I struggle with acceptance

I don't like how the internet talks about acceptance. Its always about "do not fight, hive up, accept the thoughts and feelings" but they never talk about the other side that acceptance is not giving up, letting yourself drown in the emotions and thoughts, just let the emotions do what they want to you, no you have the control to do whatever you want. And this is my problem when I want to take that control back i feel like im pushing away the feelings. Im tired of hearing "accept and allow every feeling" this can make you believe that you have to let yourself get drowned, this is not acceptance. Whenever I do it I just lost myself in the thoughts and emotions, but if I try to not lose myself then I fight and thats not acceptance... So this one now really bothers me....

suspectedocd...

Date posted: 20w

I understand exactly what u mean and I understand what ppl say abt accepting the thoughts and what not but they don’t acknowledge that sometimes accepting the thoughts can look like agreeing and it’s not really accepting it’s more like agreeing and it starts to sit on ur brain

PRIV8

Date posted: 20w

Yes I did acceptance for years as drowning and letting my emotions get me just cause everyone is talking about "acceptance is not fighting, its letting go of the fight, just watch the thoughts, let you feel your feelings" and that will make you focus on your thoughts and feed them and you will focus inward...Chatgpt started helping about this topic and explained for me that acceptance doesnt mean you let yourself drown, but I still struggle cause if i dont let myself the thoughts get me to drown then Im fighting to not get drown... or I accept it and allow it, and it will get me... I dont find answers that would help me...

ToriVega123

Date posted: 20w

ur thoughts have that power over u cause u kept resisting and wanting control over them. thats where u just let go otherwise it becomes and endless cycle. its not a quick fix and its something u work on for a good while

PRIV8

Date posted: 20w

What you mean by that?

ToriVega123

Date posted: 20w

@PRIV8 not fighting ur thoughts isn’t giving up its just changing the way u react to them

PRIV8

Date posted: 20w

@ToriVega123 Yeah but how do yo change not following them? If someone who believes their thoughts how should they not believe them? It means you need to fight with the feeling of wanting to believe. This is what im trying to tell, I dont want to believe them but if I accept and do the "let it be there" I start to believe it soy I need to stop myself going there cause I will just drown

PRIV8

Date posted: 20w

@PRIV8 Just now im in a loop of feelings, i accept it but it keeps dragging me down with the thoughts too. It just makes me depressed and lose hope of recovering which I dont want to lose... All i hear is accept and let thr feelings be, what do I get if I let these feelings drown me?

ToriVega123

Date posted: 20w

@PRIV8 i won’t speak much on it cause i’m still navigating thru it myself but what works for me is not following thru with a compulsion but also trying not to get frustrated with intrusive thoughts and knowing that those thoughts don’t define me and are not a reflection of me. letting go isn’t necessarily letting urself drown in ur thoughts but trying to have a better reaction to the thoughts and emotions.

Nica

Date posted: 20w

It’s simple and true and hard all wrapped into a big ball that’s called life. You aren’t letting go of your distorted perception of reality, not reality itself. I posted a peyote about this topic a couple hours ago. Very on theme.

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond