Is this still OCD?

I notice that the thoughts aren’t constant and just pop from time to time. However the rumination is constant. I do have other annoying mental compulsions but i’m just worried that it’s not OCD. The thoughts dont feel loud but they do make me ruminate. Sometimes they’re “what ifs” or “this happened which means this and your a liar” or they’re like memories/flash backs. But they’re not constant which makes me worry that this has never been OCD. I keep ruminating ab weird childhood exploration, uncomfortable memories, fake memories, and (TMI) past random arousal in the past that didn’t align with me and my wants. Idk if it’s bc i’m ALWAYS questioning and analyzing in my head that I don’t notice things as intrusive thoughts? But there’s too much proof I feel like this is just me coming to a realization, i’m in denial, and it HAS to be true which makes me want to puke. I literally forgot all ab that stuff but my brain has brought it all back 😭. This flare up started because of a couple thoughts ab my relationship that made me anxious and triggered the rumination and it went back into an SOOCD spiral. My therapist told me she definitely thinks it’s OCD but at this point I don’t feel like it is.

Anonymous

Date posted: Yesterday

Excellent Spongebob choice. Yeah, I kinda relate. My anxiety ebbs and flows, and uncomfortable thoughts or experiences in the past definitely pique it more. Even just being tired increases rumination sometimes. I think there’s space to consider uncomfortable things, but also acknowledge how thoughts about the thing may be causing distress. I personally come back to the thought that “[You] are in control,” and especially “I don’t need to figure this out right now” in cases where I feel a need to stop everything to follow a thought.

unkindledhis...

Date posted: Yesterday

It is! I do relate and when they do pop-up its give me so much distress (I was having a spiral earlier about Meta OCD cause of my SO-OCD plus somatic symptoms). OCD is not limited to intrusive thoughts, it can be other things such as images, feelings, urges, sensations, dreams, memories etc. Essentially any intrusion that attacks your values and causes distress. In addition, according the new DSM-5, OCD is no longer classified as an anxiety disorder as there are cases in which it doesn’t present anxiety at all in some individuals but rather causes distress. I do experience that from time to time where it’s quiet then suddenly your brain becomes like DEFCON 5 :) like what happened to me earlier. Sometimes OCD waxes and wanes and at times become consistent in making you spiral. You’re not the exception (even though most of us think that we are cause of how strong OCD is) and you’re not alone. I’d recommend you check out Chrissie Hodges as she has a great video explaining this.

MutedAnguish

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: Yesterday

Makes a lot of sense. I literally explain it as a "pop goes the weasel" distress in my head. I'll go from a completely relaxed state to an overwhelming amount of distress from an OCD thought. It sucks, but I remind myself that nobody can die from anxiety and what I'm dealing with is temporary.

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