- Date posted
- 4y ago
- Date posted
- 4y ago
OCD is wickedly clever. It will look for the smallest window or crack to find a way into your thoughts. It also makes you question whether youāre getting better and if you will ever be free. As soon as you make progress in one area, it finds another to make you obsess about. It does whatever it has to keep your mind in chains. Thatās why itās so important to acknowledge even the smallest progresses you make. āThoughts donāt stay as long as they used to but...ā No buts! The fact that you can resist a compulsion and the obsession goes away in shorter time, even if it doesnāt feel like much, is a success and improvement. Whether itās getting physically or mentally healthy, the people who are doing the work often have the hardest time recognizing progress. I know itās agonizing and frustrating to feel like youāve been doing the work but still struggling. I had been doing well during my treatment, finally felt like I had my life back, and then bam! Something happened that made me feel like I was back at square one. But, although it was a challenge, I realized that it wasnāt as devastating as my mind made it out to be, and Iāve come through better than before. My advice: 1. Be kind to yourself 2. Recognize and celebrate even the little successes 3. Accept that OCD will do whatever it can to make you ignore tips 1 and 2.
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Handling the thoughts well 65% of the time after just 5 weeks indicates very good progress. When I was where you are, I tried to avoid the black-and-white mindset in which I judged treatment success more by how many times I did not successfully manage an intrusive thought than did manage it well. I think you are on the right track. You are still on that upward climb in the process. But, you will reach the mountain's apex and the downward side will provide you with the momentum to take on the OCD on your terms. These ten weeks are teaching you how to confront the OCD bully. It takes practice. After the 10 weeks, you will continue to use the tools you have learned and become more and more proficient as the weeks and months pass. Keep up the good work!
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Are you recovered?
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@Diego?? I describe my current state as managing my OCD well. Not trying to split hairs, but I do not want to suggest that I am cured from OCD.
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@Fear Strikes Out Oh that's great, Congrats!
- Date posted
- 4y ago
I would say that I went so bad in January until May I couldnāt go out of my house, take metro, go grocery store... Now Iām going to my appointments to my therapist on my own and Iām able to go shopping on my own. So it is improving definitely :)) Happy to hear Iām on the right path !
- Date posted
- 4y ago
That's great to hear that you are making such great strides as you have described. ?
Related posts
- Date posted
- 25w ago
Hey guys, I hope youāre well! My names Matt, and OCD has struck me again š When I was 10 years old I had to attend therapy as I was having excessive intrusive thoughts. P.s. I didnāt even know this was possible at the age of 10! I then completely forgot about it, until 2.5 years ago when I started experiencing ROCD. I really couldnāt understand why I was feeling/thinking this way however, I soon after remembered my struggles as a child and then realised my OCD had returned. Also, my mum has serious OCD so I guess that could be why too. I had a a really hard battle with my emotions and mood due to this however, the last 1.5 years had been really good and I managed it well. I got married and had the best day of my life. 3 months ago, a thought about having an affair in my head appeared, and BOOM, itās back again. Iām struggling a lot right now however, Iāve accepted that this could be a re occurring theme throughout my life, and itās time to learn to deal with it again. Iām back on medication and have started ERP therapy, so hopefully itās on the up from here. Iām not here to list off my triggers and thoughts as this would be me seeking reassurance however, Iām here to show that recovery is certainly possible!
- Date posted
- 16w ago
Hi everyone. I'm feeling kinda scared because I have to wait a whole month to start ERP therapy, but I feel like I need to start doing exposures now because the longer I wait, the more anxiety I get. It just feels like the OCD monster is getting worse. One thing that helps me is asking one person about an obsession I have...asking a person that I trust, and then doing an exposure after I get the "ok" to do it. I feel like I do need 1 reassurance and then I can go ahead and do it. I know i'm not supposed to ask for reassurance at all, but i dont think you're supposed to do ERP on your own right? Does anyone have any suggestions for what to do while waiting for therapy? PS-the reason there is a wait is bc she's on vacation. After she's back we will meet regularly.
- Date posted
- 12w ago
Specifically how can my fiance best support me without offering reassurance? I'm trying to encourage myself to grow and keep trying ERP, but I'm not sure how I can include my partner in a healthy way. I plan on talking to my therapist about it soon, but I wanted to hear thoughts from people who have been dealing with it themselves.
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