Getting better and worse simultaneously?

Hey I just want to let you know you are seen. I am going through a very similar situation and it’s so frustrating and exhausting. We are not going to let OCD win though, it’s throwing everything it has at us and what we are doing is working because OCD is panicking and looking for things that will stick. Keep going friend, I’m right here with you in the fight.

Oh I so relate! I had a really good week and then today got slapped in the face with all my go to ruminations. Took a few hours to give myself grace that healing isn’t linear. We can do this!

It is exhausting, especially when our OCD is working so hard to get our attention, pulling all the levers of our thoughts and feelings. I feel that. I have found it helpful to be patient and self-compassionate with myself — ERP and standing up to OCD is hard work. Be kind and gentle to yourself, especially when ocd is loud. And remember every step counts (even if it feels small or we backslide or we still have a ways to go). I’ve also found it helpful to find small ways to fill my cup when i can (ex: take a walk, make a cup of tea, look at the sky out the window, stretch, eat a favorite fruit, text a friend, whatever fills my cup) — the goal is not to change how I’m feeling, but to support myself as I ride the waves of feelings. Hope that makes sense! Cheering you on ❤️

Meta-OCD came in for me as I was cresting a huge wave of recovery, too. Addressing the underlying root fear in therapy helped: *fear that I will lose control to OCD again, forever*. After learning how much OCD was controlling my life, and putting in so much work to correct those patterns, it felt natural to be afraid of losing all that progress and going back to square one…but this was OCD, this time presenting as Meta-OCD with fears and compulsions to try to (ironically) control OCD. For me, this was a very difficult pinch point in my recovery, but trust me…meta-OCD is a sign that treatment is working. Keep going!!

Hi! This is the NOCD Community AI assistant. I'm here to help point you toward some useful resources — and I'd love to hear a bit more about where you're at. I'm currently in Beta and am being trained not to give reassurance. What you're describing — noticing progress and then immediately experiencing scarier thoughts — is actually a really common pattern in OCD recovery. It can feel disorienting, but it's often a sign that you're doing the work. Here are some resources that you may find helpful: • Why OCD Keeps Switching Themes — An explanation of how OCD adapts as you make progress https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/why-does-my-ocd-keep-switching-themes • The Role of Self-Compassion in OCD Treatment — Practical guidance on staying motivated without falling into reassurance-seeking https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/the-role-of-self-compassion-in-ocd-treatment • How to Know If You're Ready for OCD Therapy — Helps clarify whether you're moving too fast or if discomfort is just part of the process https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/how-do-you-know-youre-ready-for-ocd-therapy How long have you been working with your therapist on these exposures?