Question: There has been an OCD “what if thought” that is a question within a question if that makes sense? It’s been very hard and frustrating when it pops up. The compulsion is to look up the what if question online, and there is fear and worry with that. It has been such a headache and scary! Any suggestions? I have OCD.
Yeah DON'T LOOK IT UP...seriously 🤣 it'll only feed the OCD loop
@YouWillSurvive But it “feels” so real and it tricks you
The uncertainty will disappear with experience. Imagine this, when you were a child learning to swim, you were probably terrified of sinking the first time you got into the pool right. The more you got used to being in the water the more you realised you would swim rather than sink! That’s a key part of recovery, learning that you can swim!
@Brad1991 True 👍I’m stuck in the “what if the what if is true.”? Therefore I feel the desire to look it up online. It feels real although the what if makes no sense
@Brad1991 What sucks though at least in my case is that when you expose yourself to a specific intrusive thought or fear such as drowning from swimming and you eventually conquer that fear, there’s an infinite amount of other intrusive thoughts waiting to replace it. It doesn’t matter what the topic of the day is or the specific intrusive thought, my brain is wired for compulsion and anxiety and will “feed” itself with some thought regardless of the theme of the thought.
@Tony Davies Ah the what if factor! What if can rule our lives if we let it. What if my thoughts are real? What if I can’t get better? What if I’m actually a bad person? What if I recover and it comes back? I’m having a good day, what if tomorrow is bad again? What if can also be a powerful tool to aid recovery. As Isaac Newton said, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Every negative what if, also has a positive! What if my thoughts aren’t real and this is just OCD playing tricks on me? What if I can get better, what might life look like then? What if I’m a good person which a horrible mental health condition, what might people think of me then? What if I can’t get find meaningful and lasting recovery with reduced symptoms? I’m having a good day, what if tomorrow is also good, or maybe even better? One of the things I use to do is to counterbalance every negative what if, with a positive one. The results were amazing.
@Present Tense Very true, any good con artist will try to trick you with multiple angles, when you know all the tricks, you can see right through them.
That’s OCD for you, it’s the ultimate con artist. It makes you believe that the worst thoughts are real. The only way to put an end to its big con is to sit with the anxiety, test it out. Slowly but surely your brain will realise that there is nothing to worry about and nothing bad will happen. I could sit here and tell you that, but you won’t believe me until you prove it to yourself. I know it’s scary because I’ve been there, but as my therapist used to say, “if it isn’t worth getting, it isn’t worth having!” Hope this helps.
@Brad1991 Definitely helps! Thx The uncertainty is still there but it’s good to have someone respond and understand
What if this and what if that. It’s all harm related and the urges feel so real I just can’t stand this anymore. Does anyone have any advice that has conquered OCD harm intrusive thoughts. I have them 24/7 and they are so scary.
There’s this one situation that I haven’t stopped thinking about from last night . So basically, I was reading 'The power of Now' which is a book that I love so much and really got me into spirituality. It’s been so helpful for my OCD and rumination but it’s also been pretty triggering for it as of late, so I’ve taken a long break from consistently reading it. The excerpt I read was about abundance and how its not about being bountiful, necessarily in material things but realizing and being grateful for the things that exist in your life now and in doing so, you will open yourself up to more good things. I understood it but I re-read it a lot because I didn't feel confident enough to explain it to someone else. but otherwise I LOVED IT. It made me feel so at peace, I agreed with it, and it gave me hope to start focusing on the good things in my life rather than the bad. So when I went to bed I rehearsed myself explaining it to someone on a podcast and then all these questions started flooding in like “why should I only focus on the good and aren't we supposed to accept the good and bad? Aren’t those the values of Buddha and spirituality” “Ya, we're supposed to accept the good and the bad but why?- so we can feel more good??? And isn't the point of OCD to not label things as good and bad? and why should I focus on the good- so I can feel good? why should I feel good? because I'm worthy of it? why am I worthy of it? because I'm a good person and do good things? well I’ve also done bad things so why shouldn't I consider that. I just don’t understand why I should feel good without it being selfish. And then this went on for like 2 or 3 hours. Like holy shit. I over explain these ideas and concepts that I resonate with to the point where they don't even make sense to me anymore. It becomes very existensial very quick. And I’m not suicidal but these questions make me feel hopeless in society for some reason?? And myself. Like if everything contradicts everything then what’s the point to life? If nothing can be understood or explained in a senseful way, then how do people move forward and make decisions, like AT ALL? There’s never a right or perfect answer and I feel like with any decision I make in regards, I’m doing a compulsion either way. If I don’t answer them, then I’m avoiding it and if I do then I’m checking and seeking reassurance. I’m sorry if this was way too long and over-explained I just need some advice or to know if anyone can relate in any way. Also, I’m sorry if some of those back-to-back questions were triggering.
My OCD is continuing to have me constantly check and check and check! I keep doubting and am very confused! How can I get out of this trap!!!!!
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