulsions often occur without conscious choice. She emphasized that over time, I would learn to recognize and control them. That perspective gave me some hope.

@issphra 🫶🏻 I think yes some compulsions do happen subconsciously, especially rumination but not all compulsions are automatic. That’s my only difference in opinion from your therapist. Iv had ocd since o was 13 and im 33 now so im a bit seasoned in my ways lol but everyone’s treatment is individual and what works for one might not work for another. I think it’s important to just find what works best for you and stick to it.

@TexasOCD41 I’m doing my best. I promise some of my physical compulsions feel automatic too maybe it’s because I’m newer to this. I was diagnosed 3 months ago after noticing symptoms for a month. I always want to scream and cry afterwards because I didn’t catch it in time. Hopefully with time they feel more like something I can control like they do for you. Thank you for talking this out with me:)

@issphra 🫶🏻 Being compassionate to yourself is important. Also, you can “ un-do “ a compulsion. You basically just purposely bring forward the thought you were doing the compulsion about and re-trigger yourself. Ocd recovery is continuous and it’s baby steps. Take it one day at a time. Also, me personally? I love a good hard cry. Sometimes I’ll purposefully bring up everything I’m avoiding and just let myself crrryyyyy my soul clean. I usually go down for a nap afterwards lol. Embrace your emotions, the good the bad and everything in between.

My compulsions really felt stronger then my own will are we to blame for doing compulsions?

@Anonymous In a sense, yes, because OCD isn’t making you do them. You are doing them to try and get rid of OCD symptoms, but you can always choose not to do them and go get better. It’s up to you if you want to heal or not—that’s everyone in life though. No one can force someone to change.

@Nica I didn't know I had OCD when I did my compulsions

@Anonymous Most people don’t, and that’s normal. You can’t do better when you don’t know what’s going on. But now you know, and you can now do better.

@Nica Of course now that im aware my compulsions are in controll I can do something about it but is the me who didn't really to blame?

@Anonymous You don’t need to blame anyone. Waste of time and something OCD can easily latch onto and start obsessing over. Just move forward.