Does anyone find that alongside their intrusive thoughts that upset them, because they are observing their thoughts so closely they notice lots of other strange thoughts - it’s just those ones don’t upset you? I can have thoughts of hurting myself, breaking things, driving into oncoming traffic etc and they don’t bother me because they aren’t my theme, yet give me a thought of sexually or physically assaulting a child and the whole experience is hugely distressing.

"Pure" OCD

OCDMum87

Date posted: 5y

I think this is it. Lockdown has been tough and then I recently found out I may be made redundant from my job, this on top of recently becoming a single parent has made life extra stressful. I also find my OCD is worse when I’m due on my period. I agree that knowing it’s an illness and you’re not alone is a comfort but then it’s hard to accept that it will always be there. But you’re right, it’s nothing to be ashamed of - if anything we should be proud for getting through each day because sometimes that feels like a massive achievement! I find it’s just so easy to give others advice but so hard when it’s myself! One day at a time hey!

FuckOCD

Date posted: 5y

Yes, this happens to me too

FuckOCD

Date posted: 5y

And the fact that other intrusive thoughts don’t bother me makes the ones that do feel even more real

catmom

Date posted: 5y

100% and that causes a lot of stress for some people too because then they worry “omg if i don’t get anxiety about this horrible thought does that mean it doesn’t bother me?? Or I like it” and that’s in no way true. OCD is a false alarm, some things cause it to go off, other things don’t. It’s weird that way??‍♀️

OCDMum87

Date posted: 5y

Thanks. When I’ve seen your comments on threads you seem so balanced and sensible. Are you in a good place at the moment? This is me sometimes and then now I’m having a massive spike and the bad thoughts literally feel so real - I don’t just think them, I feel them. I know it’s OCD but obviously that isn’t enough. And then I think - the reason I think like this is because I’m ill and then accepting that I am mentally ill is difficult in itself.

catmom

Date posted: 5y

@OCDMum87 I’m not in the best place I’ve ever been at the moment, but I’m in therapy & I can definitely see improvement in the way I cope with my OCD. I have bad days too, but I’ve learned that literally all I can do is move on with my day & not ruminate- I think that has made me a lotttt more sensible regarding my OCD. I still struggle like all the time tho, especially in times of change? I think accepting the OCD was pretty easy for me- I was just happy to know that there was a reason that I was going through what I was going through. There was a name! It was a thing! Other people have it too! So I was pretty eager to jump on the OCD train ahaha. Sooo many people struggle with mental illness, yours is just categorized as OCD! Nothing to be ashamed of! Being open & advocating helps you embrace that “Yeah I have OCD, but see, I’m okay! I can live happily & function like the rest of society!” And then you can be a source of hope for other people who are struggling which is wonderful!?

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