Looking for positivity 😄

Here’s a list I’ve created and share from time to time concerning lifestyle changes that help with OCD and are all positive. It is a lot and some things might work and other won’t so you have to try it out and see how it goes: -Drink more water/stay hydrated, -Cut back and eventually all the at once mental compulsions, -Minimum 7 hours of sleep per night, -Get on a daily and nightly routine (as in you have a schedule and you go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time unless you’re sick or on holiday), -Cut back on sugar and carbs and focus more on protein, healthy fats, and veggies, -Go outside for at least 30 minutes a day, -Exercise every day or every other day. This includes weight lifting, cardio, and stretching, -Pick up a hobby or two (or more!) that can be done with others and by yourself, -Check out Yoga with Adriene on YouTube for free yoga content, -Check out either the Calm app or Insight Timer app for meditations (20 minutes per day as the end goal but start with 5 minutes and work your way up. It WILL take time), -Practice mindfulness all day, every day. And this is a life long process, -Seek out therapy (also for life), -Medication if it works for you, -Look into grounding techniques for when things get hard, -Spend more time with loved ones (it does not have to be blood related if you have abusive family members).

ERP therapy has helped me tremendously. It's a challenge at first, but once I discovered tools that work, and trust them, I've seen good results. Thank you for starting this discussion!!! There is always hope, friends.

ERP, meds and the right fit therapist have changed my life. I went from ruminating and doing compulsions every minute of every day to now not even noticing or being triggered by the same stuff (SOOCD). I’ve also been able to see and start working on other places OCD has latched on in my life (ROCD, Just Right, Contamination, etc) and break free of it there too. I went from constant distress and fear to feeling relaxed and hopeful. It’s amazing!

I don’t usually scroll through but I caught your post, a rare positive one. I’m currently struggling with contamination OCD, but after reading your post I forced myself to think of something positive that I have achieved. And I’m not a fan of being positive. But I have accomplished a lot when it comes to OCD. It ranges from me starting to work on helping others clean (something I used to love to do but sadly became fearful of and I need to work on that again) to traveling much easier now. Today I opened my window for fresh air. Thank you for opening up the window in my head and helping me remember what I have accomplished. If I did it then I can do it again now.

I’ve come to realize that my friends are infinitely supportive of me, and see past all my paranoia and fears and trauma! I can’t understand how they feel such love and understanding towards me, but I feel so so grateful because of it! OCD is hard, and it’s a blessing to find people that realize you aren’t your intrusive thoughts, and you aren’t your past.

I have made a lot of progress this past year. I finally got my license after avoiding the road for 7 years. I drove myself to a job out of town. I was able to work fulltime for a few months. I am now in school fulltime for the first time. my OCD has caused me to drop out of 14 classes over the past 7 years but I haven't dropped any in a full year. I am finally getting proper treatment for my OCD so we shall see how that goes!