I am struggling right now with intrusive harm urges. They feel real and it feels like I am going to act any second. It feels like I have to hold myself back, which is a scary thoughts. I am trying so hard not to compulse, but does anyone have tips on what they do in these situations?
I don’t do or say anything. I just let the urges be present as I go about my day.
@Nica Thanks, Nica! I will keep striving for this.
@Catlove9 You got this 🤘🏻
@Nica Thank you!
Notice how youre seeking reassurance through the app. That is a compulsion. Like Nica said, dont do or say anything, just sit with the urge
@slippery_salad I didn’t even notice. Thank you! I appreciate that!
@Catlove9 Its good to come to the app. Dont get me wrong. Sometimes you need that bit of reassurance to keep going butttt also, notice when youre seeking reassurance more often than not:)
@slippery_salad You’re so right! Thank you!
In my opinion asking for tips one time isn't reassurance. If you know what response prevention to do and you've worked it out with your therapist then do the response prevention statements. For me sitting with it DOES NOTHING AND MAKES IT WORSE. I am currently dealing with an influx of harm thoughts rhe last month and it's hard. If the thought comes then my therapist and I came up with " oh, Wow. That escalated quickly". I've found If I follow it up with Agatha (my ocds name) what's the matter. We are safe right now. We're ok. Your feelings are valid and we are safe. Let's calm down and go [insert task] paint, draw, color, etc. It was hard and I was resistant at first. I begrudgingly did jt. I did jt all the time, like 5x a day I would say oh so you want to [insert harm] well that escalated quickly. We're safe etc.. Then when the true harm thought would come I would remember what to say in the moment.
@Anonymous Thank you for this! I love the name Agatha for your OCD name as well. Reminds me of Agatha Christie and all the insane stories she was able to come up with! Perfect name.
@Catlove9 I got jt from the book Matilda..the principals name was Agatha trunchbull.
@Anonymous Oh yes! I recall now.
This is so so hard to struggle with. I am so so sorry:(:( But you can get better through ERP therapy!!!! Have you heard of it? It can help you conquer this and start living your life the way you want to. I have a few recommendations. You should consider NOCD. They only have therapists who do ERP. They take most insurance and do sessions online. You can text them anytime you are struggling . I’ll give you a link where you can book a free phone call. https://home.treatmyocd.com/calendar Also, I highly recommend Nathan Peterson. He has an online course where you can learn ERP. He also has really useful videos on most all of the OCD themes. I’ll link a few of his videos on harm OCD below. This is actually quite a common theme. You are not alone!!! You can beat this!!! https://youtu.be/UHCtK_KWiSE?si=73PUk6cfrfeiFyIX https://youtu.be/hwkpqNpHfkE?si=RkBTZsE2EKNPDpEt
HARM OCD VENT. I feel Terrified. I am so scared that I am going to act on a terrible harm ocd intrusive thought on someone else. The idea, the sensations the urges terrify me because it feels so scarily real. I feel like im a horrible person - a danger and i’m so guilty for having intrusive thoughts. I hate knives, I avoid looking at them in real life, in the kitchen as i’m so terrified that i will do sone thing terrible. I get excited when my boyfriend cones round as i always think he knows about my thoughts so at least he would restrain me if i were to do anything bad. I just feel so scared so guilty. I have this horrible sensation of urge running through my body- currently im on the verge of tears- i feel lost. My ocd has even latched onto pumpkin carving - scared i will do something bad. Now my OCD is just being like “ maybe your avoiding is all fake and your trying to cover your a bad person” “ what if u actually want to “. “ I want to “ “ You arnt actually trying to hard from harmful objects “ its TERRIFYING. please may someone reply - I’m terrified right now its like an intrusive FEELING is in my body. Sorry guys. I NEED reassurance at this point, I don’t know what to do.
Hey guys, I am having the worst HARM OCD episode I have had in a while. I am having disgusting, awful intrusive thoughts about harming others. It feels so real. It feels as if I am about to get up and just do it. The worst bit about it all Is I know I feel distressed and panicked. But where the thoughts are actually happening ( in my head) doesnt feel this feeling. This is making it feel worse as it really does feel like Im just going to do it. I am crying my eyes out because I know im petrified and dont want to hurt anyone im so scared. I have this terrible intrusive feeling in my that feels like its justifying the thoughts. Please can someone talk as I am scared Im crying I dont want know what to do I want this feeling gone I am so scared. I tell myself Id kill myself before hurting anyone else, but would i ? What if I actually do want to kill Please respond Im so scared
Last night I had a fucked up intrusive thought/urge about harming my partner and I'm spinning out today. I let them know I had an intrusive thought and was struggling with compulsions around it and future repercussions, but did not tell them exactly what the thought/urge was, which they accepted. Do y'all share details with your partners about harm ocd? How can we healthily ask for support from people we are having horrible thoughts about?
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