does anyone else struggle with this? is it actually OCD or am I just tripping??? It’s like my mind tries to get the best of me, it tries to tell me I want something different from what I actually want or think a way that doesn’t really align with me, my values or even lifestyle? Just me??
not just you at all! my ocd makes me so indecisive to where it becomes debilitating. you are not alone! 🫂
OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) is when your brain gets stuck on distressing thoughts, urges or images (obsessions) that create anxiety, shame, guilt, disgust. These thought lead you to do certain actions (compulsions) to get relief from your yucky feelings. These thoughts often feel intrusive, unwanted, and even go against your values. Some compulsions include Rumination or feeling the need to analyze or figure your thoughts out. Worry about making a wrong decision or choice - Questioning if your OCD is real and feel stuck in a cycle of questioning if it is or if you're just lying to yourself. Feeling like your mind isn’t fully your own, as if something is taking over. Or if it's a simulation of sorts. Worrying if admiring other has deeper meaning and trying to figure out what the meaning is. Compulsions can be mental (ruminating, reassurance-seeking, mentally reviewing) or physical (checking, avoiding, repeating behaviors). The key sign is that they provide only temporary relief before the cycle starts again. Exposure Response Prevention Therapy that we use here at NOCD breaks the cycle of OCD by teaching you how to tolerate your distress or "yucky feelings" without trying to figure them out.
Hi there, thank you for sharing with others and being vulnerable here. OCD will try to latch on to anything and the thoughts tend to stem from unwanted thoughts, which then makes you want to try to do anything to get rid of the thoughts or uncomfortable feelings, which is where compulsions come into play. Have you been able to identify any of these thoughts or compulsions in the past?
Does anyone have any advice for how to know the difference between ocd and real feelings/thoughts? Sometimes an intrusive thought will come in and I immediately know it’s ridiculous and I can just leave it alone and it won’t bother me but other times I really really don’t know. It’s when ocd hijacks and twists my real feelings and thoughts and tries to manipulate me into believing they’re something they’re not or something that doesn’t align with my true morals or intentions. But since it’s twisting and mixing with real feelings I get so confused and scared. Everything gets jumbled and I feel like I can’t trust myself or my own mind. Yet other times and other topics I can laugh off and push away just fine. Make it make sense. And then I start to think well maybe I don’t have ocd at all and I’m just in denial because I don’t want to accept that these scary/concerning things are true about myself. Or maybe that’s just the ocd talking.
Help! My OCD has caught onto this thought for awhile and I keep spinning on it. I know you are supposed to follow your values and what your actions suggest with OCD, but what if that is even blurry right know? For example my whole life I wanted to be with a man, and now my OCD is having major intrusive thoughts about women. How do you tell if those thoughts are wanted or not? I can’t figure out if I like the thoughts or not. I’m trying to live the life “I want” but what if I don’t know what that is?
Whenever anyone starts to feel like their thoughts are less triggering or they feel a moment of happiness/ relief OCD tells you that you want the thoughts back or you actually like having the thoughts and maybe thats just the person I really am? I feel like im going insane😢
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