- Date posted
- 5y
- Date posted
- 5y
I honestly never have read a post that I can relate to more. I honestly had to scroll up to see it I had writen this post...seriously. I’ve done an intensive outpatient program that helped quite a bit but the unfortunate truth is that this condition, like any other chronic medical condition, will likely be with us for the rest of our lives. My advice to you, stick with therapy. ERP is extremely helpful for OCD... I’m still on the fence about it’s benefits for those of us strictly with hypochondriasis. For me personally, I find that ERP was difficult to get me triggered because the exposures were set up rather than real life, which are the ones that really effect me. Another big thing- NO compulsions. That includes checking your lymph node, going to the doctor for reassurance, seeking reassurance from others, googling, mental rumination, and/or avoidance. Have you talked to your doctor about the fact that you have hypochondriasis, or illness anxiety disorder? I did and it helped a lot for both me and my provider to understand how to better help me. Yes, we lose some of our credibility as a patient, but it’s a valid loss. Have you tried medication? Lexapro worked fuckin wonders for me but I’m currently off it as I’m trying to get pregnant. Diet is a big thing too, try and reduce inflammation, as it can trigger obsessions. Probiotics believe it or not also can help with allievating some depression/anxiety, maybe not for everyone, but maybe it’s worth a shot if you haven’t tried? Lastly, I’m sorry for what you’re going through. It fucking sucks so hard and has literally consumed me for the last several years... since getting engaged and then married, for sure. It gets better (and then worse, and then better again, at least from my experience). Just know that you are not alone.
- Date posted
- 5y
You know that saying, "Google is your friend"? Well, in the case of OCD Google most certainly is not your friend. IMO having a world of information available to you in moments is not always helpful, especially with OCD. It allows you to feed it so much and in some cases will even give you reassurance that you 100% are RIGHT in your worry. I know it's difficult, but really try to stay away from the Google searches, they really are not helpful. Just accept you need to live not knowing if you have an illness, the same as anyone else and, until you do get an illness (if you do), you will get on with your life doing the things that matter.
- Date posted
- 5y
I know I have to stop that, although sometimes it can be reassuring (but then I don’t belive when it is). The thing is I am afraid I already have an ilness that I don’t of and about which I will find out when it’s too late.
- Date posted
- 5y
@sometimes_mary That's one if the things about OCD, it makes you worry about future events, which you really can't control. No one can tell you that you won't get ill. You can take action to lessen the chances, by eating well and exercise, but the is no guarantee. I'm not sure how you would deal with this. Unfortunately you will need to learn how to sit and live with the unknown, which is bloody difficult.
- Date posted
- 5y
True, that’s the big challenge, accepting you cannot control what happens. Yes, bloody difficult. But it helps to know I am not the the only one with that struggle :)
Related posts
- Date posted
- 25w
I went from intrusive thoughts of hurting people, thinking I did horrible things and not remembering it like running people over with my car etc, to my brain trying to convince me I that I had split personality disorder to now health anxiety. The intrusive thoughts weren’t as bad as this. I’ll get physical symptoms like my heart racing, chest pain, can’t swallow. It’s been causing panic attacks but I’m constantly scared I’m dying. If my mole looks like it changed I freak out and think I have cancer. I had to get a stethoscope to listen to my heartbeat to make sure I don’t have an aortic aneurysm to buying a Fitbit to constantly check my pulse. I went to the ER bc I thought I was dying and now I’m paying a 2 thousand dollar bill when they say my heart is fine. It’s just exhausting.
- Date posted
- 24w
content warning: MRI results I got prescribed MRIs done on my lumbar and cervical spine over the weekend, and several things came back abnormal in the report. I started to google when I saw a word ending in -oma, got a basic definition of this particular kind of t*mor (probably benign/non-cancerous), realized that googling in this case was for sure a compulsion, caught myself and put my phone away. I told myself, "I have an appointment with my specialist in 2 days. I trust this doctor, so I will delay/not do my own reading until after I talk to her, and only if she recommends further self-education." I stuck to it and I was proud of myself. Cut to the appointmet today. I got lost in the building where her office is and arrived 14 mins late. The receptionist said there's a 15 minute grace period, so I would have to reschedule. No availability for 2 MONTHS, even for telehealth. First of all, I am so ashamed of being late (that's another trigger for me), and so hurt and rejected that they wouldn't talk to me, even very briefly. Now the urge to google is so extreme. There are objectively concerning things in my report, based on what she said ahead of time that we were looking for, and what would affect treatment. I also have a LOT of c*ncer in my family history; 3/4 grandparents, an aunt on each side, and 1.5 bio parents (1 was skin c*ncer, 1 was prec*ncerous polyps removed but considered high future risk to be monitored), so "-oma" and "t*mor" are big red flags in my minds. So while normally I am actually pretty good about living and making peace with my chronic conditions, and health ocd is really only like 5 on my hierarchy, I know that I actually do have to be vigilant about c*ncer in some ways. My balanced solution is sticking to recommended observation scheduling, and then entrusting the research and checking to my trusted providers, so that I am not being negligent nor being compulsive. But now what? I hate waiting. Idk if/when I'll hear from her. Chronic pain in those regions due to curvature and degenerative discs are the reasons I have to get MRIs every couple of years, and now I am so somatically, obsessively aware of that pain and wondering what's going on. This post is a vent, and is my choice to express the anxiety without giving into the desire to google. I'm not seeking reassurance on whether I/my test results are going to be ok. Still, I think just some understanding and/or advice on holding myself accountable for not compulsing would be deeply appreciated. Thanks.
- Date posted
- 12w
I will preface by saying I am not diagnosed OCD, as I can't afford to see therapists or psychiatrists at this time. But given the things I've gone through, I'm pretty much convinced it's what I'm dealing with. I never really saw it coming. As a kid I always had health issues. Sick all the time, spent a lot of my very young years in and out of hospitals. In recent years as I've become an adult, health anxiety started creeping in. I spent my teenage years depressed, anxious and suicidal, both passively and actively. I engaged in self destructive behaviors in an attempt to end my life quicker. I left a toxic home environment and began my journey to improve my life, as I have a significant other that I want to stay on this planet for. I began lifting weights and exercising, eating better, and attempting to improve myself day by day. I didn't even realize it happening, but over time I started caring more and more about my health. Avoiding certain foods, making my diet stricter, and ensuring I did the right things. While it was good for my body in the short term, long term it seems it really affected my mental. As I started to feel better, I noticed that the times where I wasn't feeling 100% were very stressful. I'd start to worry about developing diseases. Diabetes, appendicitis, cancer, any number of rare and deadly diseases i could discover on Google. It got worse and worse as time went on. I'd spend money on things to test my body. glucose monitor, thermometer, supplements to ensure I was healthy. mental compulsions began (which i didn't know where compulsions at the time). Well, it all culminated at its peak in the last few months. Every minor bodily symptom, no matter how normal or common or frequent, became a life threatening warning. Constant googling, ruminating, checking and reassurance seeking, which at the time I didn't know was what I was doing. Then, at the end of May, I did get sick. And suddenly all of my obsessions and compulsions solidified themselves as real and premonitions that were true. I started spiraling. Avoiding social events, or anything that was outside of my room. Barely managing to go to work some days. Bringing my compulsions to work as well, sneaking them in when I could. Every day was anxiety riddled. I became exhausted. Sleeping for 10 hours, waking up still tired, coming home having no energy to do anything. It convinced me even more that I was getting sick again. I was getting suicidal again and contemplating it very often. I then noticed my Instagram feed getting filled more and more with OCD related posts and ads, I guess i was unconsciously finding and engaging with them. They described exactly what I was going through, and still am going through. I'm on day 4 of my recovery after learning some ways to help myself. I'm catching my thought patterns, learning to allow the uncertainty, and avoiding my avoidant tendencies. I removed the batteries from my compulsions and put them out of sight. I still am learning my mental compulsions and how to deal with them. I'm engaging with the things I would avoid now despite how I feel. I'm still riddled with anxiety and the OCD thoughts are very loud and frequent. But I'm feeling more in control and like I can handle the thoughts better. I'd love any advice people can give as well. I want my life back.
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