So one thing I noticed is that the more I engage into compulsions (ruminating, checking, mental reviewing, seeking reassurance, googling stuff ...) the more real the thoughts, feelings and urges feel. Which then leads to more compulsions and keeps me trapped. I‘m just curious to know why is it like that? Does anyone know science behind this? And I noticed that things that used to reassure me stop working at some point which leads to me seeking for more reassurance.

Username: Carl CornettCarl Cornett

Date posted: 3y ago

Basically, the danger signal you get from a thought is reinforced by the compulsion. Because you answer the danger signal with a compulsion, the brain gets the signal that the threat is actually real, and therefore, needs to be something you’re on alert for. So, it starts looking for that threat everywhere. And guess what? It finds what it wants to find. You also get a little dopamine hit when you do the compulsion, your brain rewards you for soothing it about being in danger. When you stop the compulsion, the brain instead learns it sent a false alarm. It doesn’t have to look out for something that isn’t a threat.

Username: HeleniHeleni

Date posted: 3y ago

Thanks Carl that makes a lot of sense and also explains why Ocd starts to create more scenarios and fears after I got over one obesession. When I manage to stop compulsions I actually notice that things start to clear up after some time however I cling on that feeling of clarity so much that I always get sucked back in. Stupid I know. I‘m trying to be extra careful atm to reduce my compulsions as best as I can.

Username: AnonymoussssssAnonymoussssss

Date posted: 3y ago

Because if you’re doing certain things to get a particular feeling, you’re likely gonna get what you’re looking for. If you constantly check for attraction for the same or opp gender, you’re going to get it bc you went looking for it

Username: HeleniHeleni

Date posted: 3y ago

Thanks for answering:) yeah makes sense it‘s like the more I check the more undesired feelings I get and the harder it gets to feel my actual feelings of attraction and Love to my boyfriend. OCD is so weird because when I‘m feeling better I just don’t understand how the hell it has the power to do this to me. And I also noticed that happens with other themes. For example when I worry that I‘m a narcissist and lack empathy I actually have a hard time to recall feelings of empathy. It‘s so crazy what our brains are capable of

Username: Angel20

Date posted: 2y ago

False memories

How can something that’s not true feel so real?! Something I had intrusive thoughts about months ago, has come back and now I’m stuck. I had reassurance from my husband around these thoughts at the time ( I know that’s wrong by the way but I was desperate) Now I keep ruminating on that previous reassurance and my ocd is doubting that and my memory of it is feeling all hazy. I’m walking around with a constant feeling of being on edge and I’ve been resisting my urge to ask for reassurance again for weeks now but it’s just not going away. Can anyone here relate? How can I get it to move on? The whole maybe maybe not approach is just not appropriate here, it’s already making me uncomfortable around my husband with just the thoughts being present, thoughts that logically deep down I know are false.

Username: blueteddybear

Date posted: 1y ago

Feeling like I need to solve

Sometimes I have so much going on in my head at one time - and I have layers of intrusive thoughts one on top of another - all together and sometimes I don't know or remember which one caused my anxiety but I have to go back and solve them or reproduce the feeling that came up so that I can "disregard" it properly. It gets so exhausting because I'm always chasing after random thoughts and feelings all about similar themes - that are constantly getting triggered - by silly things. The fear is - I won't know its ocd unless i go back and solve them. I think this might be a compulsion? Does sitting with the discomfort with this Also work?

Username: gp

Date posted: 1y ago

Anyone explain the science/theory?

Anyone explain to me how the science or theory works for ocd/irrational thoughts to be so believable? Like, if they are irrational and so anti-who we are, why do they feel true? Why do we believe them? Is it because we lose our ability to prove them wrong? And so we assume there must be some truth? Be really keen to hear what others think? Or link me to someone that explains it?

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