- Username
- Anonymous
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Magical thinking
I don't have rituals but I would choose one path instead of the other bc I am convinced that If I don't I won't be with the person I love or something
Oh yeah I used to do that! I don’t do it anymore. I know it sounds obvious but the only way I got through it was to replace it with having to touch the dry tooth brush to my front teeth first four times then wet it and touch it to my front teeth again 4 times than I used erp to get rid of that compulsion. I replaced to semi dangerous compulsion with an annoying but less dangerous compulsion before doing erp. Took time and it was uncomfortable but it worked. If you can stop it all together obviously that’s better but it’s tough.
I used to do this thing
kind of different I suppose but in the past when I had like intrusive thoughts (still do) I used to repeat mantra's in my head.
Daria is right it’s called magical thinking where neuropthways in your brain get crossed by associating an anxiety with an unrelated action (if I blink 5 times my mom won’t trip on her way to work kind of thought) Exposures are much easier to do on these because they’re so distinctive, so don’t allow yourself to do that compulsion and sit with the anxiety until it comes down halfway. I used to have a few magical thinking compulsions and exposures have made them stop almost completely! You’ve got this!!!
I haven’t found ANYONE with the same “tics” as me. Feels really lonely over here. Just to start with one, does anyone have to breathe in while counting and blinking while they look at something they need or want and have to breathe out while counting and blinking when they see something bad or negative? This one is so exhausting! Makes me too aware of my breathing and makes me feel like I’m going to die from not breathing right.
Does anyone have advice for magical thinking OCD? For instance i can’t have an intrusive thought while doing something because then i have to go back and do it while having a good / safe thought to counteract the bad one. Anyone else struggle with this? Some input would be great.
Is there anything that you all do that’s not a compulsion or ritual that helps with your OCD and anxiety in the mornings?
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