I really need help. My ocd spiral has begun again over existential ocd…. That every second that passes becomes the past. Like my daughter will do something cute and my brain will go”thats in the past” it makes no sense but gives me panic attacks. I just want to enjoy my life. Anyone have this and have overcome it? Any help would be amazing!!
If I were dealing with this, when the thought, “that’s in the past” comes up, I would ask myself, “okay, and why does that matter?” Have the OCD reveal itself to you. Are you afraid of time passing? Are you trying to over control the present moment? What is it that your brain is searching for by plaguing you with these questions? Once you know, you can challenge these negative thoughts. Also, mindfulness and grounding in the present moment are helpful tools. They’ll keep you present instead of thinking about time passing.
@ocdrecovery198 I really appreciate your insight. Have you had anything like this!
@kvv430 Yes, I have experienced this. Existential OCD used to be my nightly scapegoat to cope with postpartum. I’d take photos often out of guilt, shame, and fear of forgetting the moment. I had a fear of not being able to “feel” the moment again. It’s like I took the idea, “soak in every moment, they go by fast” too literal and thought about the passing time often. Little did I realize, focusing on how the moment was going to pass was keeping me from enjoying the moment altogether.
@ocdrecovery198 Omg this! This theme really came at me a few months after having my babygirl. Shes 16 months now and the absolute love of my life. I feel like anytime she does something cute im like thats in tha past now and then I panic. I just want to focus on the now and her but this intense anxiety and panic from these thoughts just make me wanna sleep. Im terrified of death and I have a good life its just this stupid ocd….
@kvv430 Congratulations on raising such a beautiful baby! My daughter turned 2 last month. 🩷 For me, the existential ocd has faded with time. It comes back occasionally, and I have to remind myself of what’s real right now. That it’s more important to focus on this moment with her than the past. Whenever your brain says, “well that moment has passed” and tries to push away your joy and happiness, try to remember, “that may be true, but I am still allowed to enjoy this moment right now.” And ground yourself with visuals, touch, smells, sounds, and taste. Focus on what’s in front of you. The thoughts and feelings will come back, but the more you focus on the now and allowing yourself to feel the joy, the ocd will subside. You are rewiring your brain to be happy and not have to stress about every moment. I hope this helps. ❤️
I’ve had the exact thought. It is distressing but I’ve gotten past it. Even if it’s in the past I have the memories
@Danie-Rae Omg thank you for replying! 💙💙💙💙
@Danie-Rae What are some tips to move past it? Its so annoying
@kvv430 I just let the discomfort happen when I thought about it to the point it just didn’t. I didn’t think about it just observed my feelings and realized there’s nothing I can do about it and just letting myself worry felt pointless finally. It’s a process. Eventually it will bore you
@Danie-Rae I know that sounds lame at the moment to you bc you’re distressed by it. But that’s basically what ERP teaches you to do as well with all ocd themes.
@Danie-Rae I hate this.. i woke up ok was a little anxious but then as soon as i get to work and room patients it hits be like a bat out of hell. Every patient i room is in the past. I feel like I will never get past this theme. I just want to cry. I have to keep taking ativan to calm me down. I hate it. I just want to be happy again….
@kvv430 I just need to know this is beatable…. That I can be normal again and stop worrying about this dumb ocd
@kvv430 I’m so sorry you having a rough day. You’re not alone in this even though if feels lonely it. OCD can make you feel stuck like you wont ever be ok. I actually said “I’m never gonna get better” just last night in the kitchen to my husband. But now I have a different perspective talking to you. She (ocd) is a bully ( yes I gave it a gender and a name😂) sooooo….shes not stating facts. Shes using your fears and making you question and distress all day. So…..as an adult (I assume you aren’t a teen) would you let a bully keep you scared and stressed all the time?
@Danie-Rae Haha I am 31, no teen lol. I have a 1yo babygirl. Aww I love that you gendered it. Back in therapy years ago they had mine- named mine barthalomew🤣 I have overcome so many other ocd themes. If you ever need anything i am here as well. This theme sucks balls tho! Lol
@kvv430 Ah man, my 30s were the best!!! And having a little baby at the time…I hope you enjoy every minute it!!! I just turned 40, 3 kids growing way too fast for my liking and I’m struggling with that in my existential OCD. My bully’s name is Jane. I’m constantly yelling in my head “not today Jane” or Jane, you ignorant (cuss word)😂 it’s fun to tell the mean girl off. Thank you for offering support. I’m here as well for you!
@Danie-Rae Oh I do shes literally the best. Which is why i feel so bad and guilty. I need to overcome this bullcrap lol. Its driving me nuts. I feel like I am losing my mind. I just wanna be the old me. Im such a happy person but this existential crap is getting me down.
@kvv430 Same! I have a lot of guilt regarding the kids bc of my ocd. You feel like you’re present but not mentally. That’s what keeps us pushing though!! Those babies deserve us!
@Danie-Rae Exactly! And heck yes they do💙
Thank you both so much💙💙💙
This is my first post, so I apologize if the formatting is weird. I experience existential ocd I always struggled as a kid but learned more and more how to manage with school and such forcing me to learn how, now I experience a lot of overwhelming intrusions from when I wake up to when I go to bed (simply because I live and work in the same place it gets cabin feverish) but now more often going out maybe it’s just paranoia, I walk into a place and each person comes with a story immediately, every piece of trash on the floor, every piece of produce, each isle is a brand new way I could get into a life altering situation. I’ve managed well enough but sometimes I just completely lose my original objective and just leave or I’ll wanna leave my house but everything that goes with it and that could happen pops up and I just won’t go. It’s started to become avoidant behavior. Any help or similar stories? I just feel like I’m going crazy but my thoughts are so scattered and immediate it’s hard to break the habit and not spin a story. Thank yall!
Hi all, I am in need of any advice/help I can get. Over the past year or so, I have gotten a good handle on my OCD. I even achieved OCD conqueror status with the help of my provider through NOCD! For awhile, I was doing really well. Unfortunately, during March/April I experienced some really bad triggers and overall, my OCD has ramped way back up. Recently, I have been hyperfixated on time and my perception of time. I am not sure what triggered it but now I am constantly checking the clock. I am scared that the days are fading away and there is a ticking clock I can't stop. Has anyone experienced this? Is there a way to stop this feeling of doom?
I have recently been having new feelings of anxiety and obsessive thoughts about how time fast is moving. I saw an old picture and was like “wow that felt like yesturday” and then began to think about how it was actually 2 years ago. Now I’m in this loop of thinking about and being anxious about how fast it is moving. Anyone have any ERP suggestions for this or how to deal with it? I’m trying to crush this thought with ERP as fast I can, as it is a new theme for me. Is this considered existential ocd? I know themes can switch, but just am kind of shocked at this as I used to be able to not care about this topic and right now it seems like such a big deal.
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