OCD based in real fear……

@AbiBrooke I’m really struggling too, I’m making the choice to be as brave as I can every day and just tell myself I can still live. I’ve barely started ERP but haven’t even spoken about this particular nasty theme yet!

@hereintheUK Can I ask what your theme is?

@AbiBrooke I don’t want to say but it’s something that I don’t know how common it is which is what my OCD is playing on

@hereintheUK I understand that. All I know is the OCD can latch onto ANYTHING. I heard the advice of if it’s not a threat literally right there in front of you, let the thoughts pass

@AbiBrooke I know and this one feels really cruel and like I’m totally alone with what it’s about 😞 it’s not a threat at all but it’s just making me feel like shit. I don’t know if to talk to my therapist about it as it’s so embarrassing!

@AbiBrooke I’m dealing with this exact thing. That’s why it’s so hard for me, because it’s real & I can’t tell myself “my brain is telling me this, it’s not real”. I can physically and mentally see it, because it’s real. I’m trying to manage this exact thing right now. You’re not alone in this and now I know neither am I! I encourage you to talk to your therapist about it. I felt silly telling mine, but I’m in the process of ERP (hasn’t helped yet, but I’m continuing) and it’s what will help me in the long run. 🫶🏼

@mgmt Mine is something that if I actually know that I’m not the only person to have what it is then my OCD would prob let go of it but it’s not something I’m googling about or searching for reassurance for anywhere either as I’m scared of making my OCD worse!

@hereintheUK Im confident that your therapist will not judge you. Mine has told me that she’s heard it ALL. OCD will try to isolate and shame you.

@mgmt I’m in the process of ERP too and learning what works best for me. It’s like I went underwater—I can’t see anything, I can’t breathe like I normally do, but I am going to keep swimming until I get where I’m going and come back to the surface and hopefully see how far I’ve come. If that makes sense lol

@AbiBrooke Yeah, I really like that!! That’s actually a really helpful way of describing ERP !

@AbiBrooke Yeah I know most of them have heard it all and I’m not scared of being judged I’m just soooo embarrassed by it! It may well be pretty common but like I say I’m not searching anywhere for reassurance about it even though I’d love to know that other women have the same thing

@hereintheUK Good for you for resisting reassurance!

@AbiBrooke It’s something that if I asked a group of women I may well get the answer I want but it is literally such an embarrassing question and if I didn’t get the answer I want to hear it would make me feel worse so I can’t win! I’ve read stories about it which go along similar lines but like I say there’s no way I’m googling it!

@hereintheUK I would definitely talk to your therapist about how to navigate it. I’m sorry you’re wrestling with that!

@AbiBrooke Like I say, one response prevention thing I’ve found for myself is to respond with “I have the strength to live with this” if that helps for you too

@Ms.shelovesfrogs No it’s not that theme