- Date posted
- 4y
- Date posted
- 4y
I used to have it really badly and it doesn’t affect me so much anymore. I will sometimes still do manual but the difference is I don’t let thoughts about it consume me. If I notice I’m doing it I do something to distract me and I move on. It doesn’t occupy my head space like it used to and I used to think I’d never figure it out but the truth is that one day all these worries just won’t seem as big anymore
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 4y
I'm on the upswing from it right now. It's not fully conquered but I've been fighting breathing since April and only in the last few weeks have I kinda figured it out. I did a lot of research on pramayana breathing and did some intentional exposure to manual breathing by doing it for like, 2 straight hours, and then ultimately had a moment of "I'm fucking tired of this, I'm just going to meditatively check in to my environment." These events happened sequentially, and since then I have had very little anxiety about it. When I do, I keep my mind focused on the concept that mindfully paying attention to my breath is actually exposure and that I am willing to sit with the discomfort of it. I then flit in and out of paying attention to my environment until the urge to monitor my breath has fully passed. It took a LONG time though.
- Date posted
- 4y
So you are mindful of your breathing and your awareness of it passes? I have a constant focus on salivation and swallowing that I've had for 2 years straight
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 4y
For me it's all been about chillin with the notion that I might pay attention to a thing and it's fine if I do. It's easier said than done, but a lot of the breath anxiety for me started because I was like, oh no, not this again.
- Date posted
- 4y
I never lose awareness of it. Its such a tiring thing
Related posts
- Date posted
- 24w
Anyone else struggle with somatic OCD and any pain/feeling slightly different is so noticeable and you feel like you’re just going to collapse or something? Like my ocd always convinces me that any sort of pain is related to some kind of illness that can cause a bad outcome or even death. If so, please share your tips of how to improve with this type of ocd 😭
- Date posted
- 22w
Hi I’m new to this group. I’ve had ocd and very bad anxiety disorder since I was a kid and only got progressively worse as I grew up. I’m 26 now. I had some somatic/sensorimotor ocd while growing up and feeling or worrying about health concerns that aren’t actually there… anyway about 5 weeks ago I randomly started feeling like I had to go pee all the time? I don’t have any pain or anything just the horrible constant feeling like I need to go pee. I’ve gotten checked for a uti multiple times. My pcp suspects it could be being exacerbated by the anxiety because it’s so distressing to me it’s almost all I think about. My ocd has convinced myself that I now have some chronic bladder problem. I notice it’s not as bad at night when I’m relaxed (thanks to medication) and about to fall asleep. I just am so scared that it’s never going to go away and I’m going to have to deal with this for the rest of my life and I can’t do that…. Was just wondering if anyone else ever dealt with this symptom? I know our brains are powerful but sometimes it just feels so real. 😣😣
- Date posted
- 13w
Just stumbled across this app/community. I've been struggling with just right or perfectionist OCD for several years. Im 47 and I've had a pretty successful life, ironically because of some of my OCD traits; attention to detail, organization, perseverance, etc. But about 4-5 years ago, without any specific trigger, I started noticing more... let's call them errors. Errors in just about everything. These errors led to compulsive behaviors to "fix" them. Place the can down again, "right" this time. That piece of trash didn't land "right" in my trash bin, take it out and do it again. But really it started happening because of me physically touching or manipulating things, or really anything that involved fine motor control. Picking things up/placing down, turning switches, knobs on/off, opening/closing doors, cupboards, cabinets, using a mouse, putting on and taking off clothes, brushing teeth/hair, drying my body after a shower, pressing buttons on my phone, buttons on my shirt, pants zippers, etc. I mean, you name it. I've never had the type of classical OCD where I obsessively washed bc I was worried about germs or intrusive thoughts about my family dying. I had anxiety about the compulsing itself, or specifically avoiding certain actions so I wouldn't start compulsing. So I was kind of lost for awhile. Then I'll never forget reading this article about just right OCD and getting tears in my eyes. It was a point of some validation that others had similar symptom clusters or patterns. Not that I'd wish these compulsions on anyone! I've started seeing a therapist and taking an SSRI. Don't really like the therapist and I don't really feel like the medication works. Plus I don't like the side effects. Night sweats and sexual side effects. But, I have had some moderate success with different types of mental tricks. Essentially some self taught ERP. Little mantras I use like "not down, but forward" as in stop slowing down and laser focusing on every step, every detail and move forward, physically and mentally. Remembering that compulsions come with the idea that they provide comfort or a good feeling, when in reality, moving through a chore or task without compulsions or repetitive behavior is f**king amazing. Remember and chase that feeling. Watching the uncomfortable feeling float away or specifically identifing that feeling where my mind wants to stop and restart a motion of or an action and ignoring it to "rewire" my thinking. And distraction. Distraction is a big one too. Those are a couple of things that have worked for me. Im by no means better... I still struggle every day. And it's exhausting. This disease makes me feel so stupid and it's embarrassing and frustrating. But I've had some glimmers of hope lately and i KNOW that i can overcome it. Get back to the ass kicker in life, and with my family, and in the gym, and at work, that i know is inside of me still. Anyway, I think typing some of my journey out has been helpful so thanks for reading.
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