Pure O - OCD and Racism - need a friend Hi. I really need someone to talk to who is suffering from the same thing as me. For years I have had all types of OCD. Then the last year I developed a fear of racism and ocd. I am afraid i will say something racist. The only thought that goes through my head is that i will say something racist, and i get a severe panic attack. However once i start talking i calm down, and all thoughts disappear. Then the conversation is over and the fear is right back. I just started medicine, and therapy but I am afraid I will never heal or get better. I wanted to talk to someone who is going thru the same.

i have no idea how to help u because our theme is different but i wish u the bestest luck fighting ur ocd <33

Thank you.

yes agreeing does help (ive tried that method for a while). another thing you can do is just to simply observe the thought without giving it any reaction or analyzation (it can be very difficult). another method i like doing is simply saying “i dont know” in response to questions my ocd gives me. i like the “i dont know” or “i dont care” responses becaude it builds up uncertainty which is key to ocd treatment. if we keep answering our ocd questions, our ocd gets stronger and stronger

also— do not measure your progress like that! everyone has their own recovery paces. plus.. you’ve only been doing erp for a week. your ocd wont disappear with the snap of a finger. throughout your time intherapy you will learn which compulsions you subconsciously have, and how to cut them out. ocd recovery requires utmost patience. unfortunately, it feeds off of frustration (at least for me)

yes i know 😭. OCD may be incredibly debilitating, but it is one of the most treatable mental disorders. it’s crazy what this disease can do to us, it feels like it has a very smart brain of its own. but... our brains are stronger

and smarter

hey <3. this is my main theme, and im here to help (pretty ironic because im literally mixed race, but at the same time makes sense lol). give me an example of a conversation you may have with yourself in regards to this? normally ocd feeds off of conversation and analyzation

Thank you L. I greatly appreciate it. Everytime i am around a certain race, the thoughts are you are a racist, your going to say something racist, and everyone hates you and you will lose everyone and everything.

Before the medicine, i was dodging people and would only talk if i had too. I just started therapy but i want to improve and recover bc i feel like this is the worst ocd ever.

it is a pretty awful ocd! it makes you question fundamental qualities about you, so i completely understand. are you starting ERP therapy?

I do not know how to respond. My therapist said i am supposed to agree.

I have done one week of erp therapy. But feel like i am not progressing fast enough. Thank you for your support.

Thanks. I appreciate it. I just want to be able to go out like a normal person and stop being afraid of saying something.

I cannot believe i went from 100% independent person to a 0%.