Hello! I have a phobia of a particular number which I associate with Satan and it gives me severe stress and anxiety. It causes me to have to do hours of rituals to feel “okay” again, and I try to avoid it at all costs. Today, as I was driving (which is also an ocd trigger for me) I saw a license plate with that number. I freaked out and have been in crisis mode for the past couple hours. I was wondering if anyone had tips on how to move forward after being at a high anxiety state for so long. Numbers are unavoidable and I was wondering if people had tips or tricks for coping? Thank you

Yes, that number freaks me out too. When I had a previous theme of fear of possession, I would see it multiple times per day constantly and it would stress me out. But you’re hyper aware and are noticing it because it causes you stress and anxiety. It’s like when you buy a new car and then you see that car everywhere. Your brain is always going to pay extra attention to the things you react to. Then once you start to forget about the number, you will hardly see it.

It’s difficult, but the best thing you can do is expose yourself to it. Either by reading, writing, or saying the word. But you have to sit with the anxiety and let it wash over you.

It’s not silly at all! One of my worst fears is devil, demons possession ect so if I see that number, I would internally freak out. But then I started saying to myself “just a number, next please”. It was a hard and I took practice but eventually I just stopped seeing it.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

That number freaks me out too. I’ve established something key though that helps me through it. For every time you see that particular number, just know there is an offsetting number out there somewhere and probably close. Perhaps a number right by it and when you add the digits up, the one that caused the fear is no longer that number as it has been adjusted up or down by the other. It really helps me out! Also, I believe it. Numbers may be random, but I truly believe they add up to something more than just the one you see.

Thank you so much for the response Myka! I am sorry you have experienced a similar fear, but it’s encouraging to know I’m not the only one and it could get better!

Gosh I’m working on it with my therapist but it truly is so overwhelming. And I know it’s silly because it’s just a number but to me, my ocd convinced me it’s so much worse

This is so inspiring you have no idea how much you’ve helped me tonight!