Linking thoughts to every day actions. This is something I have been unable to find much information about. My OCD attaches to every day actions. It started as I’m worried I’ll deliberately act out a thought and then moved on to that I now imagine that *ordinary action* is doing the *OCD fear*. Linking the thoughts with actions makes it feel so real and like I have “done something”. Examples - Intrusive thought - canibalism Link to every day action - thought that food I’m eating is a person Intrusive thought - touching someone inappropriately Link to every day action - any movement with fingers - thought that the action is like touching someone Intrusive thought - oral sex Link to every day action - any movement of tongue is like performing oral sex Does anybody have any exposure suggestions? Many thanks in advance.

Thank you. I do understand but it’s a step away in that I know I won’t commit the actual thought but it’s like an internal committing of it by imagining the thought with an action. You are right though that I should lean in to uncertainty. No one ever said this would be a quick or easy fight hey!

@OCDMum87 I understand. Many people have these feelings accompanying their intrusive thoughts. But the point is to stop trying to analyze the feelings to figure out what they mean or to check if they are there or not or what degree they are there.

It’s hard isn’t it. Have you found any way of dealing with them? I suppose we are supposed to agree with the thoughts? So tricky!

@OCDMum87 Still struggling, but sometimes when my OCD is not 10/10. I do what my OCD told me not to do. For example I keep eating and and be like even if my food is a person so what and just keep going. But now that my OCD is at its worst I just can’t.

@Magg_7 Yeah it’s difficult, I find the POCD related thoughts hardest at the moment. Trying to be self compassionate and not criticise myself for having these thoughts, feelings and struggles as I know the self critical and hating route is another dangerous place to go. Do you have therapy?

I guess so. I know that the reason I link the thoughts to actions is because I don’t want to and it’s just another way for the OCD to take hold and make it feel real. Thoughts about actions are still just thoughts. BUT then the OCD doubt comes in and there’s the but if I’m imagining my action is doing a thought then it must be evidence I’m sick/bad. Also if you think about moving or not moving a body part, you inevitably do or don’t to try and gain comfort.

This is great advice and I know it’s what I should do. Instead I’ll find myself wiping my fingers or such like to “undo” the thought - classic OCD compulsion. I do try and carry on. It’s the mouth thing I find hardest - I’ve lost all sense of what feels normal and is normal to do.