Been struggling with existential OCD lately. Very hard to describe the thoughts/feelings, but it is a constant feeling of being stuck in my head. Like what is consciousness and where do I think from? Like I think it’s OCD, maybe it is maybe it isn’t. But if it is, what would be good ERP exercises? Just existing (lol)? And what would be my response prevention? I’m not even sure what mental compulsions I may be doing.
Maybe read theories on your questions? So maybe read about different theories on what consciousness is. You would respond by not acknowledging any of them. Just sitting with them, accepting that any of the theories could be true or false. Write words of phrases associated with how you feel, that scare you. Do it over and over. For example, if the word consciousness scares you, right it over and over. Preventing any responses. Or maybe writing something like 'maybe I don't exist' over and over. Or whatever your specific fear is. Specifically bring to mind a question that scares you and prevent a response. Practicing just sitting with it, and responding with uncertainty. Idk. Hopefully something in there helps
@Anonymous Thank you for the ideas. I will try some of them out. Finding ERP for mental obsessions/compulsions can be tough.
Literally been stuck with this same issue. Or like why can I only view life through my eyes and just trust everything else is real. I’m not sure how ERP would work for it. What has helped me somewhat is just being like this is my body and my experience. I want to make it a good one. One I enjoy and try not to dwell on the rest. Hope that helps.
@Hopefulcharles46 Thank you for the reply. It’s nice to know I’m not alone in thinking/feeling this way. I totally get the only being able to see out of my eyes thing. It’s so weird and with OCD it’s not just a passing thought. It happens all day long. Ughh
@Freshbrew21 Yeah, I actually went into a mental hospital for little over a week because of the thoughts. I was really freaking out and scared. But I’m on meds now and about to start therapy. Knowing my OCD is the cause of most of my worries kinda helps ease some of the fears.
@Hopefulcharles46 Glad to hear that you were able to find help and are on the right track. I just had my first NOCD appt, and have an appt to maybe start meds next week. I have always struggled with SSRI’s but at this point I’m willing to try.
I struggle with this too constantly. It's even worse being religious, because I feel this guilt that questioning my existence or reality is questioning God (big sin!). Erp for such heavy and deep topics feels impossible or like it'll barely help. I can't really give any advice, but I give you all my support🙏
@MS2003 I appreciate your reply. I would agree that this subtype of OCD feels the heaviest of all the one’s that I have dealt with.
The main exposure I've done for existential OCD is simply to read the news. Also to read articles about paradoxes, unexplained phenomenons, death, and other things that trigger me. The type of things I'd typically go out of my way to avoid hearing about because they're upsetting. But I'd work with an ERP therapist for help if you can!
Hi guys! I’m new to the community and I’ve recently received my OCD diagnosis (tho I’ve known about it since childhood). I’ve been somewhat spiraling lately as I wait for my first ERP session (hooray!) I was just wondering if any of you guys have received ERP for existential OCD and if it was successful? My existential OCD compulsions are more so mental and have been affecting me in the sense of dream/memory flashbacks and giving me a sort of “uncanny” feeling about everything around me. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you❤️
I used to get caught in a loop with existential thoughts very frequently. Every question made my stomach drop: (TW: existential questions) … … ... "Why does anything exist at all? What will death be like? Is anything even real? Is there any meaning to this? Is the universe infinitely big, and if not, what's beyond it? Are there multiverses? Has the universe been around forever? Will the universe end for good, or will it keep going forever? What is forever like? What even IS reality?" It would get so overwhelming that I remember lying on the floor in a fetal position for hours because I felt like there was no escape. I spent most of my days reading articles and watching videos about theoretical astrophysics and philosophy in a desperate attempt to "figure it all out." Of course that only made me more anxious, raised more questions, and kept me trapped in the cycle. Things started to improve once I learned to turn TOWARD reality, rather than away from it, and ERP really helped me do that. I learned that these questions weren't the problem. I learned that I can actually handle the anxiety that arises when exposed to these ideas and concepts. I don't have to figure anything out to make the anxiety go away; it arises and passes away on its own. Ironically, bringing myself into the present moment and becoming more aware of reality helped me escape the cycle of existential dread. Because of that, this topic no longer takes over my life. If I'm triggered by something I see, hear, or think, I may still feel a little twang of anxiety, but then it just goes away. "Maybe, maybe not" has been the single most useful phrase of my life. Do you ever get trapped in a cycle of existential questions? Are you worried that the ERP approach would be too scary to handle? If so, I'm happy to give my advice.
Suffering from solipsism ocd where I think that everything around me is fake and that I’m stuck in a simulation as the only conscious being. I also have thoughts that there is a higher power that is controlling everything around me and that I’m the main character in a video game. Everyone and everything around me is an npc or generated to keep me in the “game”. This is the worst ocd theme that I’ve had to deal with thus far. Is there anybody else that has had this? and what ERP techniques can I use? Need some ideas. Thanks.
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