I hope everyone is doing really well today! I’m curious: how does your menstrual cycle affect your OCD spikes? I went off birth control a few months ago, which REALLY helped me mentally, but now in the week or so before my “natural” period and during, all those intense intrusive thoughts come back. Does anyone else struggle with this, and how do y’all deal with it? Thank you in advance - y’all are the best !!!!!!! :-)

YES!ALL THE TIME I don’t usually see people talk about this but my symptoms are incredibly stronger during my period and it’s something my therapist and I have tried to work with since I don’t have insurance and I haven’t decided to go on the pill but it can get pretty bad that I’m finally starting to heavily consider it simply bc my OCD causes me too much discomfort during that time period but then when I’m off of it I’m so much better it’s a situation that is so distressing but it’s so relieving now that I have been able to notice the pattern. It’s made it slightly easier to deal with now that ik what to expect

Me too! Right at the same time. When my OCD isn't much of a problem it's just real moodiness and sensitivity, but when I'm already anxious it makes the compulsions a lot stronger. I try to be prepared and during it to remind myself that this isn't regular life, it's not going to last forever and I'm going to feel better soon.

My period is lit due any time now and I'm getting all those intrusive thoughts again.

I didn’t get the notifications for all these comments, I’m sorry!! I hope y’all are all doing okay... it’s something I had noticed personally but I didn’t know if I was just making something up in my brain lol. even after I’m off my period, the first week is still pretty rough anxiety-wise, which sucks. But when I was on birth control it was OCD 24/7... I hope the person above finds the right kind for them! The pill completely screwed with me, but everyone’s different and I’m sure it will cause relief for some folks :-)