Using social media as a compulsion

Does anyone go on medias like Youtube or Reddit to look into things related to your OCD? I have Real Event OCD and spend hours of my life looking at confessions, videos of people getting exposed, and so many other triggering things just to compare to the things I've done and guess if I would get the same reactions form comments, even if I know for sure that people would condemn me. I've been working with a therapist to stop this behaviour but with so many devices and free time it feels really difficult... Has anyone gone through this? How did you overcome it? I'd be happy to hear any comments!

ryliev

Date posted: 2d

I DO THIS TOO especially with relationship ocd. I search the negative feelings I have about my partner and watch videos of other people admitting to those feelings too, then obsess over the comments shaming them for it

simpson578

Date posted: 2d

I do this constantly lol causing me to spiral worse

ItsAllComing...

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2d

I did this a lot, especially when my OCD flared. The best thing I did was create friction between me and the search bar. I deleted apps, turned off suggested videos/history so I wouldnt be recommended content off the bat, and primarily used socials where I found the search function difficult or unintuitive. The added friction gave me enough buffer time to realize I was engaging in a compulsion and to actively slow my roll.

WideBit

Date posted: 2d

Interesting, I also have been blocking apps and trying to avoid recommendations but once a while I end up relapsing and watching tons of triggering content. It's sort of like an addiction lol I mostly compare myself to the people being exposed and check if they found a way to be forgiven or if what I did is considered "less worse", but my brain quickly weaponizes the situation and makes me feel awful about myself for days... it's a painful cycle :,)

Eclipse_xx

Date posted: 2d

YES this was my biggest compulsions when I first developed this theme and it's an extremely difficult one, I still sometimes fall into compulsions, I did today, but I'm not spending 10+ hours a day doing it now so big improvement. :) I put a lot of timers on apps, uninstalled apps that I was using compulsively (I was using NOCD very compulsively so this app had to go for a bit), and did my best not to engage with triggering content like exposing predators and other terrible people on apps like tiktok or instagram. My algorithms on all my apps became stuff like that and I eventually just started hitting "not interested" on all of them and managed to get a more positive feed for myself. I still get triggered easily, but I'm doing a lot better.

VVbee

Date posted: 19h

Absolutely yes..! I haven't overcome Real Events, as this is my main subtype that I've been struggling with everyday. I try to refrain from actually confessing on this app since I know it'll become a habit, (sometimes I fail) but it's really hard and expressing my struggles on here helps to bring more comfort for myself and others dealing with it. With the internet there's a lot of thoughts and experiences I have with it related to Real Event OCD, it's a relapse eachtime,, it's so hard to look away since every negative news against someone makes me feel hypocritical to criticize, since all I feel is "I'm not any better than them." This subtype as well connects to taboo and problematic subtypes of mine as well so it's adding salt and handsanitizer to the wound. And unfortunately leaving the internet doesn't mean I'm safe, the outside world and interacts fear me as well and there's many triggers.. My to go saying is that maybe we've done really wrong, but if you consider yourself as a "monster" then I'M a monster too. This is such a shameful subtype, but you're doing great. <3

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond