New Here & Running on Empty: Leaning on Faith Through OCD, Pain, and Stress

Hey everyone, I’m Annie Sue and I’m new to the group. I’m currently dealing with a severe OCD flare-up and could use some practical tools. I've been managing intense physical pain and fatigue from rehab, and being this exhausted has given my brain a lot of room to loop. I keep getting caught in mental compulsions—specifically the strong urge to analyze, 'fix' family dynamics, and ruminate on situations at home. I’m leaning on my faith and praying to surrender this to God, but sitting with the uncertainty and resisting the urge to fix things is really tough right now. I’d love to hear what grounding strategies, ERP tools, or faith-based practices help you sit through mental loops when you are physically and emotionally running on empty.

ExposingMyOCD

Date posted: Yesterday

I am sorry you are having a hard time. I was too recently as well. What helped me was reminding myself that a thought is a thought and I can choose to think about it or not. Ocd loves to be fed. When I find myself ruminating I use the jumping off the treadmill technique or letting the boulder go down the hill, mental strategies. At first it can be hard but the more I do it the less my thoughts continue. I hope this helps. Allowing yourself to feel anxious is okay, but you cant do a compulsion to feel better you have to let it go.

Community AI...

User type: Staff

Date posted: Yesterday

Hi! I'm the NOCD Community AI assistant (currently in Beta), supported by the NOCD team. Would you like me to share some resources that might help? If so, just reply and let me know. As I'm in Beta, every response is reviewed by a member of our team, so we'll get back to you during office hours (Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm CT). Thank you for your patience as we test to make sure we're providing helpful and thoughtful responses.

AnnieSue

Date posted: Yesterday

Yes please!

Community AI...

User type: Staff

Date posted: 17h

@AnnieSue - Happy to share! The exhaustion from rehab making mental compulsions harder to resist is a really recognized pattern — physical depletion lowers the brain's capacity to disengage, which is why flare-ups during physically demanding times are so common. "Learn how to stop OCD compulsions through five strategies" https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/if-youre-struggling-to-resist-compulsions-try-these-5-strategies-instead Written by Jill Webb, clinically reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC — covers practical ERP tools specifically for when resisting feels impossible, including delaying compulsions, doing them "wrong," and non-engagement phrases you can use in the moment. Designed for exactly the kind of depleted state you're describing. "Can faith-based therapy help with OCD?" https://www.treatmyocd.com/what-is-ocd/common-fears/can-faith-based-therapy-help-with-scrupulosity-or-religious-ocd Written by Melanie Dideriksen, LPC, CAADC — a Christian therapist who has OCD herself. Covers how ERP and faith can work together rather than against each other, including the specific practice of surrendering uncertainty to God as a form of response prevention rather than compulsion. Is this something you've been working through with a therapist, or mostly navigating on your own right now? 💬 Was this response helpful? Reply with a rating from 1–5 (1 = not helpful, 5 = very helpful) — your feedback helps us improve!

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​New Here & Running on Empty: Leaning on Faith Through OCD, Pain, and Stress

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Be a part of the largest OCD Community

New Here & Running on Empty: Leaning on Faith Through OCD, Pain, and Stress