vicelizviz0121

Date posted: 5w

Overcoming OCD

Hi everyone! For those of you who have overcome OCD, did you find the initial feelings, emotions, and thoughts kind of become less and less consuming as it got better? In the beginning, I feel like I was crying, sick to my stomach, had a nervous/scared “blah” feeling, etc.. now, Im not crying like that, i still get a blah nervous belly feeling which kinda scares me into thinking its because the thoughts are true and maybe I was just in denial? Idk.. help lol

isabellamper...

Date posted: 5w

OCD is meant to mimic feelings of “realization” and other things like that. I’ve started to limit seeking reassurance, googling my symptoms, and externalize the OCD as best as I can, and my symptoms have reduced dramatically, which is a sign of healing! I still have moments of discomfort and doubt but ultimately the best thing you can do is externalize the OCD—if the thoughts are making you feel bad and doubt, it’s probably OCD. I’m not religious, and I don’t know if you are, but recently I watched the movie “Conclave”, and there’s an homily by Cardinal Lawrence regarding doubt and uncertainty, and I feel like it could apply to all of us here on NOCD. This is what it says: let me tell you, there is one sin, which I have come to fear above all others. Certainty. Certainty is the great enemy of unity. Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance. Even Christ was not certain at the end. (in Italian): My God, My God, why are you forsaken me? (in English): He cried out in his agony at the ninth hour on the cross. Our faith is a living thing, precisely because it walks hand-in-hand with doubt. If there was only certainty… and no doubt… there would be no mystery… and therefore no need… for faith. I think about this a lot, and how it applies to me in my OCD journey. I hope this helps you as well; accepting uncertainty is the way through.

Maeday

Date posted: 5w

I really resonated with this. First with the OCD mimicking realization. Then with faith. Thank you.

vicelizviz0121

Date posted: 5w

@isabellampereira When you say “mimic feelings of realization”, what do you mean? Like it takes over what you know?

isabellamper...

Date posted: 5w

@vicelizviz0121 yes exactly. it’s supposed to feel real, and the reason why you react so negatively is because these thoughts don’t resonate with who you are. I don’t want to provide reassurance because that’s quite literally feeding the addiction that is OCD, but that’s what’s happening to you. I struggle really hard with SO-OCD too, and it’s absolutely terrifying, but you have to tolerate the uncertainty and uncomfortable feelings that come with maybe, MAYBE not knowing who you are. A lot of the time it isn’t even an issue regarding sexuality but rather security in relationships or yourself. My trigger was my parents moving to california and leaving me in washington state, combined with a conversation at work. If it comes from something or if you had a theme before this one but with the same thought pattern and thinking process, trust that it’s likely OCD.

vicelizviz0121

Date posted: 5w

@isabellampereira Thank you. Yes, I had severe health related ocd and it was constant stress and fear that i was going to die (it still happens but not as much). While none of it is fun, i would choose the health related OCD over soocd or rocd. I do think that you’re right that it could be more related to relationships. This relationship im in is 2 years strong and any relationship before was 1-1.5 years and they were not as good as this one. Perhaps its just that my mind is thinking “this is too good to be true heres this”… idk but thank you for responding and for sharing your thoughts

isabellamper...

Date posted: 5w

@vicelizviz0121 I totally understand you. My relationship with my boyfriend is about to hit the one year mark and I’m convinced my OCD came up in this one hardcore because it’s so healthy to begin with. I grew up with dysfunctional relationships and I had only ever had abusive relationships prior to my current one and each time the OCD never presented itself and if it did, it was perfectionism or some other theme. now that i’m comfortable, safe and secure, this theme comes up, which in my opinion is like the final boss of OCD lol.

vicelizviz0121

Date posted: 5w

@isabellampereira SOOCD? Yeah, it can go to hell lol…I want my happy life back with him because before this, I could picture that little white wedding dress, our family, and the rest of our life… now its gone and it scares me in more ways than one

Jenna34

Date posted: 5w

It really F’s with your brain! 😡

vicelizviz0121

Date posted: 5w

@Jenna34 TELL ME ABOUT IT! Mine started with Health “anxiety” but my compulsion was to constantly google. That lead me to believe now that it was OCD all along. Then this whole SOOCD which made me question my relationship with my BF. It really is consuming but I think better. Idk. Thoughts still make me think “what if” but I just want to be happy and in love again like i was with my bf before

Jenna34

Date posted: 5w

@vicelizviz0121 Same here! I started with anxiety and then I had some intrusive thoughts, and I did my own research on ocd. And all signs point to that and anxiety. It’s really been a tough week. I feel like I’m stuck in fight or flight. And I can’t shake it. But I know I made the right decision to start ERP therapy. Just needs to sink in.

vicelizviz0121

Date posted: 5w

@Jenna34 Best thing I would recommend is what you’re already doing… its hard, ive been “battling” since December or January and I think the worst was then until April-ish… Its hard to sit with it, i still do it everyday but it does get better slowly!

Jenna34

Date posted: 5w

@vicelizviz0121 Thank you so much! I really appreciate you

Steven55!

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 5w

Yes, it takes time, but if you work with your therapist and with ERP the intensity will begin to dissipate.

vicelizviz0121

Date posted: 5w

@Steven55! Thank you!

Jenna34

Date posted: 5w

I’m seeing a therapist from this app and she is helping me through the exact same thing. It’s been very difficult. But I’m ready to start feeling like myself again

kailey_maracas

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 5w

The beginning is the scariest and it might seem to get worse before better, but trust me once you're truly free from the fear, it is such a blessing. My dance with OCD helped me understand what courage really means.

vicelizviz0121

Date posted: 5w

@kailey_maracas Thank you! Did you ever think “omg its better, maybe it must be because I was in denial”, or anything like that?

anonymous2580

Date posted: 22w

Does it really get better?

I’ve been dealing with ocd my whole life, and just got diagnosed about a year ago. I feel my days becoming occupied with thoughts, urges, fears and worry that completely debilitate me. It’s getting to the point where i feel like it’s taking over my life. I don’t see this getting any better, even with the therapy and medication I’m on. I’m scared my life will be like this forever, I’m tired. My brain is tired of ruminating every second of every day from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. I’m not sure how much longer I can go on like this.

Holl1

Date posted: 15w

OCD

So I’ve noticed that my OCD has calmed down, I’m getting less intrusive thoughts but I feel more uncertain than ever. Is this normal for recovery?

jwall2.0

Date posted: 15w

OCD during Healing

Does anyone who has gotten better/healed with OCD ever experience that their thoughts and urges get more difficult as you get better. I feel like I am getting better at handling certain things but I feel like now newer themes and such get more difficult as I progress. I was curious if this is kind of the process to getting better. Weirdly, like it makes sense the closer you are to getting better thoughts become worst and stronger since you are doing better. Just need to keep on pushing and doing what I have been. Let me know, would love to hear your guys thoughts and feedback

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