Unpopular opinion: being active on OCD forums (such as this) delays your healing progress and affects your anxiety levels in a negative way. Could also lead to a tendency of reassurance seeking. I want to hear your thoughts on this, because I am notincing my anxiety going up the more I read posts and try to help ?

pureolife

Date posted: 5y

I find the opposite is true. Seeing others suffering the way I have has only made my own OCD more clear. I can immediately spot others obsessions and compulsions, while learning to identify my own has been a longer journey. And being here has really helped with that. I don’t seek reassurance and do my best not to give it.

Lili

Date posted: 5y

It makes me spot it but it also makes my ocd latch onto other ocd types ?

Lili

Date posted: 5y

If a certain topic bothers you and you find that it triggers you, how do you deal with that?

pureolife

Date posted: 5y

@Lili I let it bother me and don’t change my behavior because if I do I’m probably doing a compulsion. It’s okay to be triggered. And to heal from OCD you actually need to trigger yourself. The more you avoid triggers, the longer your OCD will continue and the more intense it will be.

ecdemos

Date posted: 5y

ugh thank you!! I noticed it but didn't pay enough attention

Lili

Date posted: 5y

evkrey

Date posted: 5y

I agree tbh

Lili

Date posted: 5y

Thank you for your comment

Tmbc2740

Date posted: 5y

I agree a little bit I think it can be helpful I try to limit to a few minutes a day on the app

Lili

Date posted: 5y

I think limiting is good but I get sucked into the habit of scrolling more and more because I want more information and I want to know everything which makes it worse and feels like reassurance seeking. Plus I get exposed to other types of OCD that are triggering and bring new options to the table for me to obsess about..

kleigh21

Date posted: 5y

I honestly agree so much

Lili

Date posted: 5y

Thank you for commenting :)

Fathomable

Date posted: 5y

The support team are working on changes to the app and moderation system to try to decrease the amount of reassurance seeking and giving that goes on. As for whether it delays healing and increases anxiety- depends how the individual uses it. I've found at times too much time here leaves me cranky with compassion fatigue. Other times it helps me to feel like I've done good for others, and it helps to get out my head for a while and not think about my own life or problems. It hasn't caused me to ask for or scroll for reassurance. It might have made me spend extra time thinking about my OCD, but I feel that that actually prevents me from avoiding it as much (avoidance being my main compulsion). I'm largely recovered but I have my bouts and sticky stuff, being on here makes me chronically a little more anxious but I'm using that as exposure, frankly. Individuals need to balance that with their general wellbeing, and take breaks appropriately.

Lili

Date posted: 5y

Amazing comment. I'll try to use the app as an exposure as well. But still the constant dealing with this topic is tiring and I found that I was a bit less anxious before joining this app. I hope the changes that they make will be noticible and help further our healing and progress. Thank you for your comment :)

Fathomable

Date posted: 5y

@Lili Definitely feel free to take breaks. I do for a day or so at times, or I come on and read but don't talk much. I don't prioritise the app over real life stuff either, so that goes to show how much free time I have that I'm on here so much ? I think for some people checking it or checking for replies can become compulsive, like checking messages etc. I have a penchant for leaving my phone in rooms I'm not in, or putting on an audiobook or YouTube documentary on it and placing it away from me. Social media including NOCD has addictive qualities for sure.

Paula33

Date posted: 5y

Hi Scoggy. Would you be comfortable elaborating on what you mean by avoidance ocd. I have been trying to self help through recovery but Ive noticed ERP is really hard for my types of OCD since I know longer really follow themes etc... my ocd is now only intensely present when I am doing something that requires my full attention such as reading, studying or doing an exam. It basically pops up when I am doing something that makes it very hard to do ERP simultaneously lol... usually due to deadlines or whatever, so I just end up procrastinating... any advice?

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