199903
- Date posted
- 5y
Anónima Anónima
- 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.
ocdillustratedocdillustrated
- 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
199903199903
- 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?
pureolifepureolife
- 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
pureolifepureolife
- 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.
hateocd123hateocd123
- Date posted
- 5y
What if I'm already in the process of accepting it as true
pureolifepureolife
- 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.
ocdillustratedocdillustrated
- Date posted
- 5y
@pureolife ∆∆∆∆pureolife nailed it. Chasing certainty in either direction is a problem
BeebuhBeebuh
- Date posted
- 5y
I also have this same question tbh, commenting in case someone else answers this
Angel20Angel20
- 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?!
Anónima Anónima
- Date posted
- 5y
Ideal* not idea
Where’sMySerotonin?Where’sMySer...
- Date posted
- 5y
I wonder that too.. cause I definitely would rather not have my thoughts “possibly be true” ?
hateocd123hateocd123
- Date posted
- 5y
Following
Related posts
Ih8ocd!
- Date posted
- 21w
Uncertainty
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.
anonymousgg
- Date posted
- 19w
Confused about "accepting" thoughts for ERP
I've been told a lot that in order to get better, we need to tolerate uncertainty, which yea I get that and I'm trying every day more and more to reach that point!! But I've also been told that we need to tolerate uncertainty AND "our worst fears becoming true". Like how does that work, especially with POCD, OCD about a///ault, SA and all of that? Like that is really difficult for me and I don't really understand how I'm supposed to just shrug stuff like that off
- Relationship OCD
- NOCD Therapy Alumni
- Mid-life adults with OCD
- Older adults with OCD
- "Pure" OCD
- POCD
- Real Events OCD
- Young adults with OCD
Anonymous
- Date posted
- 15w
Anyone else struggle with “maybe, maybe not”?
I know the solution is to always say “yeah that could be true, but I am choosing to live my life anyway.” However, I feel like my biggest issue is my brain always assuming that it is immediately true when I do that. Like if I say “maybe I’m attracted to teenagers, it’s possible,” then my brain INSTANTLY starts rationalizing that thought and defending it and being like “oh okay so you think this now and it makes sense because xyz, and now that’s who you are and your real desire is now and always will be teenagers.” I feel really alone in this area of feeling like my brain “accepting the thoughts” means my brain immediately accepts them as true. I obviously don’t want to think they’re true but I feel so stuck now.
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond