Does anyone on here have problems with just intrusive feelings? Like anxiety really bad and you don't necessarily know why you're feeling anxiety. You just know it's super intense. Almost like OCD has given up the obsession. And now you're just feeling anxiety all the time. Any suggestions on how to cope with this? I feel I'm at wits end. Cuz I don't know how to deal with all the tricks that's being handed to me. Please. If you have some good suggestions on how to deal with just the anxiety. Thanks in advance. I tried to observe the feelings and sit with just the feeling of anxiety. But it seems to last so long. I don't know what to do. All day it lasts.

"Pure" OCD

wegotthis

Date posted: 5y

I think I know what your saying and dealt with this a couple weeks back. I felt like I was dealing with handling intrusive thoughts well and then I was hit with these intense intrusive feelings that felt similar to the anxiety I had when my ocd was at its worst. At first I did compulsions around these feelings, trying to figure out why I had them or how to get rid of them or why they happened and feeling like I was sinking back into the ocd which felt discouraging and terrifying and I felt like I couldn’t deal with that. Eventually though I decided to just sit there with the feelings and just accept them and it was hard and felt like I should try do something about it but after I week I literally felt so much better. I know you said you’ve tried sitting with the feelings but it seems like your still doing compulsions thinking that it “shouldn’t” last this long” just ride it out and sit with it and I really think even though it may take days or maybe even longer you’ll start to feel better.

wegotthis

Date posted: 5y

Literally saying something shouldn’t be happening is the opposite of accepting it lol. It’s tough but you got it!

j420

Date posted: 5y

@wegotthis You said it took a week or so. Did you experience set backs during that time? Compulsions? Etc..... I have struggled with this for so long it feels like I will always feel this way.

wegotthis

Date posted: 5y

@j420 I did! I’d say it took a week of really accepting and tolerating the feelings before they began to subside. If I I kept doing compulsions I’m sure it would have lasted a lot longer

j420

Date posted: 5y

I'm so head strong I have a hard time accepting things

wegotthis

Date posted: 5y

Mannnnn me too lol I’m so stubborn and constantly feel like I want to be exactly where I want and feel exactly how I want. But the more you give up that control you realize how much power you actually have. It’s confusing but true lol

Ben84

Date posted: 5y

Can you identify anything in your life you might be trying to control that is in fact outside of your control?

j420

Date posted: 5y

Thanks. I never thought of me saying I "shouldn't"feel this way so long was a compulsion. I'm just getting ready to start ERP as well.

wegotthis

Date posted: 5y

I’m actually having my first appointment with an ocd specialist today so I’m new to everything as well! I’ve done a lot of work on my own and have seen a lot of progress. Those intrusive feelings honestly feel harder then the thoughts sometimes for me and they are hard to just sit with. But emotions are emotions literally everyone has them and you shouldn’t walk through life saying you shouldn’t feel a certain kind of way because your human and it happens to everyone. The more you just sit with it and accept yeah maybe today will be a shitty day and leave it at that the less shitty days you’ll have I’m sure, Atleast that’s the case with me.

Ben84

Date posted: 5y

@wegotthis I'm so happy for the two of you starting ERP ☺! Wegotthis, you "gotthis" right. Consider the ancient Stoic Epictetus who said, "When I see an anxious person, I ask myself, what do they want? For if a person wasn't wanting something outside of their own control, why would they be stricken by anxiety?"

j420

Date posted: 5y

@Ben84 Right on!

j420

Date posted: 5y

Wow. Your way ahead of me

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