Spring transitions and OCD

Grest idea!!!! Good luck planting the flowers/vegetables this spring!!!😊🌸

@alan87 Thank you for posting this. I so relate to your “shrink my world” with winter, those words, even the cozy image of cold winter weather that came up for me resonated so much. I wanted to post like but like? Truly?

@Elisa Graybill I have slowly become a hermit and kind of don’t enjoy the warmer weather anymore. I wonder if it is me that truly feels this way or if it is me seeking comfort within OCD.

@alan87 - You will never find comfort with OCD. If you could, then I would not have a job. If OCD offers you comfort, it is a lie. No need to listen to that pesky OCD>

@Patrick McGrath Thanks Dr. McGrath!

I am very hyper aware of it at the moment. I have been Deodorant with me every and spraying it on like 8 times a day.

@jen jen That’s a new obsession for me. I first thought it was happening because there was something wrong with me but it’s becoming easier to deal with.

What would it mean to you if you did sweat a lot? Would it smell? Would it show? Would people tease you? Or, would you sweat, and if you did, could you handle it? I bet that you actually could. If you watch sports, and people are sweating, do you have an urge to run out on the court or field and wipe them down? Or, do they just sweat, and why is it OK there but not for you?

@NOCD Therapist - Patrick M. Yes to most of that. It feels gross, it smells bad, and I'm afraid to wear light colored clothes.

@Patrick McGrath Thank you for your reply. I have so many thoughts on this issue- too many to get into! However, I will say that I think I have somatic OCD where I am constantly aware of how much I am sweating or not sweating. I also do not like how it feels with the exception of exercising. That’s the only time it feels acceptable to me.

@jen jen I also struggle with sweating and my thoughts around it. I feel so afraid others will see my underarms or hands are sweating which they always are. I have been made fun of it when I was younger and I have always had a lot of anxiety around it. Also how I talk to myself is so unnecessarily harsh. My body feels tense as I try to keep my arms down and constantly think about how to hide my hands so people won’t see. I never really realized this might be an OCD pattern.

@Anonymous I agree with you about the animals. I do obsess about the abuse, neglect, torture and abandonment that they go through. I’ve never told anyone- but when I read your feed, I felt safe to do so. Thank you for sharing and know that you’re not alone. 🐶👍🐴

@howiemandable I am so happy to hear you say this! The more pelple that care about animals the better! After all they need others to speak up for them and care about them. Unfortunately in this world they are voiceless so I am happy to hear you care. I am also glad you felt safe to speak up here!!! If you are ever interested in helping them there are so many things you can do to help the animals. You can share shelter pets pictures/stories on social medià to help get them noticed and out of the kill shelters (I do that and it is wonderful when you see someone get ssved!😁) You can sign petitions that are created to change life for the animals, (domesticated , wild, endangered, farm animals) pledge to help find a rescue if the animal needs one) email rescues, share lost and found animals on the internet to get them back home and off the streets, use products not tested on animals/vegan (soap, shampoo, etc) Even makers of oreos test. so I stopped buying them. Go vegan or vegetarian or reduce how much animal products you have in your diet, etc. Sign petitions forcaninals in factory farms, and elsewhere to get them better treatment You can foster an animal who is in a kill shelter.till they get a forever home and it opens up a cage for the bext animal brought in. This way that animal is not killed and is fostered just till they get a home. Plus....it is FREE!!! You get their food, they are taken care of with shots and all things medical and everything they need all free and they live with you temporarily till a permanent home is found....and this SAVES LIVES!!!! I am like you where I thibj about what others go through and I especially think about animals as they really get no say so about their life. So that is why I do the things above with the exceotuon of fostering. We have several dogs and over the years we took in four lost dogs that we could were not able to find their families. Lost Dogs IL. asked if we would hold onto them till families were found and they became part of our family alongside our other dogs. I try to find fisters for animals in need and I know people who foster. They say it is the best! My son's girlfriend fosters and has saved whole litters! I hope we can do that, too, one day! Sorry I went on and on but I just wanted to list sone ideas you and others might think of because it can be difficult to see or think about the bad things animals go through but at least there are some ways to help them and to be honest, I feel it helps me, too. I dont think about my worries, fears, ocd stuff cuz I am thinking about the animals (all animals) and if there is any way I can help. Thanks for saying I am not alone!!! I appreciate that!!!😊🙏💕 🐐🐴🦋🦊🦄🦁🐟🐼🐯🐕‍🦺🦡🐬🦮🐟😻

@Anonymous You have a kind soul- I too hate to see animals abused; and yes we have to be their voices. I love what you said about not thinking of yourself (your OCD) because you’re thinking of the animals. Napoleon Hill, said something similar about people. (I’m paraphrasing) He said when you fix someone else’s problems you undoubtedly will fix your own. This I found to be true. I’m excited about this because I just figured out a way to help my OCD. Perhaps that’s why mine got worse over the years- I’m not helping enough people outside my home. Thanks for sharing your story. ~To your success

@Anonymous I worry about homeless people all of the time in the winter months. Animals I worry about- but I worry about people so much that sometimes I forget the animals-until I see or hear one. I hope that doesn’t make me a bad person. Sometimes I feel that people will shelter an animal before they shelter people, I think perhaps it’s safer. 😔

@Becoming Whole I am SO VERY HAPPY you got something out of what I wrote. I want to wish you good luck and,God's blessings in helping others and with your ocd in general. I think what he said is very true!!! Thank you for bringing that up!!!😊🙏💕🦋🐳🐼🙉🦡🦁🦮🦊🐐🐴🦁🐯🦮🐕‍🦺🙉😻

@Anonymous Thank you so much. God’s blessings to you as well.❤️

@Becoming Whole No, that dies,bit maje you a bad person. Incare about borh but I seem to go to the animals first. It is not that I do not think of people. I just feel peopke can go to a,warming center/cooling center when temperatures are very high or low. They can go to soup kitchens, neigjborhood churches or rectories and even ask for money. I know rhis is not the most luxuriosos kife but these are things,animals cannot do. Humans,beed to be their viuce!!! I agree that people might be more likely to take in a stray animal rhan a homeless person not knowing what to expect but if you take animals to kill shelters and their families do not come to clain them, they only get a shirt amoubt of time at the shelter before they kill them. Sometimes it is just hours if the shelter is, full!!! It is better to post flyets all over with dog/cat's picture and your phone number. Let the caller tell you sone info that proves the animal is theirs(pictures, shot records, etc). You want to make sure the person is legitimate. There are peopke out there,who try to get animals,for dog foghtibg, animal testing, etc... Cats too! Nobody is,going to do thiese thibgs to people. A person can speak up for themselves. I talked to a man sitting outsideca,store asking for money. He was not homeless...just moved into a home but I guess does,not have enough money. We gad a,nice conversation and he talked about how he gas to get a,bus pass. I figured that was a,good,time to share a,few bucks with him. Honestçy, I think he appreciated the mobey and conversation...but really Inthink he liked the conversation!!! I was happy he was not homeless!!! But I agree....those low or high temperatures always,make me think of animals and people who are outside!!! God bless them.ALL!!!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

@Anonymous Yes, I agree. I’m happy you were able to share a part of your heart and help the stranger out financially- I’m sure it meant a lot to him. You really do have a good soul. I’m happy that I communicated with you here. Thanks again 🤗