Learning and Thankful for small victories

@Icandothis100 I am learning OCD is always there in my head but may not appear every moment or I may not realize I am doing a compulsion to get rid of the distress and anxiety I am feeling. I notice it’s a process of learning and listening. If a thought comes in and immediately causes me distress, confusion, fear, or anxiety I am learning to say, “Okay, I hear you. So what! Maybe it is true or maybe it’s not. I allow myself some time to sit in the distress and realize after sometime that nothing is going to happen. And I continue on with what I need to do or what I want to do. I know it may seem nice and easy and every time I am successful. But, I am not successful every time. I learn a little and give myself a break and say it’s okay. You are trying. I may even back off from the trying and take a short nap to allow my brain to rest. I don’t wish OCD on anyone especially “Pure” OCD. Mental compulsions have been very painful over the years and caused a lot of suffering without others knowing and me not knowing why I was suffering. It has gotten much better. Good medication and taking the time to meet with an excellent NOCD Counselor regularly continue to help me make progress. Learning to manage it -OCD- has started to give me my life which I never had before. I was driven by my OCD thoughts. No one’s fault and maybe a gift in some ways. Maybe I can use my experiences to encourage and help others suffering through life. Maybe it will help me be more empathetic to all people not just the ones I understand. So, I am sort of thankful. I feel human and that feels good. I hope you continue to learn about OCD and realize where you are RIGHT NOW is okay. We need each other to encourage each other along the journey of life we have been given. I am here and thankful for people like you willing to put your thoughts out there. Prayers for all of us who have OCD and learning about it slowly and then managing it.

@Hope and a future This was everything I needed to hear at this moment. Wasn’t even expecting a response and here you are. The silver lining of my day. Sometimes I dwindle a lot because of the thoughts and I can’t stop feeling it or thinking it. And it’s horrid. I agree that we need to give the brain some rest… I am also learning to talk myself out I usually do but this weekend has been one of the worst.