Something that might help

Hello everyone, I wanted to share something that helped me cope with OCD. I have been in therapy for years and different therapists have recommended I name my OCD like it’s a monster. I always had a hard time doing it. I recently tried a different approach and it’s helped me. I realized this week that my OCD isn’t a monster, it’s a younger/teenage version of me who has been through a lot. She is scared and angry and upset at the world, and when she presents herself within me, I talk to her. I don’t yell and scream at her because she’s already yelling and screaming at me (everyone hates you, this is dirty, etc). Instead I talk to her: “You don’t have to scream, you don’t have to cry, it’s alright, you’re right here and now.” Thought this might help someone. We can get through this!

Jae18

Date posted: 19w

This definitely might work in certain situations specially with so much fear and shame … I did this thing the other day where I pretend OCD is another person or in my case an annoying roommate who bombards my space ( with all the intrusive things I am against and dont like ) and it always makes me feel like okay thats just not my problem Anymore , thats a you problem so it does help … until it starts speaking with your voice 😁but I really like your idea / realization I can definitely see it can help a lot . Thank you

sweezybeezy

Date posted: 19w

@Jae18 Definitely helpful with guilt and shame, I’m not sure how well it will work with my contamination yet but I’m hopeful that it will also translate to that area as well. It’s been very helpful for ROCD and dealing with family trauma

Jae18

Date posted: 19w

@sweezybeezy I have terrible terrible ROCD so I’ll try it with that .. a little bit of contamination so I’m not sure either how it will go but maybe knowing the facts at times and just choosing to stick to the facts regardless of what our brains tell us could help ? I’m not sure honestly

sweezybeezy

Date posted: 19w

@Jae18 I like the idea of just sticking to the facts and I think it would help. Another therapist also recommended that for contamination I could think “would 10 out of 10 friends/people I know clean this?” And if not I try not to do it

Jae18

Date posted: 19w

@sweezybeezy That’s a really smart way to put it … I tend to clean toilets before use even at home because idk I just get really icky and paranoid but when you do put it that way … it just does make sense

sweezybeezy

Date posted: 19w

@Jae18 Sometimes different therapists offer different things that just click!

Anonymous

Date posted: 19w

Thank you for sharing. This is how I understand my OCD as well.... as a young (also from childhood/ teen years) protective part of me who is intensly trying to protect a more vulnerable part of me. I try to tell it it's okay to feel scared, that it doesn't need to fix/ resolve the fear (like with compulsions). Sometimes this will soften it's grip and I can feel the vulnerable part, the deep sadness of living in a uncertain and (to a younger version of me) dangerous world. From here I do IFS therapy (cptsd treatment) work.

sweezybeezy

Date posted: 19w

@Anonymous I find that it helps soften the grip as well, that’s a great way to put it. I also asked an AI image generator to make a younger cartoon version of me that is sad, one that is angry, one that is peaceful, etc. I tried to get really specific with the prompts and the images turned out well. It’s cool to visualize

Anonymous

Date posted: 19w

@sweezybeezy Oh wow this is such a neat idea! I try to mentally visualize the younger me but it's hard. I'll try this. Thank you!

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