I have several OCD themes currently. It’s pretty much entwined in my entire existence and has been for decades. I was only diagnosed a few months ago and have been making progress with ERP on my contamination issues which is an amazing feeling. To have some control over this has made the future seem bright. Unfortunately lately I’ve been struggling with questioning my 10 plus year marriage (something I’ve dealt with on and off the entire time). My feelings had been solid for at least the past year with no obsessing in that area so it’s really very disturbing to experience this now just as I am getting a slight handle on my OCD. I’ve been so distracted with this the past 2 weeks I haven’t been able to make much progress. Just now I considered the possibility that OCD is behind this. Has anyone ever found that OCD started to sabotage you in one area when you were making progress in another? Is this possible?

Yes OCD will do that. It sure happened to me. When I was getting better I one area onto the next theme. That’s why we need to be on top of our ERP and ultimately be okay with uncertainty. OCD has a lot of themes. When it realizes that the original theme is no longer as affective as it on e was (which was to make you worried, scared, doubt etc) it will go into another theme to reel you back in. It doesn’t want to give up the power. It hates losing. It wants to dominate you. That’s why OVD needs to be wiped out like you would if there’s rumor in your body. You don’t want the doctor to only take a portion, you want to get rid of it fully. Just keep realizing it’s your OCD. Once you recognize it is OCD, no matter the theme, then you know how to get better.

Yes it’s very possible. When you’re recovering from a theme, OCD can try to do a lot of things to get you back into obsessing. It’s what your brain is so used to. Now that you are learning that contamination isn’t something to be so afraid of, it wants you to be afraid of something else. Since we’ve let OCD be in control for so long, when we start fighting it and are winning, it attacks in different ways. It can try to hit you with the same theme again, or hit you with other themes. Your mind is just used to questioning things. Congratulations on the progress and keep recovering ?

Yes!!! Totally. I said on another post that It feels like I’m playing “whack a mole” with themes. When I feel like I’ve made progress on one, my anxiety finds another place in my brain to call home.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. Each comment has been very helpful. ?