- Username
- Mike1234
- Date posted
- 4y ago
OCD is like your shadow. It follows you around and sometimes it throws crap your way. But its always a part of you.
Yes, ocd arises from the way our brains are organized. It's patterns that we've engrained into our neural pathways. However, those pathways are modifiable. The brain is amazingly plastic. One way to facilitate brain change is to externalize the problem by separating ocd from ourselves. This allows us to step into our observing self. In turn, we can then so a better job determining effective actions and implementing them with the help of supportive self talk
Thanks for the great responses everyone. I often feel like I’m battling ocd in my mind as a separate entity. Some people describe it as a “monster” or they’ll name the ocd and treat it as something they want to eradicate. I’m embracing the ocd as part of “me” incorporating it as mind, body and soul. I’m ok with having ocd. I’m at peace with my ocd and accept the condition.
It’s a part of us, but it’s not us. That was a struggle for me. I’m handling it much better now viewing that way.
The problem is that English is really not a useful language for discussing issues of psychology. It’s not precise; the same word can have a dozen different definitions and connotations depending on how it’s used and who hears it. :\ There’s a reason (actually, several) why it’s considered one of the more difficult languages to learn. What is meant by “OCD is separate from me” is that concieving of OCD as an external force is a way to help stop conflating your intrusive thoughts with your identity, your sense of “me” and “who I am.” My sense of “me” is bound up in what I consciously believe, feel, value, and want, but the formation of all of those relies on what I first *observe*. OCD threatens that sense, because it makes me observe intrusive, fearful, contrary-to-my-established-values thoughts, and it makes me do it from within my own mind, so that it becomes very, very easy to think that these thoughts are representative of “me” (as I described above; my beliefs, feelings, values, and wants), and/or to allow these thoughts to influence my sense of “me.” Because human brains tend to love creating stories—we are literally always constructing plot sequences, assigning motives and significance, observing patterns and foreshadowing, etc out of our own daily experiences, even if you never set pen to paper—it’s usually useful to set “me” up as the protagonist, and “the OCD” as the antagonist, in the story of one’s mental illness and recovery. I doubt that many people believe that OCD is some type of homunculus (though honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was), but treating it as if it is can be helpful in overcoming it’s influence.
Hi NOCD users, I wondered if anyone is having difficulty separating yourself from your symptoms? We talk about this often during therapy sessions and within the ERP program. I understand that when you are dealing with these strong obsessive/intrusive, unwanted thoughts and images, it feels like it is a part of you! It is not a part you like or want. So many clients have shared how much they wish they could stop and how it feels like the OCD obsessive thoughts and compulsions are taking over their lives. They don’t feel like themselves anymore. This creates quite a dichotomy because what they believe can be the opposite of what they are thinking. How confusing this must feel! To believe in something so strongly and have your mind be telling you that you are the opposite in your thoughts. It can make you question who are are! This isn’t good for your self esteem/self worth. How much you like yourself and how valuable you feel as a person. Decreasing OCD obsessive thinking and compulsive actions is going to make you feel better. Staying true to who you are, not allowing the OCD symptoms get in the way of who you are inside. Challenge yourself to separate your “self” - who you really are including all of your beliefs - separate that true person from your OCD symptoms - they are just a thought and they are not real or factual. Let us help you separate yourself from these OCD symptoms, let us help you separate your true self from the uncertain thoughts. They are just that, uncertain. Learn to be more comfortable in uncertainty. We here at NOCD understand the pain this gives you and can help you by teaching you the first line treatment skills of ERP! If that sounds familiar to you, I hope this suggestion will help.
OCD is just another Addiction. Here is why: During the battle against OCD, working to connect the dots and through own experiences to understand what is it that we confront with and how to overcome it, I realized something about OCD, that I would like to share. If my opinion is seen fit and useful, it may help understand in a certain angle what is happening in our minds and the mindset towards recovery. OCD is just another Addiction. We humans are wired to do two things – Seek Pleasure and Avoid Pain. Both are basically one thing. To be in the Pleasurable state of existence. In short, OCD is a self-drugging behavior to avoid pain, so the brain can release the feel good chemicals. All our systems are wired for pleasure seeking and escaping the pain. When we find the pleasure or escape the pain- there is a reward- we feel good, euphoria, a relief. Our brains release the ‘Feel good chemicals- from our own brain’s pharmacy’, the neurotransmitters Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin, GABA, etc… these are the ones we develop a ‘tough love’ relationship with. Substances, like drugs and alcohol stimulate the release of our own ‘pharmacy’, BUT, not only substances do that- Reinforced Behavior does that too, more correctly, thoughts, emotions and actions that reinforce the ‘feel good’ such as gambling and love addictions, these behaviors release neurotransmitters of reward due to pleasure, are addictive and cause withdrawal when ceased. As research shown, OCD is related to childhood traumas and the resulting lack of self-love. When self-love is not around, Fear sips in. That’s just a survival mechanism. The mind say: No self-love? No pleasure? No problem, I will give you something to avoid- that will make me feel good. That thing is Fear/Anxiety- the source of pain to be avoided- so you can feel good about yourself when you managed to avoid it. OCD is just an upgraded version of anxiety, when the subconscious actually ‘Tames’ you to get that good feeling when Anxiety by itself didn’t result in self love and relaxation. This process is addicting, making sure you will ‘feel good’ many times throughout the day, keeping the ‘high’. Ever wondered why compulsions are repetitive, because the brain sees it as self-dosing, each action serves a dose, more hand washing, more doses of feel good to make the pain go away, until after 10 times- Doubt which is the measuring tool of how many doses are needed gives a temporary green light, until the next craving. That is why, Obssessions are basically just Cravings- a Call for Action- “Give me my dose of good feeling! Go and avoid this painful fear!” Have you ever wondered why other people don’t get inside that loop a person with OCD find themselves of ‘Thoughts/Feelings/Images/Urges’ Because in a same way, a non-addicted person cannot figure why an addict Craves drugs, and cannot ‘just stop with it’. OCD Obsesseions are just Craving, that’s why they come unsolicited, that’s why, certain situations flare them up, the subconscious mind finds an opportunity to get a dose and evokes an obsession to get the compulsion- the dose of feel good. Our brains are the ultimate ‘Drug Designers’, and can come with the worst fears to make you do one thing- Dose yourself with Avoidance. That is why, as suggested for drug addiction, on how to deal with cravings, perhaps one of the best things to do is just sit with it, surf the pain, watch the film the subconscious brain plays. What you see/think/feel means nothing, and nothing about you, it’s a movie played for you. A trick. Feel the urges until they pass, you are stronger than you imagine, and pain should be confronted to be defeated. Obsessions will come as cravings come, they will flare when there is a high chance to get the ‘fix’. But, with time they decrease until they disappear, because you train your subconscious mind there is NO ‘fix’ from those thoughts, stories, urges and movies.
OCD is "ego-dystonic", which means the behaviors (thoughts) are inconsistent with one's fundamental beliefs and values. I think of it as "the mind isn't matching the soul" - which creates the high distress you experience when the thoughts occur. Because they do not match your beliefs. You are so much more than your thoughts!
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