Does anyone else's OCD get worse when you haven't slept well? I haven't been sleeping well since this weekend and my OCD and anxiety is just making me feel super down. Does anyone else have this problem?
Hi there! I am a licensed therapist at NOCD. I'm sorry to hear that you have not been sleeping well and it is making you feel super down. Yes, sleep deprivation can and will exacerbate OCD symptoms, depression, anxiety, and other life functions. It is important to create a consistent sleep, food intake, and daily schedule. I commend you for your insight and awareness, which a a great step in addressing how you are feeling. Are there other things you are noticing with your OCD and anxiety that might be impacted?
Because OCD can be triggered by stress, and lack of sleep can cause stress, that can absolutely happen. I know it happens to me when my sleep isn't on point.
It makes a lot of sense that your OCD and anxiety feel worse when you haven’t been sleeping well. Sleep plays a big role in emotional regulation, and when we’re exhausted, intrusive thoughts can feel even more overwhelming. You’re definitely not alone in this—many people with OCD notice an increase in symptoms when they’re sleep-deprived. While we can’t always control our sleep perfectly, focusing on good sleep habits—like keeping a consistent bedtime, reducing screen time before bed, and practicing relaxation techniques—might help. At the same time, it’s important to continue responding to your OCD thoughts in a way that aligns with your ERP work. Even if your anxiety feels heightened, remember that you can still choose how to respond to it.
Oh 100% yes. I have learned I need a good 8 to 9 hours of sleep per night to stay sane, or my mental health really starts to suffer and my OCD symptoms get worse!
Does anyone have any tips on how to sleep with harm ocd, I’m always so tired but I can’t fall asleep until it gets to the point my eyes won’t stay open, I’m scared that I’m gonna do something in my sleep or my thoughts just eont shut up and it causes issues with sleeping, advice needed please
Does anyone else have a really hard time relaxing? It feels related to OCD but also maybe not? I struggle with scrupulously themes and worrying I’m doing something wrong and I feel like I’m doing something bad by relaxing when I know I still have things on my to do list (which seems to be never ending). Has anyone experienced anything similar to this?
I want to know if this an ocd thing because I haven't read about it when I started searching of the disorder to make sure I had it (that before my diagnosis) Does your thoughts get worsened when you are falling sleep or are half awake half sleep? I noticed mines would get intensified when I'm trying very hard to stay awake or when I'm close to falling asleep
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