Health OCD feels really real

Has anyone else’s health related ocd felt incredibly real? I have convinced myself that I am developing a life long chronic illness. I feel the symptoms of this disease quite strongly and it feels so real. I am not sure if it’s strong anxiety or depression but I do not feel right in my body. I feel sleepy and bad during the day and awake at night. I am so fixated on my energy levels that I have intense stress and panic attacks about it. When I was on Prozac (which I had to stop due to side effects) I didn’t feel these energy limiting symptoms. I do not trust myself to even go to the doctor about it because I am scared I will be wrongfully diagnosed with this disease. I feel bad for those around me at this point because my friends and family don’t know what to do for me. I am struggling to get my work done or do anything at the moment and my exposures are causing intense anxiety attacks. Can anyone give any tips or relate?

pureolife

Date posted: Yesterday

Ocd is more than just intrusive thoughts. It’s also intrusive feelings, urges, sensations. Because you’re hyper aware of how your body is feeling, ocd is going to send little signals to get you questioning whether something or not is off. And the more you check your body for these signals, the more they’re going to pop up. Your task right now is to stop being to hyper vigilant about how your body is feeling. If you notice yourself checking how tired you are and trying to measure and compare: stop. Tell yourself you don’t need to know and track exactly how every little part of your body is doing. If your brain says “are you sure” or “what if” or “what about that time” you say “I don’t need to know with any more certainty than I already have in this moment.” And you stop answering its relentless questions.

Anonymous

Date posted: Yesterday

@pureolife Can the sensations feel incredibly powerful and almost constant? Like I really and truly feel super tired and I feel like I’m checking these signals constantly it’s so weird. Thank you for the advice tho I will implement this.

pureolife

Date posted: Yesterday

@Anonymous Your mind is more powerful than you think. And the more you check the more power it has over you. You have to resist. And you won’t feel 100% okay or sure when you resist. It will be uncomfortable. If it was easy to tell yourself to shrug this off and ignore it you would have done so long ago. It takes practice.

ERP is the w...

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: Yesterday

I don’t have health OCd . I have harm and suicidal ocd . Even if themes are different , ocd is the same . Ocd seems to be interrupting your daily routines . Can you get a OCD therapist ?

bettyb

Date posted: Yesterday

I deeply resonate with you. My main OCD issues are health related. It’s paralyzing. And what’s worse is that you can’t trust your brain on what you think you’re experiencing vs actual physical symptoms even if they feel real in your head. I try to remind myself that the brain can still feel limbs that have literally been amputated. It’s so powerful. My brain tells me it feels lumps in my breast, that I feel radiation side effects from an xray and now my organs are affected and a whole other mountain of things. I have gone to the doctor for a number of things over the years. Some of this was necessary to clear my mind and at times some were compulsions. I understand not wanting to be a “burden” to your friends and family but they love you and you’re not. They just want you to be okay. If it feels right to you, consider maybe getting some exam from your doctor if you feel it will help ease your mind. I would think receiving confirmation you’re okay vs the fear of being wrongfully diagnosed might supersede that. No matter what, you’re okay. And you’re never alone.

Anonymous

Date posted: Yesterday

@bettyb Thank you for responding. I appreciate it so much. You are so right I am so upset because I can’t trust my physical symptoms and I am so fixated on this one disease that I am convinced that even thinking about it will make me develop the disease. Or I am scared that my family or husband will leave me if I do in fact become disabled. I am so sorry you go through this too. Have you gotten better over the years? I was recently diagnosed and got a little better then got a cold and I’ve been much worse mentally ever since.

Anonymous

Date posted: Yesterday

@Anonymous It feels so scary and so real it feels like I am legitimately becoming disabled right now and it makes me feel crazy 😓

bettyb

Date posted: 21h

@Anonymous Some days are better than others. I’m not sure it’s gotten better but I’m working on it. I try to talk out loud all my thoughts and spirals and fears no matter how irrational then challenge myself on this train of thought. What’s one baby step vs one hundred which is what I want to do. For example I’ve had a severe stomach ache for a few days straight. Instead of telling myself it’s something catastrophic, I’m trying to say what are small things that will help like eating a band diet and taking probiotics and starting there. My mind wants to go somewhere else. I’m actively fighting it. I talk it out loud with my husband or friends as well. And just ask them to listen as I talk myself to the rational. It’s comforting not to hold it in ♥️ you’ll be okay, you are already, right now. just as you are.

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