The thoughts are more believable when you don’t have anxiety

Without it

@Tiredxxx It's the opposite for me. Do you have a problem ruminating?

@BigGip09 I do

I thought the whole point of ERP was to have these thoughts NOT give you anxiety since that's just you getting over the thoughts. Sure, people can have anxiety with the thoughts because it isn't suitable to their real character, but after a while the anxiety in the body is tamed to and extent.

It makes me severely depressed when I don’t have anxiety and I’m having these thoughts because I get convinced that this is who I am

@Tiredxxx It sounds like you're problem is you constantly feel that you need to be worrying. I get this too, but you being depressed by the thoughts also means something to. I mean, that sounds like the thoughts are still bothering you, even without the anxiety

@BigGip09 I used to have severe anxiety over the thoughts. I still do but it’s very minimal. Now I’m just depressed

@Tiredxxx I think that's a sign that you've gotten better honestly. Would you want to go back to having severe anxiety over the thoughts even if they aren't true and just thoughts?

@Tiredxxx Depressed because I’m somewhat convinced I’m this very strange person

@Tiredxxx What are your themes?

@BigGip09 But the thing is I’ve somewhat accepted the thoughts as true and I’m desensitised to them

@Tiredxxx I feel like that's what you have to do. You accept them not because you agree with them, but because they are thoughts and denying for certainty of the opposite will only be reassuring in the long run.

@BigGip09 My main theme revolves around dogs. It started with bestiality and eventually turned into me being a trans species dog. The latter happens to be my main theme and I don’t know anyone with this theme so I’m really worried that this is my truth. It’s been going on for almost 2 months now. I’m just confused I don’t know if it’s ocd or not.

@Tiredxxx Wow. That's quite a specific theme, but there are people out there that have beastiality OCD. OCD can latch on to anything possible, and this is one of those cases. I'm not exactly sure what a trans species dog really is, but I do know that it's OCD and these intrusive thoughts are bothering you. Tell me, what started this? Do you have a dog as pets? At the very least, can you tell me what a trans species dog is? Is that a human being transforming themselves to be a dog?

@BigGip09 I honestly don’t know much about this community. But they are a community of people who believe they’re animals or not human in some way. That’s all I know . Ever since I’ve developed this theme, I would go on Reddit and read about people’s experience with this, something I never did before my ocd. And no I don’t have any dogs, I’m not a fan of dogs or pets in general. It started when I came across a video of a lady having sex with a dog on social media. Ever since then, it has been an unending loop of obsessions about dogs, from me being attracted to them, to me wanting to be one.... very bizarre thoughts that never crossed my mind. I feel so isolated with this theme. I’m genuinely worried that I’m hiding behind ocd to run away from the real thing

@Tiredxxx All in all I’m just terrified of being weird or different, terrified of being judged, terrified that one day I’ll wake up and have some kind of strange dysphoria

@Tiredxxx Well first one, I just want to say that I'm terribly sorry that you had to witness beastiality when you didn't want to in any way. That's happened to me on Twitter. I don't even think it's legal to have sex with an animal since animals much like children cannot consent. All kinks are fine here and there but not when they include children or animals. I believe the community you're referring to is called Otherkin, where people believe they can speak to animals, become one, or at the very least aspire to be one. I would definitely take this as OCD since you've said you don't even like dogs or pets to begin with, and the idea that you may not be a human at all it's utterly ridiculous. I don't mean to make that statement to offend you whatsoever. I will also say that the human mind is always going to have bizzare thoughts. Our brains gather at least 50 thousand thoughts in just a day. Some of those thoughts are bound to be weird. The thing about these thoughts is with people that do not have OCD, they can have the same thoughts you have but will easily disregard since it has absolutely nothing in their favor. For us OCD sufferers, it's unfortunately not as easy to do so. Do not feel isolated, for all OCD themes are just that: A form of OCD that CAN be cured. With help from an OCD specialized therapist and formations of ERP, you can get through this. I'm sorry these bizarre thoughts affect you this greatly.

@Tiredxxx I know this sounds like the opposite of helping, but these thoughts are ones you are going to have to sit with until they pass along with how you feel about them. Not to get off topic, but how old are you? That could be an important detail in terms of getting help here. Anyone can catch OCD at any age. There are a good amount of children on this app that unfortunately have to go through this as much as older people.

@BigGip09 I developed this like 5 months ago

@Tiredxxx I've sat with my OCD since July 2020. I didn't know what was wrong with me until I stumbled upon many OCD related articles, and eventually here to this app, which I'm grateful for.

@BigGip09 I remember praying profusely to God to give me some clarity and few minutes later I stumbled upon “intrusive thoughts” I was relieved! It didn’t take us that long and we should be grateful for that some people spend years not knowing what they’re going through is actually ocd

@Tiredxxx Yeah it's very disheartening to hear people go through many years having OCD. Unfortunately, some are unluckier than others when it comes to it. It can occur in childhood for some, depression, traumatic events, PTSD, through other mental conditions. Literally anytime anywhere. It's unfair.

I do believe you will be able to beat this. No matter what, OCD is something we can beat, especially with the community we have here together, made by us. I'd love to help!

@BigGip09 How old are you?

@Tiredxxx I am 19 years old. And you?

@BigGip09 I’m 25

@Tiredxxx It's nice to meet you. How do you feel now? Would you feel better talking elsewhere about this, or go into more detail here?

@BigGip09 It’s nice to meet you too. I prefer to talk on some other app as i feel extremely uncomfortable about all of this. Which app would you suggest?

@Tiredxxx Sure, we can definitely do that. I'm open to talk on Instagram and Discord. Which are you more comfortable with?

@BigGip09 Let’s talk on discord. What’s ur name there?

@Tiredxxx Gotcha! I sent you a message.