About Triggers

Hey! I’m new to being diagnosed with OCD just recently like a week or so and the past few weeks have easily been the biggest mental breakdown of my life. So that was not the most fun. I’m doing a lot better a lot of frustrating ups and downs. And I’m so privileged to be able to be on the therapy 2 times a week. Especially because I know a lot of people who need it are unable to get it. I’m finding because of this I’m watching a lot of OCD content and reading a lot. It’s pretty helpful most of the time, but I’m also finding it really triggering. Like I have dealt with mainly sexual OCD, which I’m still and probably for a while will deal with a lot of shame and embarrassment about. Which honestly I think will take me a long time to get over but that’s okay. But yeah I don’t know if I should stop watching so much OCD content because of both triggers. As well I need to remember my life outside of OCD and who I am. Anyone who’s been diagnosed for quite a bit longer have any advice for someone who’s trying not to let it get the best of me?

Tennille

Date posted: Yesterday

One thing I found was in the first couple weeks after being diagnosed with OCD I had OCD about my OCD. I’ve seen other people also describe engaging in compulsions, assurance seeking, and ruminations around OCD. It gets better as you continue therapy, and you’ll have an easier time identifying when it’s happening

Anonymous

Date posted: 18h

Thanks so much! It is a bit where I feel like I am doing that thing where I am talking about it so much cause of guilt and perhaps reassurance seeking.

Coffee Break

Date posted: 16h

I'm currently in this boat.. I feel you. Hugs!

j vv

Date posted: 15h

Hi anonymous 👋 getting diagnosed and starting therapy can really shake up your sense of self and the world. As you learn more about OCD and all it has been affecting in your life, the uncertainty that it is acting in ways you are unaware can lead to compulsive actions related to Meta-OCD: compulsive researching, wondering/ruminating, and endlessly asking yourself “is this OCD?”. Remember, OCD wants answers and solutions NOW. It wants you to compulsively act…but the reality is *you are learning and improving slowly as you learn to handle your OCD*. I made a few rules for myself when Meta-OCD started taking over about a month or two after starting therapy: • if I genuinely *do not know* something, I get to look it up once. Learning is good, re-checking is not. • I always do my therapy homework as prescribed…no more, and no less. • I will talk very little about OCD with others outside of therapy. Because it is new and scary, there is a tendency to want to discuss it with everyone…pretty soon, OCD becomes your entire life and personality. In reality, there is so much more going on around us! OCD is a small part of life…it only feels big when it is not being managed. Try your best to continue to enjoy life despite the uncertainty and discomfort that therapy brings up. • I will prepare very little for therapy. This was a personal choice for me—with Perfectionism OCD, I overplan and prepare talking points, etc. This overplanning was getting in the way of me *feeling* and *recognizing* what I really wanted or needed in therapy. Things went much better when I did the homework as prescribed, noted any big things that came up during the week, then essentially forgot about things until therapy. In therapy, I made a commitment to being honest and open. In time, I learned to trust my body instead of planning planning planning…it was very good for me to let go of control in that way. Starting therapy can feel so overwhelming. Learning takes time. Stay patient and enjoy each step of the process. Hope this helps!

Anonymous

Date posted: 11h

Thanks so much, I'm a huge talker and something I was dealing with was feeling like needing to talk about it all the time. I think something to do with shame or something. Thanks this helps a lot. I also realized a lot of OCD things at this point can cause triggers.

j vv

Date posted: 9h

@Anonymous No worries! And yes, confessing/talking to others can be a form of compulsion—you feel “complete” after oversharing, for a little while…then the need comes back stronger. Everybody’s case is different—make sure you are 100% open with your therapist and working closely with them on solutions. You’ve got this—one small improvement at a time!

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