how long did it take for people to overcome rocd

how long did it take people to start to see a change and what did they do as it’s getting to the point where i’m merging the rocd thoughts with my actual thoughts as the anxiety went away for a bit. i feel like this 24/7 and its really taking a toll on me i can’t say i love you to my boyfriend without feeling a horrible feeling in my chest and i am starting to actually believe i don’t love him when in reality when i don’t feel like this i am genuinely so inlove with him. i want to fight for this relationship and am scared ill leave him and i dont know what to do can someone help.

sammy57

Date posted: 18h

I’ve been dealing with ROCD for about a year now, it DOES get better and I’ve been really seeing some meaningful progress over the last few months. I’m so happy that I’ve stuck it out. One thing my therapist told me that helped a lot was “would OCD be making this decision or would you?” It’s okay to go forward without knowing everything with 100% certainly, no relationship is 100% certain. I don’t know if you are religious, but if so, remember God does not speak through anxiety and panic, He will guide you and trust that when you put your faith in Him, He is already leading the way. I hope this helped, you got this and it doesn’t get better!

eviie

Date posted: 17h

@sammy57 how did you differentiate the thoughts to answer the therapists question i have a hard time differentiating

sammy57

Date posted: 17h

@eviie Well, you can’t know for sure, but there are a few questions that help me a lot to indicate if OCD is hijacking my mind: - does this thought demand urgency? - does this thought demand 100% certainty? - is this thought repetitive? - does this thought take me out of the present moment? (That’s a big one for me) - does this sound like God? (I can help more with this if you like as I know that can sound confusing)

sammy57

Date posted: 17h

Also, OCD tends to grab on to the things you care about, so sometimes it’s helped me to acknowledge that a lot of the underlying fears are rooted in fear of losing the person I love, that doesn’t mean that you don’t love or care about them!

Marina18

Date posted: 17h

Something I read that was helpful for me was that there’s no such thing as a “real” thought and an “OCD” thought. The difference is the reaction to it. My therapist told me everyone has intrusive thoughts, but the ones that get sticky and obsessive are symptoms of OCD. Another thing is that love isn’t the same feeling 24/7. Love is a choice and it sounds like you’re choosing to be with this person. I’m sorry you’re feeling like this. It does get better.

eviie

Date posted: 17h

@Marina18 choosing to be with this person as good?

Marina18

Date posted: 16h

@eviie It’s not good or bad, but it helped me realize that love isn’t going to feel like butterflies all the time. Sometimes it’s just a choice and that’s ok.

wolfgirl

Date posted: 17h

I was in the DEPTHS of this and it honestly took me a 6 weeks of medication + ERP and I barely have ROCD thoughts anymore. (Still working on other themes lol). I am grateful for my ROCD honestly because it is what got me to finally treat my ocd

eviie

Date posted: 17h

@wolfgirl i am scared that i won’t get the ERP and or medication and i don’t know what im going to do

wolfgirl

Date posted: 16h

@eviie What are your barriers to getting them at the moment? Basically what my ERP therapist had me do was write down and read statements like “maybe I don’t love him, but I am choosing to stay in the relationship anyway” over and over again without trying to mentally challenge it or do anything about it and eventually the fears lose their power.

eviie

Date posted: 16h

@wolfgirl my age and my parents and doctors reaction to me being 16 and having relationship ocd as they could feel i’m too young to be in love but i will try that exercise

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