- Date posted
- 6y
- Date posted
- 6y
Very common with OCD sufferers! I’m currently in recovery from it myself. Its taken a lot of trial and error for me to find strategies that really work. Depersonalisation is actually considered a type of Obsessive Compulsive Thinking, which is why we’re so prone to it. The most important thing is to not fear it, not fight it, and not suppress it. This was super hard for me! I have an ERP loop tape with phrases like “I love feeling tired, I love feeling foggy” etc. Which helped with the fear. Its also important to stop obsessively researching it, stop talking about how you feel all the time, etc. Its really just a form of extreme fatigue due to chronic anxiety (which OCD gives us a lot of) so just think of yourself as tired. Distraction is very important! Find things that are more important to you than how you feel. Find activities that engage you entirely. Gradually teach your brain that this isn’t important or dangerous, and it will fade. I sometimes go whole days without it now which is incredible compared to how I was a couple months ago. If you want some good resources, MaliaYoga and The Anxiety Ninja on youtube are the most helpful! I actually emailed the anxiety ninja a little while ago with an embarrassing stream of questions and he was very sweet and helpful. He has a course on depersonalisation but its not really necessary for recovery. Be patient, stay busy, find a way to not be afraid, and stop worrying about when it will go away, and you should be fine! This is one of the scariest obsessions I’ve ever faced so hang in there ❤️❤️ you’ll be okay
- Date posted
- 6y
Omg Tabbykitty thanks so so much for all your thoughtful words and advice. So kindZ I will definitely try your suggestions and I never New it’s extreme fatigue. Wow so fascinating the mind right ? That is what I loved about people with OCD we are some of the most loving and caring people because of it! It can be annoying but I have accepted it as something I deal with ( and everyone deals with some battle ) and I wouldn’t change it I think it makes me more compassionate. Again thanks so so much super helpful and made me feel so much better :) ❤️❤️
- Date posted
- 6y
I never heard anyone else put it into words...while i’m sad you feel this way too i’m kind of happy i’m not alone and makes me feel less crazy.
- Date posted
- 6y
Radke01 yes I am happy u feel not alone ! So many people with ocd feel this! My boyfriend and his brother do too! My therapist told me people with OCD have brains that are already naturally “high” ha so I guess we always feel kind of in a dreamlike / stoned state.. personally I think we are more in tune spiritually .. it makes sense we feel more and think more .. hmm food for thought!
- Date posted
- 6y
I feel this heavily :( I feel as if Im not the same person due to how my life had changed and theres no meaning and motivation so the thoughts I obsess over are an actual option for me. Ocd is really kickin me around right now because of this
Related posts
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 24w
I recently posted about my experience with Existential OCD (https://app.treatmyocd.com/community/posts/2184668), and one of the most common questions I got was how to deal with DPDR (depersonalization and derealization), as it often goes hand-in-hand with existential obsessions. I wanted to create this post to summarize my thoughts and understanding of DPDR, so I have something to point people towards. For context, I'm not a trained mental health professional, doctor, or neuroscientist. I'm just someone who has been through the gambit with OCD, and has learned about the mind through conversations with several therapists, reading books, and watching videos. I also regularly consult with a few Buddhist teachers, and have been practicing meditation for several years. Please keep all of this in mind, and take everything I say with a grain of salt. First, some quick terminology: Depersonalization = a feeling of "detachment" from your own body, almost as if you're living life as an autonomous robot. Derealization = a feeling of "detachment" from the outside world, where people, places, and things feel distant or alien. They often go hand-in-hand, and mainly differ in terms of what feels "unreal" (yourself, or the outside world). It's easy to see how this can coincide with obsessive existential thoughts. After all, when things feel unreal, how can you help but think about the big questions of existence? So these feelings often make those with OCD extremely uncomfortable, and the desire to make it "go away" inevitably arises. But, just like with anxiety, most attempts to "get rid" of it generally make it worse. Even grounding exercises can become problematic if the goal of those exercises is to get rid of DPDR, just like any other compulsion. That's why my first piece of advice is always to acknowledge and accept the feeling. One way to get comfortable accepting any feeling is to understand where it comes from. As of today, the exact neurobiological workings of DPDR aren't fully understood, but one thing seems to be pretty clear: DPDR is the result of the brain momentarily shifting gears to protect itself from overwhelm. It's something that happens when you are stressed, and/or burnt out. It's the brain protecting itself from overstimulation, similar to a circuit breaker closing down parts of an electrical circuit to prevent overloading. It's important not to take this information as reassurance against the existential intrusive thoughts that arise during DPDR, rather simply as an explanation as to what is happening in the present moment. I'm a big proponent of using "maybe, maybe not" responses to intrusive thoughts. So in the case of DPDR, you may considering responding to the existential thoughts with: "Maybe that's true, maybe it isn't. Right now, this brain is overwhelmed, and it is protecting itself." (Side note: the use of "this brain" instead of "my brain" is a habit I've picked up from Buddhist philosophy. It's a way of practicing non-attachment to the self. If that doesn't work for you then feel free to phrase it in whatever way makes sense. I also recognize the beautiful irony of bringing up non-attachment in a post about DPDR 😂) Basically, you want to acknowledge the existential thoughts, acknowledge the feeling of DPDR, acknowledge that the DPDR is coming from a place of stress, and then refocus your attention to the present moment. The key is to not refocus your attention in hopes to GET RID of the thoughts or feelings, but to do it DESPITE those things. You need to teach yourself first-hand that none of those things are dangerous, and that you can continue to live life while scary thoughts exist in the mind, and while you feel uncomfortable things. The more you try to push the DPDR away, or logically dig yourself out of a hole, the more stressed you will become. And since DPDR is a stress response, this will only cause it to stick around longer. It's the same ironic cycle that fuels the intrusive thought / compulsion loop. Sometimes it can last for a few minutes, a few hours, days, weeks, or even months. While DPDR disorder exists, in many cases (especially with OCD), DPDR tends to persist because of our resistance to it. If you find that it just won't go away, try not to get discouraged. Instead, look for the resistance, and consider how you may be able to open up to the experience in a lighter way. If you find yourself resisting, gently remind yourself: "I don’t need to figure this out right now. I can let the brain do its thing and focus on living life." It can also help to recontextualize the DPDR. I like to think of it like a warm blanket or sweater, or the brain taking a nap. You wouldn't want to wake someone up from a nap, would you? Let 'em rest! I hope there is something helpful here for those struggling with this issue. Trust me, I've been there.
- Existential OCD
- Health Concern OCD
- Older adults with OCD
- "Pure" OCD
- Mid-life adults with OCD
- OCD newbies
- Young adults with OCD
- Date posted
- 22w
I'm wondering if this is a common OCD experience: does anyone else find that when you have idle time, your mind just spirals into endless rumination on negative "what ifs" & intrusive thoughts? It's been happening to me for the past three years, which coincides with starting a really high-stress job. Weekends used to be my time to relax, but now I dread weekends...I only feel relief when I'm sleeping because it's the only time my mind seems to quiet down. It's honestly so depressing to lose that enjoyment. Does anyone else relate to this, and if so, what helps you cope?
- Date posted
- 10w
anybody else deal with this?😔
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