21816ogeid
- Date posted
- 4y
MM
- Date posted
- 4y
My here are a few books that have really helped me that you might try. They are: Awareness by Anthony de Mello; The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer; The Power of Now by Eckhardt Tolle and Viktor Frankl’s main book (the name escapes me). For me they key to freedom is to find the small gap of time between our thoughts and our reaction. OCD is fundamentally about us “reacting” to our thoughts. We cannot control the thought (thoughts are just thoughts) but we can choose to control our response or reaction to the thought. If you can find that small gap of time between the thought and your response (compulsion) then you are back in control and will find freedom. The key thing is to sit in that gap and do NOT REACT OR ATTACH ANY MEANING TO THE THOUGHT. SIMPLY SIT WITH IT. As Michael Singer says “Relax and release.” Anthony De Mello says “Let it go.” Mr. Tolle says “Be in the Now.” Just sit with the thought, feel it and move forward when it dissipates. One more thing: at first you may need to do this constantly. That is ok. You are rewiring your brain (you can create née neural pathways via a concept called neuroplasticity). One final thought: using the breath as an “anchor” is critical. Breathe in slowly and exhale slowly. The breath will ground you to your body. And when you do this focus on “What am I feeling in my body?” Your body is always in the “Now” and this will help you stay I. The present Good luck. 🍀
babbiebabbie
- Date posted
- 4y
I just want to say that guilt about not [studying] [having a job] [doing literally anything] can make obsessions worse, or even become one. So if you can give yourself a break about this stuff, do. You’re dealing with a mental illness. It’s hard work. 💜💜
hanajadehanajade
- Date posted
- 4y
I know that it seems really difficult at the moment but you can get through this it will just take time.
henry.omarhenry.omar
- Date posted
- 4y
You got this. You’re thoughts are not you and you will see your way out of this. I know exactly how you feel. I am just learning/feeling ready to re enter society myself. We can do this.
asdfghjasdfghj
- Date posted
- 4y
I was thinking about this earlier today. How studying seemed completely impossible because Im doing so bad mentally. And then I wondered if this was another avoidance compulsion. What happenes if you sit down at the table and open the book and read one sentence? So I managed to get up standing and walk to my desk, sat down and read ... and I got 1 hour done. Not because I had the strength to do it, but because I did it. Do you think not doing schoolwork can be a kind of avoidance on your part? For me it plays into perfectionist OCD, studying is triggering.
babbiebabbie
- Date posted
- 4y
I have this about writing. My brain would way rather obsess about it than do it, so sometimes I just have to sort of skirt the system and just sit down and write anyway. And my brain’s like “...what??? You weren’t supposed to do that, you were supposed to stay here and ruminate???” And it’s like it’s so surprised it shuts up for a bit.
asdfghjasdfghj
- Date posted
- 4y
@babbie Hehe, it surprises me how much the OCD has made me avoid because it triggers other compulsions. Often when I think I have been depressed I realise it has been avoidance rather than lack of initiative. I know what I need/want to do but it feels like I cant because I cant! What if its wrong etc. So I ruminate/avoid. Trying out more of "just do it" shows that once I get going the anxiety subsides and I prove that obviously I can go for a walk, wash my clothes, shower etc.
babbiebabbie
- Date posted
- 4y
@asdfghj It’s such a delicate balance between actually getting stuff done without sending myself into worse mental paralysis!
asdfghjasdfghj
- Date posted
- 4y
@babbie Because it starts off the compulsions you mean?
babbiebabbie
- Date posted
- 4y
@asdfghj Because force doesn’t work at all. Just telling myself to “tough it out” or whatever makes everything worse. So I have to make sure I’m not doing that when I try to write etc. Sort of like engaging the thoughts vs allowing them I guess?
asdfghjasdfghj
- Date posted
- 4y
@babbie Yeah. It truly is a fine balance. I do feel the same about "pushing through". Obviously I have to push myself a little, and just start acting. But if I push too much it makes me ill. Thinking about what Im gonna do doesnt work either. Hoping to make some habits so everything doesnt have to be an exposure almost. But is just something I do...
Kate Kate
- Date posted
- 4y
I’m sorry. Good luck to you you’ll get through it.
Serio?Serio?
- Date posted
- 4y
It seems really dark right now but I’m sure with effort and grace to yourself you will pull through. Don’t give up
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issphra 🫶🏻
- Date posted
- 19w
OMG how you control your mental compulsions?!?!?!
I cannot for the life of me stop ruminating or checking how I feel about thoughts or focusing on thoughts or creating more thoughts. I feel like I’m losing my mind. I want to scream. I try not to ruminate about the thoughts, but trying not to just makes me think about them more. I try not to check, but somehow, I still check. I want to let a thought sit in the background, but the more I try not to focus on it, the more I end up focusing on it. I don’t want the thought to expand because that feels like engaging with it, but I can’t just stop it from expanding. It feels impossible. People keep saying I’m in control of my compulsions, and maybe that’s true for the physical ones. But when it comes to the mental compulsions, I swear I have no control. It feels like I’m missing something that everyone else seems to have, like there’s some tool they’re using that I don’t have. Controlling mental compulsions has never felt possible for me. I’m starting to fear them. And every time someone says I’m in control and can just choose not to do them, I end up beating myself up even more when they happen. Or when I *choose* I guess. I don’t know anymore. If this is my fault, if I’m responsible for this, then what does that make me? I feel like a monster. I am at my wits’ end. How am I supposed to control mental compulsions when it feels like they control me? I freak out when they happen. They don’t bring me relief, they just make me panic. I want it to stop so bad.
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frannyb
- Date posted
- 19w
I can't do this anymore
I can't live with OCD anymore. It's ruining my life. I feel like I'm being constantly bullied in my own mind all day everyday. I don't know if what I think and feel is ever real or normal or okay, what is me and what is the OCD thoughts. I don't know if any of my experiences are normal. I'm exhausted from picking apart every single conversation I ever have with anyone until I'm strung out by a vague and ambiguous feeling of guilt. I'm tired of feeling like I'm a bad person and feeling scared all the time and not knowing why and having my brain spin me out on an endless spiralling train of thoughts that never goes anywhere and just makes me feel disconnected from everything and everyone around me. I don't know what I feel and if what I feel is normal or if anything I am doing is real and actually me or if I'm 'losing my mind.' I don't even know if this makes any sense. I get into these states of mind where every thought in my head and everything I feel and perceive makes me question my own sanity. I don't know if anyone likes me because I have absolutely no concept of what I am actually like. I feel completely lost and confused CONSTANTLY.
Infectedpick...
- Date posted
- 19w
Everyday is a constant cycle of regret and misery
Everyday I wake up, all my mind makes me think of is the stuff I’ve done in the past, like all day I’m in a constant cycle of judging who I used to be and it hurts so so much. I wish I never thought to do those things, I wish I had been more mature than how I was before, it’s really lowering my self worth and I don’t think I’ve ever felt this miserable before, like last summer was the worst because I was dealing with this shit, I about almost ended my life over it, and I thought it would get better, which it did, but it didn’t last but for a while. As soon as it became 2025 I was going through it again, having constant cycles of “I’m a good person” to “I’m the worst person imaginable” and I’m so sick of it because I just want to feel like the good person l like to imagine myself to be, but I can’t because of shit I did in the past that I obsess over. I’ve cried and screamed so much over it and it seems like it will never leave me.
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