You didn’t choose to have the thoughts/feelings/urges etc. They’re symptoms of the condition you’re dealing with. Keep that in mind when you catch yourself fighting back. It’s not your job to get rid of the symptoms. How you respond is all on you. Your medicine is your own ability to disregard.. ☮️❤️
What if your obsessively swallowing and can’t stop. Every minute 😣
I had that. Try to take it easy. Have a slow day.
@Anonymous What type of erp have you been practicing for it, if you don’t mind me asking?
@thatguytron32 Nothing yet. Apart from 2 minutes trying not to swallow. And I tried the holding water in my mouth for 30 seconds. I’ve just started clomipramine which I think has ramped up my ocd.
@Anonymous Gotcha. Thanks for sharing. I’d say stop judging yourself though. Physical compulsions feel more intentional but they’re as automatic as mental compulsions. Observe it. Don’t get upset/frustrated. Be curious. Just watch it and continue with erp
@thatguytron32 Thank you. My worry is getting to sleep with it. It’s sort of on autopilot my swallowing at the moment. Like I’m not even checking it, it is just doing it. That’s what’s causing more distress that I don’t even seem to have control over it
@Anonymous Gotcha. Are you unable to fall asleep?
@thatguytron32 Well the past two nights I’ve only got about 4 hours each night. But today is the worst my swallowing has been; almost on repeat every 2 minutes. I don’t have the luxury of rest tomorrow with kids and work
@Anonymous I really don’t know anything about this kind of ocd. But maybe it’d be helpful to do some kind of intense exercise? Like do 20 push ups and see if you swallow while doing that. Or do like 10 burpees or something.
@Anonymous I hear you. Thanks so much for sharing. I’d say continue to do ERP with your trusted counselor, and on the other end do your absolute BEST to treat it as an automatic compulsion just like any other. No judgement. Just ERP, and doing your best to go about your day. You’re very strong. You’ll get past it. Good luck 🍀
@thatguytron32 Sounds like an automatic stress response.
I'm sorry that's happening and you are suffering I truly pray for you and all who have OCD and other mental disorders
@Anonymous Idk if breathing or swallowing is worst.
@Lovely queen 😩 how did u sleep with them?
I needed that thank you!
Thanks for sharing!❤️❤️
True, thanks for that reminder
Thank you
Thanks
Thank you!
This made me teary eyed. Ugh! 🙏🏻
I just shared something really difficult with someone as an exposure and this is a good reminder to just let the thoughts be.
@LucasCandy1527 🎯 100%
Thank you. It applies to what I’ve been struggling with and just what I needed to hear 😊🙏
This is an excellent point. We have power over our thoughts and emotions . However when circumstances or events are out of control we may feel powerless to controlling our behavior. Please remember, you are alone, Begin to make a gratitude list... this is a list of things you are grateful for. Practice gratitude everyday. And as you learn to balance you emotions by utilizing these tools. You will become better. You ate not the Ocd.
Thank you. It’s been so tough lately. Then I drank too much and made it even worse. Deep breaths and carry on
thank you ❤ i've been struggling with unwanted feelings, urges and doubt so much lately, this post makes me feel so validated 😊
@NothingIsReal444 Do you get a lot of thoughts? I don’t. Mine are doubts, urges and feelings too :( xx
Amen to that!
Thank you
But why does it feel like I’m denying the truth? That I want to accept the horribleness in my head?
@VoiceInYourHead That comes with the territory. It’s the doubt. It has to feel real to hook you. Disregard 🫡
Every day living is a win against OCD! Don’t let up, it’s gonna hurt like hell, but we’ll come out of this stronger than ever! Practice your uncertainty, welcome those nasty thoughts, no matter how horrible or taboo, look at them straight up and laugh! This is not our reality, we choose our own paths! Life was never meant to be serious! There’s no such thing as a serious sunrise, serious tree, or serious bird! Laugh and love, learn to forgive yourself, it’s beautiful once you come out on the other side for once!
Remember thoughts are just thoughts, feelings are just feelings. We generally cannot control our thoughts or feelings, and even groinal responses. No matter how much you want to, they just happen and they 100% happen more when you’re worried about them happening, instead except it. Say “that’s just my silly thoughts again” or whatever it may be, say oh it’s just that silly thing again. Don’t try to work it out, don’t try to ignore it, allow them to come but don’t solve them. Just expect that they’re there . The best advise I was ever told is OCD is like a drunk person, they start to say silly things such as “omg I’m such a silly person” or “Ong you’re so great you’re the strongest person alive” you don’t actually believe what they say because they’re speaking nonsense, but you most likely will reply with “oh yes you’re right” because you’re trying to just please them, but it doesn’t mean you agree with them. You’re just trying to “shut them up” basically. For example if you kept saying “no I’m not” “not that’s not true” “no don’t be silly” the drunk person would carry on saying “no yes you are” etc etc… this is the same with ocd, the more you try to argue with it and say “no this isn’t true” the more it’ll say “yes it is” however if you just say “yes okay you’re right” (even tho it’s not) it’ll start to show ocd that you aren’t picking a fight anymore, you’re just excepting it and it’ll start to get easier. Trust me you aren’t alone in this. Ocd is scary. But you can do this. Some other techniques that have helped me massively is this… When you’re getting these unwanted thoughts etc, name 5 things you can see around you, 2 things you can smell or 2 things you like the smell of, 3 things you can hear and 5 things you can feel, such as touch your hair etc and describe how it feels, etc. this is a way of just distracting yourself. It’s a very good technique for ocd and I went from getting 20 showed a day due to my ocd down to 3 showers a day…. From using this. It works!!! Or take deep breaths that also helps people You aren’t a bad person, you’re just suffering with ocd and that doesn’t make you a bad person
Just a quick question how did you guys who have gotten better learn to accept these thoughts and not fight them ? What tips and tricks did you guys use to truly get better.
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