The thoughts are not the problem. Your choice to take them seriously is the problem.

So true. My dad has always told me... “no one complicates your life. Only you allow it to be complicated.” Easier said than practiced.

That’s still obsessing. I know it’s hard to step out of but very possible. We all lose things. I lost my engagement gift and COUNTLESS other things, we all make mistakes. We all lose things. “But mine is worse than other people’s—-“ nope! That is just anxiety and ocd talking. Obsessing will make you lose something far more valuable - time.

It’s not shifting fear, it’s knowing it’s not real, it’s COMPLETELY MADE UP. I have had severe ocd and it was always just irrational fear that I made up in my head. You still are giving into the fear, you aren’t stepping out of it. It will take a while to repave those new, relaxing neural pathways but it is ALWAYS possible. You can’t win stuck inside of the ocd, you always have to step out of your obsession to beat it. Always.

But it’s hard not to when it’s based on the past. :(

@crazy.cat.lady what do you mean?

I wasn’t careful, I was irresponsible and afraid I’m going to repeat the mistakes because you have to learn from them to do better. So for example, I didn’t check enough and lost a lot of things, like my sentimental items given to me by my late parents and grandparents, my phone with my designs and ideas were stolen and a semester’s worth of my art project completely wiped out the night before my presentation. This led me to my checking compulsions. What if I’m not careful enough and get rid of something I need by accident. What if I’m not mindful enough. What if it happens again? It’s already painful and still healing from my loss of my pets and parents and grandparents, losing things they have given me is salt poured on an open wound.

I know I’m losing time which is far more valuable, I agree, but for some reason I can’t shift my fear of losing things to fear of losing time. If that makes sense. I never thought my problems are worse than other people, so if I came off like that I apologize. I hope I didn’t offend anyone.

Toooooo true

Exactly!!!!!!!!!

Oh my god I love you @iluji That is so amazing!!!