First post, new here. I’ve always thought that I have OCD since I was in 7th grade. I am 22 now and actively trying to take steps to treat it myself because I don’t have money for therapy and my parents don’t believe I have it. I think I suffer from Magical Thinking. A (stupid but true) example would be how I collect phone cases. I buy really cute ones and then I put one on and the whole day no one texts me so I take it off because I think it’s the case doing it and it gives me anxiety so I switch back to this main one that when I use it I get texts and it makes my anxiety go away. I do this with a lot of my things so for years I just haven’t been able to wear or use certain things or even take a different way home for fear that abc or d might or might not happen. It’s very debilitating to feel like I can’t change anything about myself or my life because it gives me anxiety thinking that if I change this or that then I might die, or I might not have a good night, or so and so won’t text me, etc. Sorry if this doesn’t make sense, I’ve never told anyone about it just something that consistently eats away ate my brain and has been forever. Any advice or comments would be appreciated.

Of course it makes sense, you’re on an ocd app ? where illogical and crazy things make sense. I get it too, and the only thing that helps me is “accepting the uncertainty”

Exactly Tqh... My therapist always tell me that I have to accept that everything in life is uncertain and I have to take risk of something bad happening if I don’t perform my rituals.

Thank you all so much for the comments! It’s so nice to see that I am not alone and that there are terms I can now use to express what I feel and that I’m not just making this up in my head because other people feel the exact same way I do.

Welcome to the community! You are understood and appreciated here, this community is absolutely amazing and everyone is so kind and helpful! I get magical thinking with things in my life too, I just have this feeling that I have to make sure everything is always perfect or “just right” so that nothing bad will happen. You are not alone and this is very common in OCD. With this app, you can do exposure and response prevention (ERP), and slowly but surely get better! I want to remind you that recovery is possible and you can do it!

Hi Koreanvelvet! Welcome. If you’re having issues and can’t afford therapy, I recommended purchasing an OCD workbook, I have several and they take you step-by-step to work to recovery. One that I’m reading right now is The OCD Workbook by Hyman and Pedrick, there’s another good one called “Getting Over OCD” by Abromawitz. They are very useful and allow you to implement a self help program. They discuss magical thinking, as well. Perhaps once you’ve read through it, you could highlight sections that relate to you and discuss with your parents.

They have them on Amazon and Kindle for roughly $20. Good luck!

I’m so glad you posted this. I’m new on this app too and I’ve never heard something that relates so much to me! When you were talking about your phone cases it reminded me of how if I wear something like a hair scrunchie, bracelet, ring, etc. and something good happens, I’ll keep the items on and refuse to take them off because I’m scared that if I take them off, something bad will happen. When I eventually do take them off because they’re ugly and faded or whatever, I’ll keep them in my pocket or purse for a while just to be sure. Thank you for sharing this, it was so comforting to me.

I really appreciate all these comments. I thought it was just me. I'll continually do things in the same order every day thinking that if I make a change a negative outcome might occur. Talk about a repetitive and boring life!

Hi Ashley, thanks for posting the books. I am more affected by ROCD and doing paper works. Will those books help me?

@brain - They’re good for any OCD recovery.

Thank you