Surprisingly, many people with OCD struggle with free time. It can often feel like OCD gets louder when your mind isn’t occupied, and it can be tempting to stay busy 24/7 to (compulsively!) avoid your intrusive thoughts and other symptoms. Here are some ways OCD can take over your free time. What else would you add?
Yes, sedentary time alone is sometimes mental hell
In the past I often tried to do nothing in my free time, thinking that way I could somehow relax because there would be less 'material' for OCD to work with, but the contrary often was true, it would give even more room for ruminating, my whole mind would be available for OCD not distracted by doing other things.
Im so burnt out because of my untreated ocd that im forced to be bed ridden and when I do have energy I just burn it all on my Ocd and not life and all the important things I gotta do. I even dropped out of college because I simply couldn't do anything or function at all. To much thinking.
@Hasibi501 I can relate. A similar thing has happened to me but I’m working through it. You can get through it. Take small steps.
@Hasibi501 This sounds like it has been really hard for you, and we're so sorry you are going through this difficult time. Exposure Response Prevention therapy teaches us to confront our obsessions and sit with the discomfort we feel around them. Then, we learn to resist the urge to do compulsions. At NOCD we are proud to offer effective, affordable, and convenient OCD therapy. It's customized for each person and their unique needs, but here's how ERP generally works: After asking you about your specific symptoms, a trained therapist who specializes in OCD creates your ERP therapy plan. Based on that, you'll work together to rank your fears or triggers based on how stressful they seem—this way, you can gain coping skills gradually without getting overwhelmed.
@Mackenzie - NOCD Team Member I am still contemplating if I should go with NOCD or go with my already fincially covered by my insurance OCD therapist that I know nothing about. I understand the value of having a competent therapist but unironically my OCD is preventing me from getting a good therapist for my self. I have negative experiences with therapists who simply do not understand OCD and just think of it as regular GAD.
Yeah definitely when I just get to be at night time is when it comes out
@Caitlin SO relatable.
@Caitlin Ikrrrrr I just start worrying about the most random things when I close the lights.
I feel like I don’t want to go to work because of triggers, but I don’t want to be alone because the day is wasted away (and I mean HOURS) with compulsions and rumination. I then think sleep is my escape but it just follows me, even with medication which I actually think contributes more to the burnout when I’m tossing and turning all night. I can’t escape my brain unless a person (who doesn’t trigger my soocd) is with me at all times but that just isn’t impossible so here we are.
@anonymous00981 You are not alone. Sending you sympathy.
@anonymous00981 Maybe find something in between; like a work from home job that doesn’t have demanding hours; I can relate to the challenges of not being able to turn off your brain.
I totally relate to anxiety with free time. I don’t stop until bed time and then I distract myself with my phone until I fall asleep.
I have a very very hard time with this - I stay so busy and when I feel like I desperately need a quick break to do nothing my OCD jumps into high gear. Anyone have any tips that work well when this happens?
@Anonymous I have started telling ocd I’m going to choose what I want to do and think about. Reminds me that I have the control. It’s hard but it helps
Often when I try to enjoy hobbies (guitar, drawing, reading) in my free time my OCD goes absolutely NUTS. It makes it so hard to enjoy.
I pick up extra shifts at work all the time, usually working 16 hour shifts
I get triggered if I'm to busy and stressed, as soon as I actually have time to breathe again, the OCD hits with a vengeance. And every Sunday 🙄
I can relate to what many of you have said. My mind is my worst enemy. My thoughts make me feel anxious and ill. It is mental hell.
Me 1000% When its quiet, im teying to relax, i need to be asleep, I want to meditate, having unexpexted and unplanned time off of work or to myself..the list goes on
YES. Evenings, weekends, and vacation time are the worst. I have to give all my attention to something in order to drown out the obsessions. My life has gotten very small and sad as a result; I’m just watching it pass me by as I try to stay distracted. I’m very excited to start this therapeutic journey and finally find some relief.
So so SO relatable
yes My OCD is telling me that everything in this world has value. How can you say OCD thoughts don’t have value? Even dust can form a rainbow. Everything is made by God, so everything has value — so OCD thoughts must also have value.
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