- Date posted
- 6y ago
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Sure! Coping mechanism: The chessboard analogy. Imagine the rivaling thoughts in your head as pieces on a chessboard battling it out. One thought could be, “Oh no, I’ll get HIV if I walk near this bandaid” while another could be, “That’s ridiculous. This is ocd, why do I keep thinking of this”. The idea is that you let these thoughts battle it out on the chessboard that is separate from you. You are going about your life while this is happening. To help you visualize, you can imagine the chessboard floating above your head as you go about your day. As for the therapeutic technique, ERP is the most effective, at least it was for me. I recommend finding a behavioral therapist to do it properly. I am not a professional, but I can at least give you the basis of what ERP is. ERP is Exposure Response Prevention. You essentially expose yourself to the trigger that causes you anxiety (walking near a bandaid). That makes your anxiety peak. You prevent yourself from ritualizing or performing whatever action that reduces your anxiety such as washing your feet or walking away. Do this for X minutes a day and slowly increase X. Gradually, you will habituate to that level of anxiety and it won’t be as cumbersome. Now, this is a very difficult technique. When I did it, I was at an Institute where I had coaches guide me through it for 2 hours a day. I’m assuming you don’t, so don’t try this yet is what I recommend. Definitely try the coping mechanism and tell me what you think! I have more if it doesn’t work, but give it an honest try. It’ll work out bro. You got this.
- Date posted
- 6y ago
I used to have this when I was a kid. I even was convinced that i had aids because i touched some things in a hospital ???♀️ I still get grossed out and avoid walking on or near bandaids, needles and stuff, but it doesn’t get me that anxious now, cause now I know how it does and how it doesn’t get transmitted
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Thanks Tqh. I find it very hard. I have got a lot better though
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Thankyou smiley. I have been tested numerous times and only the first time was for a proper reason. That is so sad how scared you were as a child. It's good to know though that we are not alone in these OCD thoughts
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Well, would you like some ideas for coping mechanisms or for therapy to help reduce those obsessions? The difference is that coping mechanisms help you in the moment so that you can focus on what you’re doing at the time. The therapeutic method is a long term solution.
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Sorry to be a pain but both if possible!!:-)
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Wow thank you so much! I love that chess board idea, seems a great way to visualise it while getting on with what matters. Did you learn that while you were at the institute? I will definitely let you know how I get on.
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Nothing helped me until I got tested by a doctor. Grated this was after actual sexual activity. I did an at home test and then I halfway believed it. Then I went to the dr and got a blood test and it was negative. I have a compulsion to google search for reassurance but HIV can be treated to almost undetectable levels so even if you were contaminated, think about whether it really really would be as scary as we think it is in the middle of an attack. I don’t recommend getting tested unless you actually have a risk factor like sexual activity with someone who’s status is unknown. Otherwise it falls into reassurance seeking. When I was a little girl, I was about 9 and my mom and I were watching this movie about these girls who were kidnapped and they contracted HIV during that time. I was extremely triggered and washed my hands a lot. I was little and internet wasn’t something I ever used much At the time but I lost years of being afraid to cook, swim, and I had cracked hands. Just know you’re not alone. I think labeling it as what it is would be a good first step. “It’s not me, it’s my OCD”
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Don’t ask if you would get HIV, look into researching the facts about HIV. How it’s transmitted etc. having at least some actual knowledge that HIV can’t live outside the body was helpful for me as a starting point
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Yeah I definitely recommend just fact checking yourself as the situations come. HIV is SO preventable now days because research has come so far. :)
Related posts
- Date posted
- 21w ago
I have contamination OCD that causes me to excessively wash my hands/clean items with disinfectant wipes. I know I just need to start with small exposures but how do I do that without spiraling? I tried a while back by just touching the outside of my dishwasher and not washing my hands after and it led to me being unable to even exist in my house. I basically lived on my couch for three weeks as it was the only 'safe' space that I had not touched with my dirty hands. I had to take a week off work to clean my house to make it somewhat liveable. I still haven't got round to cleaning everything though so things like my kitchen are still no-go zones that I don't enter. I just don't know how to start ERP without it making everything worse. Any advice would be appreciated. I am not seeing a therapist at the moment due to financial constraints.
- Date posted
- 16w ago
Dose anyone else experience that your OCD calms down and goes to the back of your mind during- feels almost safe and unaware of it but as soon as it's over and youve calmed down all the intrusive thoughts come rushing back 10x worse? I've had really awful panic attacks because of it the past two nights and it's exhausting I haven't been with another person in over a year because of how bad it was after and not being able to explain it properly to partners "no I'm not crying because of you" "no you didn't do anything wrong" I feel insane- like I'll never be able to have a normal functioning sexual time alone or with others do to it the compulsions that come with it are exhausting it's like the need to cleanse myself of filth like I'm disgusting and horrible until there's no traces I did anything in the first place I'm just so tired dose anyone have any tips of how to work through this- or at least be able to enjoy myself without crying afterwords? I have no idea what subtype this would even entail? I'm going to go with contamination I guess ?
- Date posted
- 14w ago
Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with intrusive thoughts&images. At first i had intrusive thoughts around my partner, now it’s centred around me & I can’t be around window ledges or medication due to a story I read online(it’s too triggering for me) . Sometimes I feel like I can’t leave my bed due to the thoughts being so overwhelming I just break down and want to sleep. I aren’t taking any medication or therapy yet. I worry that if I don’t give my thoughts a reaction that my thoughts are true and not OCD. I’ve had these thoughts 24/7 for 2 months.
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