Does anyone else have a really hard time relaxing? It feels related to OCD but also maybe not? I struggle with scrupulously themes and worrying I’m doing something wrong and I feel like I’m doing something bad by relaxing when I know I still have things on my to do list (which seems to be never ending). Has anyone experienced anything similar to this?
Yes, 100%. I struggle with this a lot. Relaxing is often an ERP exercise for me. Ex: I’m going to set a timer for 30min and read / do a puzzle / watch tv / take a nap (whatever activity you find relaxing/restorative) and sit with the distress of not completing ____ to-do’s for now. And just with any erp hierarchy, you can start small and work your way up. I’ve found scheduling relaxing/restoring time to be helpful as well (a concept I got from Kimberley Quinlan from the “Your Anxiety Toolkit” podcast). I’ve also found just slowing down and being more mindful/intentional as I go through my to-do list to be helpful. This lets me prioritize tasks, accept that I won’t get all of them done, and not feel like I’m running around in a fast-paced anxiety-filled daze. Lastly, I have found self-compassion exercises to be helpful as I manage this — because I really start to beat myself up when I have a lot to do / feel I’m being unproductive (which only makes my anxiety/OCD worse). Instead, when I notice I’m beating myself up, I try to say something kind to myself. Ex: “This is hard/hurts/sucks. I am sorry. You are not alone—many people experience/feel ____, like you are right now. Let’s be gentle with ourselves as we walk through this.” Kimberley Quinlan has a Self-Compassion workbook for OCD that I found really helpful here. Kristin Neff is also a major researcher/author on self compassion. Hope that helps a bit! I haven’t figured it all out yet, and I have good days and bad days, but these are some of the tools that have helped me make progress. ❤️
@Hobbit This is all AMAZING!! Thank you so much! Will definitely be talking to my therapist about those exposures next session and I just ordered the workbook! This is so helpful!!!💓💓
@pickles516 Yay!! So glad to hear 😊❤️
Me too. My thoughts are way more frequent when my mind can wander. I’ve been trying to learn to live with doing nothing sometimes.
Yes:) Find active rest. A long walk is restful for the mind. A hot shower is restful for the body. Lifting weights is restful for both. Writing is good for the mind. These are all actively restful activities
I definitely have trouble relaxing! Trying to learn to lean into it through my ERP journey. Realizing I actually feel really good when I do, it’s awesome!
Ohh yes, I understand this. I start calling myself lots of mean names and I can spiral into hopelessness about my future and/or worry about rejection, depending on the circumstance. I was just mulling this over yesterday. I’m in an unusual, temporary spot with work, where I can sometimes leave 5-10 minutes early. I’m salaried and at this point in the day all my work is done. However, despite seeing multiple coworkers leave early every day, I am convinced I will be fired, or that I am lazy, etc. So I often stay late finding extra things to do, even though no one else likely cares. I feel like I am only good if I can prove I am an extremely hard worker and take my work seriously. The same thing applies at home in a different way. There’s so much shame. So much “should.” And it’s exhausting. I really hope you find relief through ERP. And I hope we both find our way to self-acceptance. 💜
@Epanonymous Yes, the “should” is exhausting!! I’ve been working with my therapist on exposing to leaving things be or the thought that maybe I am a failure. It’s been way harder than I ever expected it to be, but I have faith it’s working. I wish you luck and know that you are not alone on this journey!🫶🏻
Is the to do list for work or personal?
@ERP is the way to be Both
I'm wondering if this is a common OCD experience: does anyone else find that when you have idle time, your mind just spirals into endless rumination on negative "what ifs" & intrusive thoughts? It's been happening to me for the past three years, which coincides with starting a really high-stress job. Weekends used to be my time to relax, but now I dread weekends...I only feel relief when I'm sleeping because it's the only time my mind seems to quiet down. It's honestly so depressing to lose that enjoyment. Does anyone else relate to this, and if so, what helps you cope?
Hey guys just wondering if anyone suffers from this type of OCD. I feel a big struggle to even begin things because it doesn’t feel right or if I resume things it doesn’t feel right. Anyone have any advice ? Thank you
Hi! I have been struggling with ocd for many years of my life, however, I have recently been struggling with religious ocd. Currently my ocd has been putting thought into my mind like, “you shouldn’t go to that party, because “God” doesn’t what you to” or “don’t do this or else it’s going to make “God” mad.” These thoughts have been overall causing me so much anxiety, and truly I don’t know what to do. I’ve been struggling to identify it’s actually Gods voice or not. Also, my ocd has been also making my prayer a very stressful part of my day, which is not how it should feel at all. Now finding peace in prayer feels more like a chore, than a conversation. Does anybody else have ocd like this? If so, any tips?
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