- Date posted
- 24w
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 24w
I hear you, it really is exhausting and it can be disheartening when you realize how much it takes out of you. Therapy has definitely been helping a lot. One process that helped me was to clean any surface that I felt needed to be cleaned, but only once. Don't do it a second, third, however many more times. Then, go do something you enjoy that can help you deal with the discomfort/fear. For me, this was crafting, walking and listening to music, or watching shows in different languages to keep my brain occupied and to make me feel "normal". After I felt comfortable cleaning things once without feeling distress, I started putting off the cleaning. For example, if someone walked into my house with their shoes on, I would go do those things I enjoyed BEFORE cleaning. Then I'm just delaying it and teaching my brain that it doesn't need to be cleaned immediately. I'm still in that stage, but eventually, I'll be able to just disregard it. Now, this doesn't mean that you can never clean anything, ever. It just means that we don't feel fear if we don't clean right away. It is exhausting, but putting in the work to combat the compulsions gives you so much freedom later. Unfortunately, it isn't an immediate fix. Start with small exposures first and work up from there. You can do this!! OCD will not rule your life!!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 24w
@Anonymous I tried to, but I had a bad reaction to the medication I was on, then was too scared to try another. I would say work with a therapist and try to find a good starting point. For example, maybe one of the times you clean your mouth do just mouthwash or just paste. Then you can work up from there. Again, this doesn't mean the goal is to stop brushing your teeth or using mouthwash. Rather, the goal is to conquer that fear of "If I don't". I started thinking about the "Bee on my Shoulder". You are allowed to acknowledge that the bee (intrusive thoughts/fears), but if you swat at it, the situation will probably get worse. But if you acknowledge it and then leave it alone, odds are it will go away eventually. I wish you the best, I believe in you!! It's scary now, but you can conquer it!
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