Just a vent but i deal with certain ocd themes and get anxiety over sexual intrusive thoughts But I heard research that it’s possible to have those if you have had any type of trauma and/or abuse in your life and I unfortunately cannot remember my past much so it’s very hazy I usually don’t like my bad thoughts bc they get in the way of my daily live so I can’t rlly dwell so much in the past

I struggle with mental reviewing almost all the time. So terrible.

Thanks for the reply. I know that it just feeds my obsession, but I cant stop! So I'm not only mental reviewing, but then I have to think of whatever im mentally reviewing a certain number of times in the "right way" and if I dont I have to start over. Also, if another thought enters my head, i have to deal with that one, and the one i just was. So if i keep getting a new thought, I'm pretty much stuck in that cycle for a while. It is very hard to explain, but it is absolutely miserable. Also, when i do try to just let the thought be and go one with the day, it is still there in the front of my mind. So I might not he going into all the compulsions of thinking, but it is like it is stuck in my head. So, should I literally just let that attack my brain all day, and that's how eventually I will be able to just let a thought pass through my head? I'm really trying to just understand more about my OCD and what I need to do to not let it defeat me all day long. Any thoughts are much appreciated!

@Melissar3 Yea I didn’t know that was a compulsion you see I unfortunately don’t have enough knowledge on ocd so these new sensations and compulsions are scary and unaware

@Melissar3 Best advice I got is always refocus on ur work when they get to strong

@Melissar3 Stopping all compulsions all day cold turkey will probably be too much too fast if you’re not used to ever resisting them. That’s where some scheduled ERP work can come in! And why it’s important to be gradual. If you normally mentally review for 30 min after a trigger, try reducing it to 15 for a week, then 10, then 5. Then stop. You have the right idea with just letting these thoughts be. That feeling if it still being stuck in your head is totally normal and expected: your OCD is used to getting what it wants (compulsions) and when you resist, it will basically throw a temper tantrum and keep trying to get you to do them. Stop trying to get rid of them and OCD loses its power. It’s tough to stand up to OCD but if we can truly just allow the thoughts to be without wrestling with them, they do eventually drop off. And the more we practice this over time, the easier it gets. When you have this mindset switch, keep in mind that you aren’t going to get relief immediately (that’s why compulsions make us feel so great, they DO work immediately.) it will take time and commitment. Most people require 2-3 months of consistent ERP to see noticeable results and changes to the quality of their lives. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a lot of little victories along the way to help keep you motivated! Write down a list of reasons why it’s important to resist compulsions (ie, it’s only hurting me in the long run, it’s not actually giving me certainty, I’ve done this a million times before and it’s never helped heal me from ocd, I want to get better for my loved ones, etc) and look to that when you don’t feel strong enough to resist. You can do this!

It’s about 90% better than it was before I got treatment. It has given me so much of my life back.