PLEASE HELP!! Need to start a discussion over this

I feel like I have an ocd compulsion that is unfixable. Basically I cannot stop swallowing. Like it does not matter how hard i try to distract myself or disengage or fight against it. I cannot stop swallowing. And if I do forget about it for 30 seconds My brain immediately sees that and will latch right back onto it. Oh and whenever I feel my saliva it re triggers the ocd and my heart sinks so hard and it’s like okay well now u have to swallow u can’t hold the saliva forever, and when i try to hold the saliva it feels like i can’t breath. It all just started one day i kept swallowing bc saliva kept coming up a lot and then i could not stop doing it and now it’s all i think about from the moment I wake up from the moment I go to sleep no matter how hard I try to distract myself it stays with me. And it’s made me so depressed i’ve never been through this kind of ocd before and i’ve tried to just “accept it” and let it exist and understand it’s a normal bodily function that everyone has and i’ll do that and for days and days it will continue and a week later i’ll get super frustrated because im making no progress. It’s given me so much anxiety and has made me basically want to sleep all the time bc that’s the only time i get a break from it, it makes me not want to do anything either. I’m posting this bc I want to know has anyone else gone through this before? Are there any tips or tricks to delegating this or helping stop this? Please anyone could respond it would be so greatly appreciated I just need someone to talk to about this.

Anakin145

Date posted: 2d

ERP, but yes I have the fear of choking and constantly check.

Jacob 284832

Date posted: 2d

@Anakin145 How do you manage it everyday? Any tips? I know that must be so hard on you i’m so sorry :(

Anakin145

Date posted: 2d

@Jacob 284832 It has been more of a side symptom lately. When I was younger I never understood what it was but my parents brought me to a specialist because I was scared to eat. During my therapy I had to write a scenario that would trigger my acceptance issues. You could potentially ( THIS WILL BE HARD) write a story about you choking. It would be a detailed event and really write how you feel. Have a list of responses. An example would be " I notice I am feeling like I want to avoid this though, but I will choose to sit with the uncertainty."

Jacob 284832

Date posted: 2d

@Anakin145 i understand that. im glad you were able to move past it. i think my main problem is i salivate so much that it activates my swallowing reflex way too much which makes me swallow non stop and its like no matter how hard i try to stop swallowing the saliva keeps building and building till eventually its literally like falling out of my mouth. Idk how to go from here its so scary i dont wanna live like this forever :/

Anakin145

Date posted: 2d

@Jacob 284832 Are you diagnosed OCD

Jacob 284832

Date posted: 2d

@Anakin145 yes severe, for years but i’ve never had compulsions or constant obsessions over one thing like im having right now

Anakin145

Date posted: 2d

@Jacob 284832 Are you in treatment

Jacob 284832

Date posted: 2d

@Anakin145 No i’m not

Anakin145

Date posted: 2d

@Jacob 284832 I would consider that so they can lay out a treatment plan

Jacob 284832

Date posted: 2d

@Anakin145 Is it even possible to recover from this? Most ocd specialists have probably never seen this kind of condition before i feel like

Anakin145

Date posted: 2d

@Jacob 284832 Definitely not a professional so I can't say a OCD professional will help because only they can tell you its OCD. But I once believed God was telling me not to take showers and I locked my self in my room and wouldn't leave and that was OCD so what OCD can do is weird

Anonymous

Date posted: 2d

Is there any way you might accept the swallowing, then you may be able to release it easier. Remind yourself that you are safe and all is well in your world. Have you tried affirmations before? Radical Accenture by Tara Brach is a book. There's Radical Forgiveness, too, by someone else. I have learned to observe my thoughts and then choose which ones I want to have because thoughts create emotions. Mindfulness has helped me so much. I don't get stick in loops anymore. Best wishes. Do you practice self hugs or havening? These techniques you can use to self comfort. Peace and equanimity✌️

Anonymous

Date posted: 2d

Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

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