My OCD is terrible. I have to look things up on google constantly for information to reassure me and it never works. I never would wish this on anyone. I feel like my soul and my brain are constantly at war and neither one can take a break or retreat. I will have gotten past something then find myself worrying in the middle of my sleep and I’ll toss and turn all night until I wake up in the morning and complete a compulsion in hopes I will feel better, but I don’t. Has anyone else experienced this?

Sunrise22

Date posted: 5y

You will start the road to recovery when you resist looking up information online to reassure yourself. Just wanted to give you a heads up that asking if others on here have had the same experience can also be a form of reassurance-seeking. I say this not to dissuade you from getting support but to avoid seeking reassurance in the future. This is the only way you will no longer feel at war with yourself.

Chipmunk90

Date posted: 5y

Thank you. Never thought of it this way. I will most defiantly be mindful

Sunrise22

Date posted: 5y

@Chipmunk90 I know how difficult it can be to go against the urge to look up items to get reassurance. I did it for a long time not realizing it was OCD driving it. We’re here for you if you want to share how you’re doing as you work toward being okay with uncertainty

Emmaaaahh

Date posted: 5y

Google is honestly one of my biggest problems. It has stolen full days and nights sleeps from me. Is there any way you can restrict your internet use? I find that keeping my phone outside of my bedroom helps with this, or turning your phone on airplane mode at night time. I also found that restricting my "google time" to a set period and slowly decreasing from there helped me a lot.I would only do it at a set time each day for 1 hour and accepted that I was doing it for that period of time, but no longer. It was easier for me to start by delaying the OCD monster from getting what it wanted, instead of depriving it completely, and i accepted it as a baby step!

Sunrise22

Date posted: 5y

I wouldn’t necessarily use a restriction app because then you’re avoiding what makes you anxious, similar to someone with harm OCD hiding all their knives. It would be a better practice to use positive self talk and reminding yourself that you’re working toward recovery and try not to open the search browser.

JessieJoy

Date posted: 5y

I think if googling is your compulsion that's a great plan to reduce it.

JessieJoy

Date posted: 5y

@JessieJoy You're not afraid of Google and need to face it, you're doing it probably as a form of checking so you would want to reduce doing it. Baby steps is good.

Emmaaaahh

Date posted: 5y

@JessieJoy Yes that's what I was thinking! Completely cutting out the compulsion I found was too difficult for me, but it all depends on what you are up for. I think it eliminated the guilt a little more too when I set the time aside for myself, and made my goal of not googling seem more achievable! Let me know how you do and best of luck. I know it isn't easy but you are strong and never forget it :)

Chipmunk90

Date posted: 5y

@EMMaaaa Thanks!

JessieJoy

Date posted: 5y

Sounds familiar

Chipmunk90

Date posted: 5y

I think that I need to probably limit how much I use google and also recognize when I want to google something I’m obsessed about.

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