Anonymous
- Date posted
- 24w
Hocd
I haven’t been diagnosed with it, but I feel like nothing else describes me better. If you do have this feeling and thoughts, what are some ways to lower your anxiety ?
CobraManCobraMan
- Date posted
- 24w
From a long term perspective I found the technique described in the book “Brainlock” by Jeffrey Schwartz to be effective but it’s something you have to practice long term. I stopped practicing this technique for a few years and my OCD caught up with me recently. I need to read it again.
things_willgetbetter111things_willg...
- Date posted
- 24w
i always tell myself , if the thought or compulsion is disturbing or distressing.. that’s it’s not me it’s my OCD. it seems scary but i promise you’re NOT ALONE !! 🩷 it WILL GET BETTER !
JustmesadlyJustmesadly
- Date posted
- 24w
@olivia_123 Be careful with this bc if you’re doing therapy and doing the work, the thoughts become not scary
things_willgetbetter111things_willg...
- Date posted
- 24w
@Justmesadly huh ?
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 24w
Hello, At NOCD we use Exposure and Response Prevention therapy. This is method of decreasing OCD symptoms by having you sit with distressing thoughts without engaging in compulsions. What has been found is that by sitting with the thoughts, without engage in compulsions, a person is able to develop the tolerance to sit with distressing thought more easily and resist developing compulsions. A helpful step might be meeting with an ERP therapist to first be diagnosed with OCD since you haven't been diagnosed, yet. I hope this is helpful.
Andrea WellsAndrea Wells
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 24w
ERP treatment and medication have both helped me a ton with this. Before I was officially diagnosed I remember reading about OCD too and realizing that it described me perfectly and explained a lot!
Bruce MBruce M
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 24w
Be open to letting the thoughts be there. There are also lots of good tips on the Patrick McGrath Wednesday night webinar on the NOCD page on YouTube. Or really any NOCD webinar can be helpful. Go ahead and check out some of the videos. In addition you can contact NOCD for a free 15 minute call to discuss further. They can offer more detail than I can here. https://www.treatmyocd.com/about-us/contact-us
Related posts
Luke_McElwee
- Date posted
- 24w
HOCD question
Anyone else with HOCD get thoughts of like "people in denial try to distract themselves" or anything along those lines when just trying to move on from the thoughts. Having a pretty bad episode this morning at least anxiety wise.
Ampyyy
- Date posted
- 12w
Hocd
I’ve had hocd for around 11 months now. It’s gotten to the point where I’m just convinced that I am bi. I still like boys like I always have, but I feel like I like girls too. I have no anxiety either or active thoughts. It’s just kinda there like yep I’m bi and ok with it. Anyone else? Just curious.
user74128588493
- Date posted
- 10w
hocd and scared it’s internalized homophobia
I’ve been struggling with HOCD for years, and it started with an intrusive thought about being gay when I was younger. It came up at age 12 and ever since, I’ve been trapped in a cycle of doubt and anxiety. I obsess over whether or not I’m secretly gay, even though I don’t feel that way at all. What makes it worse is the fear that I might have internalized homophobia, and that’s why I’m having these obsessive thoughts. I worry that my anxiety is a sign that I’m repressing something or rejecting part of myself. It feels like my mind keeps repeating the same question—am I gay?—and no matter how much reassurance I get, the fear doesn’t go away. I used to pray for my family members, fearing that if I didn’t, something bad would happen to them, and now it feels like I have to control these thoughts, or something will go wrong. For a while, it was quieter, but a week ago, the thoughts spiraled up again, and now the anxiety feels overwhelming again. It’s exhausting, and I don’t know how to break free from this constant loop of doubt. Has anyone dealt with the fear of internalized homophobia alongside HOCD? How do you manage the anxiety that comes with it?
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