Question About How You Experience OCD

Hi everyone! I’m new to NOCD and OCD as a whole. I started therapy with NOCD this week. As of 3 weeks ago, I learned that most of what I’ve been struggling with the last year (possibly longer to a lesser degree) has been OCD. I have a question about how you all experience OCD and if there can even be varying experiences. Since February, I’ve been experiencing what I’ve called “episodes.” (I learned recently that OCD actually has another term for it, called flare-ups.) Basically, I’ve been having these episodes of intense physical sensations, extreme looping thoughts, and just feeling/thinking things that I normally do not. My episodes have been based on one or more themes (sensorimotor, health/mental health, harm, to name a few.) They’ve been so severe that I can’t work when I’m in them. They’ve lasted from a week to about a month or two. My last one was 3 weeks ago and that’s what made me join NOCD. Since learning that what I’ve been experiencing is OCD, I actually have felt a lot of relief just knowing there’s a name for it. I haven’t had an episode since learning about it. I know it’s still only been 3 weeks since my last one, but feeling this type of relief has me a bit leery. Maybe I am not that educated in it yet, but is it normal for OCD to come and go or is it something you experience 24/7? What do you work on with your therapists when you’re not actively in an episode?

hlex99

Date posted: 21h

Hi! I’m also new here, so I can relate to your experience some. I also had these unexplainable “episodes” off and on ever since I was a child and had no idea why I’d randomly lose my mind completely over intrusive thoughts every few years. I’m currently in a flare up right now, which is what made me start looking into OCD and download NOCD. I haven’t had an appointment yet, but I’m really looking forward to hopefully getting some help and understanding what my brain is doing. From what I’ve looked into, it is common for people with OCD to have flare ups where the thoughts have a lot more intensity and feel even more real, driving some to feel unable to function for weeks to months at a time. My most intense themes are usually health, existential, and religion. Currently I’m working with my doctor to find a good medication balance and I’m waiting on a call from NOCD to schedule my first appointment!

oatmilklatte

Date posted: 21h

@hlex99 Thank you so much for responding! Wow, I really resonate with everything you said. I was fully convinced I was going “crazy” and losing myself before learning about OCD. If you don’t mind me asking, how long are your flare-ups usually? I know how scary and isolating the flare-ups can feel and I’m so sorry you’re in the middle of one right now. You’re not alone!

hlex99

Date posted: 20h

@oatmilklatte I thought the same too! I was convinced I needed to be admitted to some kind of life long facility at some points😅 my flare ups unfortunately seem to be around 1-2 months. The first few, when I was younger, were only a few days or a couple weeks long. I’m hoping with discovering the possibility of it being OCD, I’m able to stop getting into these long spirals.

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