I hate to admit it but last night I caved and looked stuff up for reassurance. I was dead inside last night and on the verge of completely breaking down. I still don’t know when exactly I’m starting therapy. I actually managed to find some stuff that made me feel a little bit better, but here’s the problem: I took some screenshots of what I found and keep looking back at them when I start feeling bad. Is this a compulsion? Reassurance?

Yeah, I know, but I see a lot of people saying that reassurance can just make you feel even worse in the long run.

I will.

@Jay Stress also flares up our ocd so do things that help you de-stress. I personally like to exercise which helps with more than just stress.

@Dre83 Thankfully I haven’t been super stressed lately, if anything it’s my ocd itself that’s causing me stress, but that’s another thing...my ocd is sending me into a depressive slump that makes me not want to do anything physical like the chores I’m supposed to be doing (laundry, dishes, vacuuming, etc) and it’s causing stuff to pile up and also making me feel like a useless burden that isn’t contributing to my family and /that/ is stressing me out.

@Jay Your not a burden bro don't believe those lies that you may feel or think. You are loved trust me. Not sure if you believe in God but I know He loves you very much my brother. I dont know you but I love you as a person because your life has worth my friend. You will get through this.

@Dre83 Thank you. I really needed to hear something like that.

@Jay Yes man no problem anytime. I love encouraging people and building them up.

@Jay I can resonate with the feeling of being a burden to those in your life too right now. But they are there for a reason and it's okay to lean on the help. I hope that you start to lighten that mental load for yourself

My ocd is so severe that there isn’t much that can keep my off of it entirely and it still comes right back to me when I’m done. It’s constantly in the back of my mind. I sometimes find ways to simultaneously think of 2 things (the second thing always being my ocd thoughts) at once and it’s super confusing. Plus it’s making me depressed and I have no motivation to do anything physical.

Music has been helping me! It’s the only thing that’s really able to soothe me right now aside from talking to my loved ones. But of course, it doesn’t last. Thank you, though. I’ll keep fighting.

@Jay writting down your thoughts can help as well.or even draw what you feel.it will ease down the triggers or obsesses a bit.no problem btw!!:)

@chris3112 I’ll give that a try. I have a diary but it’s more for recounting everything that I saw happen in a day so I have the memories. I’m afraid to write down my exact thoughts because they’re so scary, but I could try drawing them. That sounds interesting.