Brain: ......What if ..... Me: “No I don’t feel like going there” Brain: “OH MY GOD BUT WHAT IF” Me: **Suddenly panics** “HOLY CRAP YOURE RIGHT !!!!!

No problem on the language front mate. You're doing fine. You have the same as me I'm afraid. EXACTLY IDENTICALLY the same. Fear of arrest. Seeing the whole scenario play out in front of my eyes, overt and over and over. The indignant of being matched out in handcuffs in front of everyone you know and love. The feeling of hate from your family and friends for what you have done, yet all the time being unable to prove your own innocence. I can really relate to you on this and yes, it has just triggered me a little. However, you know it's not real right? All these thoughts only exist in your mind. They haven't happened. If you have time, space and privacy, would you try doing this for me. It worked week for me and I still use it now in some situations. It's odd, but works. Basically you need to over feed these thoughts of arrest. So, when you can, sit down, make yourself comfortable, and repeat out loud exactly what it is you are thinking. Keep repeating it. If you cry, carry on. If it hurts to say it out loud, carry on. Keep going and going and going. Don't stop until you know it's time to stop. You WILL know when it's time. For me, I say in a 1 hour session with my therapist when he taught me this and spent 40 minutes repeating it. So here goes: I'm going to get a knock on the door one morning before work. The police will tell me they have reason to believe I have done xxx. I'll be marched out in handcuffs in the street. The neighbour's will watch me with disgust. My wife and children will hate me. My parents will disown me. I will be socially outcast from the world, all the while knowing I haven't done what the police are accusing me of. I repeated this over and over and over. I was crying and crying like a baby and yet the therapist kept pushing me. You need to be as descriptive as possible. Really say out loud EXACTLY what is happening. It doesn't have to be identical each time. Play with the words you use, make it more descriptive each time. Eventually you will know when to stop. Please try this and let me know if it works for you.

hey friend. My obsession is also i will go to jail and that my happy life will be takrn away and ill go crazy.

@fruflamuresa When you really think about it though, it actually makes you a good person. You strive to be so good, that you wouldn't hurt a fly and the simple thought of doing wrong fills you with anxiety. That makes you a very good person. To ssome degree that must be comforting to think of?

How are you getting on?

@Riso123 I know im a good person but that doesnt really help ?

@fruflamuresa I know mate. What I mean is, try to remind yourself you are a good person and there is no reason you would go to jail. Also try not to get too swept up in the movie of being arrested. It's easy to lose sight of reality.

@Riso123 Yeah. I imagine all the scenarios and the feelings get so real. Its awful :( thanks for the reminder tho ❤

I still have the fear. It's morphed from what it originally was. But all my worries tend to route back to either arrest or just simply letting my family down. I'm hopeful this trick will help you, but long term you need to seek help. Ate you currently seeing a professional or have access to any healthcare professional who could help you on this? OCD CANNOT be cured. It can be lived with and you can live a normal life, but it takes time and effort. But you will need help to get there from a professional.

It takes time, effort and a lot of practice. Even then it will trip you up. Our brains are clever and powerful things. You (and i) WILL get there.

@Riso123 Yep we will :). I felt so sad and I cried that "what if I don't go X is gonna happen". Doesn't help that today is Valentine's Day and I'm more anxious than ever :(

Well let me know if it helps at all. Remember to really push yourself to say it over and over. OCD is a repetitive illness and sometimes by over feeding it, it simply gets bored and you no longer feel compelled to think about it any more. The thoughts will still be there, but you should hopefully be able to let them pad by easier after doing this. Even if you need to repeat this once or twice a week, it's better than what you live with now.

Mate. I spent 3 months with it happening every second more or less. It's horrible, but recognising its happening is a fantastic first step. Try to remind you that it's a "what if", it's not a, "crap, this is actually happening right now". Sometimes if you spend too much time on a what if, you start to feel you are living thay moment right now. Bring yourself back to reality, realise is ONLY a what if and until you are faced with a real problem, you have a life to live. You CAN do it. Just takes time and practice. When you realise it's happening, practice your breathing exercises, then take a good look around you. Notice other people, what are they doing? What smells are about? What sounds can you hear? What is making those sounds and smells? Basically anything which focuses on what you can see in front of you right now, rather than that TV image showing you the what if scenario.