Hello everyone on here. Just wanted to vent a bit about those intrusive negative thoughts and how is the best way to deal with them? I try to ignore them and pay no kind to them but it can be difficult. SAMSON

Lazarus85

Date posted: 5y

Well trying to ignore them, is just avoidance and it's a compulsion. All ocds, whatever the type, are an intolerance to uncertainty and that's it. Whatever you fear it has nothing to do with reality, it's all fake and just in your mind. We can't stop our intrusives thoughts or sensations from happenings, it's futile to even try to control them. But we have control over, how we are responding to them. And there's the key of your freedom. By checking or avoiding your intrusives thoughts, you're just signaling to your brain, by trying to lower anxiety, that the thoughts is worth your attention. Thus your thoughts become real to you, because you reacted to them so your brain is like " oh shit! He reacted to this threat, so that means that this thought is a real concern". The real and the most efficient way to deal with them is to practice exposure respond prevention(ERP). You do this by letting the thought(fear) come and stay with you, without doing any compulsions, until your anxiety come down quite a bit and all this without judging yourself. It's hard but by practicing it every day your ocd will eventually fade away. After 30 years with ocd and almost 2 years practicing ERP in therapy I am now free. It's the most efficient way but also the hardest way to get rid of ocd.

dmuhnyyy

Date posted: 5y

I loved reading your comment. I’ve had ocd for four years, but I haven’t committed to therapy like I should have, so my ocd has taken a turn for the worst. The thoughts and feelings I’m having are so bad. They scare the entire crap out of me. But hearing your story gives me hope

Lazarus85

Date posted: 5y

@dmuhnyyy I understand you how you feel I didn't commit as much as I should too when I've tried my first therapy. Then, like you, after a couple of months, doing not so bad, my ocd came back with a vengeance. That's why the last time, with a new therapist, I went all in and I didn't hold anything back even how ashamed it was. I had a war to win and gave myself the tools to do so. My ERP scenario was so scary that while reading it, my heart skipped some beats but it got easier and easier over time. And now whatever masks the ocd choose to wear, I will always know the real face of ocd and I will never be trick again by it.

dmuhnyyy

Date posted: 5y

@Lazarus85 I’m so nervous for ERP. I have a certain thought that is making me so anxious and I’m so scared that deep down inside I agree with it. But I’m trying to not reason with it. I’m trying not to answer the questions, maybe I do and maybe I don’t. But thank you. Knowing you got better makes me feel like I’ll get better

Lazarus85

Date posted: 5y

@dmuhnyyy @dmuhnyyy I'm sure you will get through this and it's normal to be nervous when attempting ERP. But the ONLY thing you should fear it's fear itself. By letting the though (fear) come and stay with you until it induce less or no more anxiety doesn't make you irresponsible or doesn't reveal or say ayanything about you. You got this girl and I'm convinced that you will get over your ocd. Take care!

samson

Date posted: 5y

Thank you so much. I get really bad bad thoughts and they’ve gotten so out of hand, it’s almost like I’m losing my mind. SAMSON

Lazarus85

Date posted: 5y

Yeah, I know that feeling too well. But I hope that you're considering therapy, because I'm telling you that triyng to get rid of ocd on your own doesn't work too well. Here goes my 30 years in the trash can. I have lost all these years, but it isn't too late for you. So for your own good please consider therapy work. Good luck to you. Take care!

samson

Date posted: 5y

Thank you. I do see a psychotherapist but he doesn’t specialize in ERP

light lover

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 5y

I definitely recommend seeing an ocd specialized psychologist. It makes a difference. I struggle with harm ocd and now I can literally almost laugh at my thoughts. I’m just like oh hi ocd there you are again. I realize thoughts have no meaning at all

samson

Date posted: 5y

Yes your absolutely right. I need to find one. Thank you so much. SAMSON

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