- Date posted
- 5y
- Date posted
- 5y
I wonder this too. Some expert advice on this would be idea! But, I think it’s the possibility of accepting the THOUGHT exists in your brain, not really that it is true or says anything about you. But also, since we don’t know anything for certain that theres a possibility even if it’s .00000000001% of happening but we’re going to let the thought be there without assigning meaning to it. It’s so confusing! I think the point is to expose yourself and not care at first if the thought could be or could not be true and over time and repetition our logical brain comes in and we realize no matter what crap our brain feeds us or tries to tell us we are we’re going to let the noise be there but continue to live life our best.
- Date posted
- 5y
Here's my favorite article on the topic https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/all-things-anxiety/201912/5-roadblocks-acceptance-in-the-treatment-ocd%3famp
- Date posted
- 5y
That’s a great article, thank you. My only concern with that is when it says obsessions are ego dystonic and to trust the treatment process. How do you approach that when you feel doubt about wether these really are egodystonic thoughts and it’s not OCD?
- Date posted
- 5y
Accepting something as a possibility is not the same thing as accepting it as true. You do need to accept the possibility, genuinely, yes. But the probability of it being true when you say “maybe, maybe not” does not mean 50/50. In fact, you need to stop trying to figure out the probability altogether. I find this article helpful: https://www.madeofmillions.com/articles/mistaken-beliefs-uncertainty-acceptance-ocd
- Date posted
- 5y
Also for your example, yes: say “maybe I will hurt someone, but maybe not. I don’t/can’t know.” And continue with the triggering situation as if you won’t hurt them while accepting the incredibly small risk you “might.” When you accept uncertainty, you will experience this as taking a certain level of “risk,” and that will be scary. But it is necessary for recovery. It’s the first and hardest step to take. But it gets easier the more you practice.
- Date posted
- 5y
What if I'm already in the process of accepting it as true
- Date posted
- 5y
@hateocd123 Accepting it as 100% true is as problematic to trying to say its 100% false. Remind yourself: I don’t & cant know if this is 100% true. And I don’t need to. Reinforce uncertainty every time.
- Date posted
- 5y
@pureolife ∆∆∆∆pureolife nailed it. Chasing certainty in either direction is a problem
- Date posted
- 5y
I also have this same question tbh, commenting in case someone else answers this
- Date posted
- 5y
Same here. Not happy to consider they may be true at all which is why I struggle to take this approach as I’m effectively lying to myself! What’s the point in that?!
- Date posted
- 5y
Ideal* not idea
- Date posted
- 5y
I wonder that too.. cause I definitely would rather not have my thoughts “possibly be true” ?
- Date posted
- 5y
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Related posts
- Date posted
- 15w
Does anyone have any advice for how to know the difference between ocd and real feelings/thoughts? Sometimes an intrusive thought will come in and I immediately know it’s ridiculous and I can just leave it alone and it won’t bother me but other times I really really don’t know. It’s when ocd hijacks and twists my real feelings and thoughts and tries to manipulate me into believing they’re something they’re not or something that doesn’t align with my true morals or intentions. But since it’s twisting and mixing with real feelings I get so confused and scared. Everything gets jumbled and I feel like I can’t trust myself or my own mind. Yet other times and other topics I can laugh off and push away just fine. Make it make sense. And then I start to think well maybe I don’t have ocd at all and I’m just in denial because I don’t want to accept that these scary/concerning things are true about myself. Or maybe that’s just the ocd talking.
- Date posted
- 12w
I need tips on how to really accept the uncertainty the ocd causes, even if it feels so bad like I might get in trouble for something , do I wanna be okay with that?
- Date posted
- 8w
Hi All, just wondering if anyone here has any tips with dealing with uncertainty? My OCD centres on my being worried that I have committed a crime and can’t remember doing so, I was out last weekend and my mind is telling me I attacked somebody as I got an intrusive thought to do so when passing them in a bar, my therapist says I need to sit with the uncertainty that maybe I did and maybe I didn’t and have to be ok with that But if the answer is yes then how can I be ok with committing a crime and going to jail??, it’s affecting my relationship and I’m going on holiday on Friday and I’m worried it will ruin that, any tips would be greatly appreciated.
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