"Accept Uncertainty" - what does that actually Mean?

Some good insight. I remember pretty clearly what happened and I guess it becomes more about how to define what it actually is - like I'll go "ok _____ happened, this is what it is / what it means, etc. I then go over it all and "deal with it," -- but the problem is that my "assessment" is constantly / daily being either challenged or just a constant reminder of something I have to go over again to deal with it. If I "accept uncertainty," I'm basically giving up on trying to assess what it was. And if I do that, how can anyone be honest with themselves or accountable etc? That's the dilemma for me - "accept uncertainty" but lose integrity? Unless I'm looking at this all wrong.

I was kinda being sarcastic lol. But I think basically when I hear "accept uncertainty" I translate that as "lie to yourself by not seeking the truth"

sure

@Dude01 - Happy to share! One thing worth naming before the links: "accept uncertainty" isn't asking you to doubt facts, pretend something didn't happen, or talk yourself out of what's scientifically true. The uncertainty ERP targets is the unanswerable layer OCD stacks on top of the facts — what the event says about you, whether you've understood it correctly, whether the damage is permanent, whether you've researched the technical details thoroughly enough. Your own instinct at the end of your post is the right one: it's the response that changes, not the facts. The compulsion is the search for 100% certainty (replaying, mentally re-checking, looking up the science until it feels resolved), and that search is what keeps the doubt alive. "5 Strategies for Accepting Uncertainty" https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/5-strategies-for-accepting-uncertainty This is the spelled-out version you're asking for — concrete practices for allowing uncertainty instead of the slogan, including what to do when full resistance feels impossible. "Real Event OCD: When the Past Becomes an Obsession" https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/real-events-ocd Written for exactly the piece you raised about factual events — it explains why replaying something real to "understand" it never delivers resolution, even when every detail you remember is accurate. Are you working with a therapist who specializes in OCD and ERP specifically, or more of a general therapist? This distinction between accepting uncertainty and denying reality is one that a specialist can map directly onto your themes, and it's a hard one to sort out alone. 💬 Was this response helpful? Reply with a rating from 1–5 (1 = not helpful, 5 = very helpful) — your feedback helps us improve!