Really feeling down in the dumps today, lacking motivation.

Just the constant, thinking im making progress, but then I seem to still get affected by teh same stuff I did a while back, just feels like an endless loop.

@LukeSm Don’t think of OCD as something to get rid of. It can be a super power in many ways and get you very far in life if you use it on the right things. OCD progress is different from normal progress. You can always put yourself in a loop if you try hard enough. So tell yourself that. Yeah, you confirmed it. The trick is to stop caring. I’m not sure what’s bothering you at the moment and if you want to comment that, but don’t be bothered by what you think is a lack of progress or a set back. Our minds work differently. A hammer is meant to hit a nail, but our minds sometimes hit screws and other things. A hammer is still a tool. What are your current loops?

@Anonymous I suffer from existential OCD, but the only thought that bothers me is, the simulation theory, sometimes ill see right through it, and realise its nothing to panic over, but other times, its gets kinda overwhelming.

@LukeSm Ha. I just went through this! Is it like, you freak out that you might not be in control, so you wonder what’s the point? Nihilism + OCD?

@Anonymous Yes!, idk why, but the thought of not being in control or real, just isnt nice. Ironically, I dont believe in simulation theory crap, but my OCD makes it seem so damn believable, and makes it seem like it’s something i need to worry about, aswell as my depersonalisation/ derealisation, makes it worse, because those two kinda go hand in hand.

@LukeSm Couple things: 1. I think you should be perfectly comfortable with the idea that we’re in a simulation. I think given current science, it’s a probable scenario. That might freak you out - but here’s what got me out of your loop. Few cliches. “The meaning of life is that humans create meaning” - there might not be a purpose to all of this, and there are certainly thoughts we are unable to think, we are just humans always searching for meaning trying to understand our existence. Be comfortable with the idea that maybe there isn’t something to “know” about our purpose - it could be beyond our scope of thought. So whether or not there is a meaning, it’s not your job as the human to figure it out. Another one: “the purpose of life is to live with purpose.” And to me, a reasonable purpose for humanity as a whole is working towards global enlightenment (if you’re familiar with the idea). It seems like the kind of goal that every human *should* strive for, so now you can stop thinking about what the point is, and know that you’ve just found the point! If you like science, look into David Bohm. 2. Even with all of the knowledge we have, we still don’t know shit about the universe and how it works. Barely anything. Science is the process of constant guess and check. Everything we know is based on what we observe. So if simulation theory freaks you out, know that even the smartest minds in the universe could be wrong because as a species we’re incapable of ever knowing. Look into fallibilism. Even if you think it is CERTAIN that we don’t have free will, there’s still a reasonable probability that we’re wrong on the basis of how much knowledge our species even has right now. There’s too much unexplained. The planet was flat for centuries, remember?

@Anonymous Wow. This has truly opened my eyes, im going to save this and read it a couple times a day, I greatly appreciate your help brother, its good to know that some existential OCD sufferers have come out of this scary tunnel, hope you carry on living an ambitious and meaningful life. Take care! Much love!

@LukeSm If you’re ever freaking out, just remember some conditional probability: even if we’re absolutely certain we’re in a simulation, that is GIVEN our current knowledge, which isn’t shit. It might not be our job as a species to understand our infinities, and yet we’re a goal seeking species, so that’s what we do, and we can only think IN TERMS OF what we know. Consider what we aren’t capable of knowing because the thought is impossible for our brains! Glad it helped. I struggled with this for a solid week and it gave me major depression. Hit me up if you ever need to talk.

@cameronr Thanks again, just one more thing, are you completely “cured” now from your existential ocd? Like do you think about it often? Or is it no longer of interest?

@LukeSm I’ve satisfied it in a way where I can’t doubt it anymore, with the “given our current knowledge” part at the very least. Whatever you might be thinking, just remind yourself that even if you think you understand the universe, it’s just from observation. There’s so much we don’t know (actually) that could explain everything in a way we will never be capable of understanding. There’s a (short) book called “Sum” by david eagleman that’s a fun reminder that we could be completely wrong about how things work. I think I’m “cured” in the sense that I’ve given my OCD something it can’t beat because it will never “know” and it’s not its job to “know.”

@cameronr I don’t think about it often anymore. I tried to make sense of it when it crossed my mind, because I mostly believed in simulation theory and wanted a way to rationalize why I should keep living my life with ambition. But those answers satisfied each doubt my OCD could give me

@cameronr Yh, i recognise using “acceptance” a lot when struggling with existential OCD, just need to learn to accept the fact that u werent put on this earth to find an answer to these impossible questions.

@cameronr Seriously though hit me up whenever. I love to rationalize things like this so if you need something like that to get your mind off of it, I’ll do my best. I know OCD is a tough beast sometimes and it helps to have someone on the other side who gets it when ERP isn’t enough

@cameronr Yeah. This really helped me out a lot, its good to talk to someone who actually understands what u mean, thanks again boss! Take care!

@LukeSm You could’ve been! You just have to accept the fact that we don’t know, and there’s probably a limit to what we can know. We can only see things in 3D, for example. So anything past 3 dimensions we have to dumb down to representations we understand.

Yes mate, im seeing improvement everyday, thanks to you!

@LukeSm Glad to hear. Keep it up!

@cameronr Thanks, quick question tho, is it best to believe in what i want to believe, because i know some people (like yourself) believe we are in a simulation, I just dont buy it. So i was wondering if its ok to believe in what makes me happy and calm.

@LukeSm Yeah dude. Just remember that whatever we believe is based on very limited knowledge. Even the most certain things on Earth are still just from consistent observation, but because of how our brains work, reality could be so much different than what we perceive it to be. Sounds meta, but basically it’s totally fine to believe in what you want because not even the most sound theories are that sound in the grand scheme of things. Humans seek meaning in things where there might not be any and science is only a few hundred years old. Science has done us well, but we are far from having enough knowledge to explain what makes up everything, what guides our decisions, etc. Happy to help any other questions or compulsions. I really had to sort through this when it made me depressed and I think I got lucky in finding these things that satisfy all of my counter arguments.

@cameronr For example, check out this picture: https://pasteboard.co/JHgMbnT.png - those 2 tables are the same size and shape, but your eyes will never believe it.

@cameronr Wow man. Honestly, all your messages are truly very relieving, I agree 100% tho, you truly do have a very good way at looking at life, wish I was as quick on my toes about this thing, like you, I have so much hope and motivation in me because of you, knowing that this isnt something that will torment me til my last breath, it is something that can and will go! So I just wanna say another huge thanks, and you truly do have a very insightful view on life.

@LukeSm I’ve had some dark days too. Feel free to comment on this thread whenever you’ve got something messing with you. Wish you all the best man, really. Go kick ass in life. OCD can be a gift if you use it on the right things!

@cameronr Im sorry to hear that you have dark days, not sure if I asked this already, but how are you doing, in terms of ocd?

@LukeSm Oh I meant regarding that - I’ve had them and they’ve passed. OCD wise I bounce around. Most recently it has been about my health. I’ve had a bit of an undiagnosed set of health issues and of course I don’t let myself be happy until I’ve ruled out all of the things that would ruin my life. Dealing with something with no good compulsions is a great teacher, though. Forces you to shift perspective. So I’ve learned quite a bit about myself in the process, have accepted some things, but I’m still pretty diligent in trying to figure out what’s wrong (not a hypochondriac, but I freak out over my symptoms and focus on them constantly). I’ve had sticky brain since I was a kid, though.

@cameronr Very interesting, the only thing that bugs me, is the existential thoughts, and it never truly bothered me to the point of lying in bed all day, I wish there was a way to tell if you are severe or minor in terms of OCD

@LukeSm I definitely recommend watching the movie Soul. Very related and very good.

@cameronr Will it trigger me?

@LukeSm I don’t think so, but thinking something might trigger you could make it trigger you just based on that. It’s less about free will and more about how we should live life.

@cameronr Interesting, I forgot to ask you the other day, how is you existential OCD now?

@LukeSm Crap I forgot to reply. It’s good. Check out Sadhguru on YouTube and youll feel much more comfortable with the spiritual stuff I think.

@LukeSm How are you doing these days?