- Date posted
- 4y
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 4y
plathocd , I totally agree with. You cant control your thoughts, but you can control how you react to them. That is where you can take power back, from ocd. Through properly performed erp you habituate ,to the anxiety, the thoughts cause. You still wont like the thoughts, but you will stop seeing any importance in them. Your anxiety is driving the problem. Ruminations and endless internal conversations are fueling the ocd......its actually helping it to get worse. Using ERP and at the same time, stopping the ruminations is the road to recovery. You need to take a leap of faith on that because ocd will tell you,"it wont work for me". Trying to resolve these fears with endless thought and logic, will not work.....I know, I tried it for decades, but changing the way you fight back, is how you will recover. I know your scared, it is terrifying, but you have a way to get better. If your therapist is not using CBT, with especially ERP then you need to find one that will.
- Date posted
- 4y
This sounds Iike your OCD talking my friend. Here’s the reality too: There is nothing you can do to stop your thoughts. The more you resist them, the more important your brain places on them and thus you will continue to experience them chronically. The goal isn’t to stop them, the goal is to build a tolerance so you can co-exist without giving them meaning. It’s a process, not an immediate fix, but it’s within your reach. The only way out of this is through it.
- Date posted
- 4y
Listen I get that....but they’re so bad I can’t even focus. Class is horrible, church is worse. I just had a sexually intrusive thought about the priest...THE FUCKING PRIEST. I can’t take this anymore
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous I’ve dealt with that theme. I know what you’re going through, I understand how intolerable and debilitating it is. But I didn’t start to feel relief from them until I accepted and practiced doing nothing in response to them. Use me as proof that you can reach a place where the thoughts can occur and you’ll be able to recognize them as separate from yourself. No one can do it for you, you have to help yourself. Also, if you’re not on medication, I would recommend it. I regret not using it as a tool sooner. It doesn’t cure the thoughts, but it could have alleviated me of the panic that made a lot of life events unenjoyble for me.
- Date posted
- 4y
@plathocd Just so my therapist can fill his/her pockets by filling a prescription? No thanks. I appreciate the idea but i refuse to put unnatural chemicals in my body. My mind is already too fucked up
- Date posted
- 4y
@plathocd Listen it’s just scary. I’m scared. My whole life has turned upside down. And I know all the fear is fake but the panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, and endless conversations with myself are ruining my life.
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous Side note, medication causes ED in men, which I feel is only going to make my conditions worse
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous I understand. I resisted treatment for a long time because I didn’t want to feel like a “sick” person. But that fear was just a cognitive distortion in itself. OCD is something that affects you, but it’s not you or a reflection of you. Having that understanding is a powerful tool. You’ve already proven you have more control than you think by reaching out for help to begin with. I recommend keeping a journal. I never did because I didn’t think it would help, but when I feel like I haven’t made progress, I review old summaries and I’m able to see even the subtle differences in my thinking since undergoing help.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous I was resistant to medication at first but I am so thankful that I finally talked with someone about it. My thoughts didn’t go away but the intensity of them subsided where I could process through what was going on. It may be helpful for you to talk with your dr to bring some relief that can help you to not be all consumed by them and be able to process and work through them. I get it it is scary!!!!!!
- Date posted
- 4y
@jc61 Absolutely. There is a lot of fear mongering and stigma, but it’s a disservice to those who would benefit from it. There’s also a lot of misinformation about them and how they work. I don’t feel elevated or blunted, I just feel restored to a state that feels more like myself and that allows me to practice ERP easier for long term benefits. I’m glad you’ve found some relief with your treatment plan too!
- Date posted
- 4y
@jc61 Did it mess with your libido? Attraction levels?
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous Not one bit
- Date posted
- 4y
@plathocd That’s honestly relieving to hear. I’ll look into it thanks guys 🤞🏼...if someone wouldn’t mind fielding my question below I’d appreciate it
- Date posted
- 4y
@jc61 I feel like I hear that all the time?
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous That is decrease sex drive
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous I’m not a male, but my partner is and he was on an SSRI for a length of time before. He didn’t experience a reduction in libido, and he was able to go off of it once he felt his theraptuic treatment was effective enough.
- Date posted
- 4y
@plathocd I would look into that for sure then
- Date posted
- 4y
I think that you possibly should try and use a therapist or workbook to structure your advancements. But I understand the problems and frustration.
- Date posted
- 4y
I’m already seeing a therapist, but what is talking about it going to do at this point. My mind is basically numb. I feel like I have no feelings anymore. I can’t even look my best friends in the eyes 😭
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous I'm really sorry that you are in so much pain that you dont deserve. But maybe you could ask your therapist about medication since you compulsions and thoughts have become so intense. But I support you and I am glad you have made it this far you are so strong for taking on ocd.
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous Are you seeing someone who specializes in OCD? Not just has it on the list of things they treat, but they’re actually specialized in OCD?
- Date posted
- 4y
@Sabrina Yea that’s why I’m on this app, I have an OCD therapist who I’m actually seeing tuesday.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 21w
I struggle so bad with intrusive thoughts. They can be so bad that I'll cry because I KNOW that's not how I feel or want to do. (Too embarrassed to say what they're about) I'll constantly try to figure out why I have them, and constantly figure out what they mean, causing me to constantly circle around and around. I had to get on anxeity meds, which helped a little but the thoughts still happen. How do you help yourself with this? How do you know that you're just not some physcopath? 😅
- Date posted
- 18w
I’m struggling so bad. I actually started getting better but now my thoughts are back. I feel like I can’t do anything, watch a movie “oh you’re turned on by that”, go out shopping “oh you’re trying to look pretty for her”. Like what???? My brain just won’t stop!!!!!! It’s making me so depressed, I just feel like I’m about to lose it. I’m happily married, and absolutely in love with my husband. But my brain keeps saying “you’re gay! You’re bi” whatever. I’m so tired guys, I feel so alone, and this has been going on for months…
- Date posted
- 17w
Whenever I have a non flirtatious, friendly interaction with a male my brain accuses me of cheating. I go into a full panic attack until I tell my husband then it goes away Same thing with intrusive thoughts. I'll have a random sexual thought about someone and my brain tells me that since I thought that it must be what I wanted and accuses me of cheating. Sometimes these thoughts come with actually physical feelings of what intruded. Thoughts of "what would it be like .." but I stop myself and then freak the flip out. With erp am I just supposed to let the sexual thoughts or accusations play out in my head?! It's excruciatingly painful. Also if I sit there and give into a sexual thoughts paired with the "mood" feelings how is that not mentally cheating 😵💫
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