Anonymous
- Date posted
- 4y
Garrett MaguireGarrett Maguire
- 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.
adaptocdadaptocd
- 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.
AnonymousAnonymous
- 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
adaptocdadaptocd
- 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.
AnonymousAnonymous
- 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
AnonymousAnonymous
- 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.
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous Side note, medication causes ED in men, which I feel is only going to make my conditions worse
adaptocdadaptocd
- 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.
jc61jc61
- 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!!!!!!
adaptocdadaptocd
- 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!
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 4y
@jc61 Did it mess with your libido? Attraction levels?
jc61jc61
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous Not one bit
AnonymousAnonymous
- 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
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 4y
@jc61 I feel like I hear that all the time?
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 4y
@Anonymous That is decrease sex drive
adaptocdadaptocd
- 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.
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 4y
@plathocd I would look into that for sure then
carliecarlie
- 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.
AnonymousAnonymous
- 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 😭
carliecarlie
- 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.
SabrinaSabrina
- 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?
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 4y
@Sabrina Yea that’s why I’m on this app, I have an OCD therapist who I’m actually seeing tuesday.
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- Date posted
- 22w
I can’t take it anymore.
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- Date posted
- 15w
Need help right now
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dayrock
- Date posted
- 12w
Persistent Sexual Thoughts
First post, kinda scary. I’ve been trying to figure out for the longest time if this is an ocd thing or something else. For context, I used to have a really big problem with watching porn, starting for about 11-12 yrs old and only stopping a few months ago (I’m 24 now). I constantly have sexual thoughts about nearly every person I see. My family, friends, strangers, and more. It feels completely out of my control and it eats me alive. I have no one to talk to about these thoughts but I feel like if I don’t tell someone I am condoning and accepting these things as good. So I tell my wife. And it breaks her heart every single time. I want to say 95% of the time, I don’t want those thoughts but I can’t say with certainty that there aren’t times I do want to think about porn. Or maybe I don’t. Idk. It’s so exhausting. I’d like some help determining if this is a result of OCD or something else (like porn addiction symptoms or something). Thank you.
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