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: puppychino

Date posted: 5y ago

Anyone have any good tips for resisting the urge to ruminate? My compulsions are mainly reassurance seeking and ruminating and while I can resist the compulsion to check something on my phone, it’s really hard to resist ruminating, because ultimately, the ruminating is just thinking thoughts, which we all know we can’t control.

"Pure" OCD

Username: Stronger.

Date posted: 4y ago

Obsession or compulsion? I'm getting so confused. So normally something scary pops into my head and I start thinking about it. And I pull in other things, related things, or make it a lot worse than it it. I can think myself to the point of a panic attack. I thought this was a compulsion, because I can do it for hours and if I'm interrupted I have to start over. But I stop doing it because it does me no good and brings me to panic levels of anxiety. I'm really confused now because I'm starting ERP and the goal of exposure is to get myself really anxious. Well googling and ruminating is what makes me really anxious..... but it's also what I do for hours and can't stop... so.... what do I do? If I obsess and google to the point of a panic attack to "expose" myself then what? I would still just google and obsess. ? If I have the initial thought and just don't ruminate it just goes away and I'm no longer anxious. And that seems way too easy. I can't be doing this right.

Username: dragon_calves

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y ago

Is rumination both the obsession and compulsion?

A compulsion is supposed to relieve your anxiety/distress, right? Well I don’t feel better after ruminating. I’m just thinking in circles about something scary. Does this mean it isn’t a compulsion? Is it part of obsessing? Or maybe it is a compulsion and I don’t realize that in some ways it is making me feel better? Thoughts? I think this would change how yo respond to rumination, but I’m not sure. Thanks :)

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