- Date posted
- 7y
- Date posted
- 7y
I think you’re absolutely right. Personally i use this forum as a place to vent and feel like im not alone, but its easy to get carried away into asking questions that could not be beneficial for you
- Date posted
- 7y
Depends how you use it. I don’t think I have tried to seek reassurance on here even one time. There are no therapists on here, however (I think) this group is monitored so anything that is truly unhealthy will probably be removed. Also this group could be helpful in the way that maybe someone doesn’t realize what they are doing is seeking reassurance (as long as we don’t provide it to them) they can become aware of this unhealthy behavior.
- Date posted
- 7y
I know you probably mean no harm, but I think this forum is a really healthy place for OCD sufferers and a reflection of society’s growing acknowledgement and acceptance of mental illness. I rarely see people seeking reassurance on this forum and when they do the rest of the community is cautious not to feed the vicious cycle that is OCD. It’s phenomenal that, in this day and age, we are able to connect with others over something that has been so stigmatised for so long and once left people segregated from communities. We often help each other through feelings of discomfort without running away from problems. I believe it could actually help people get on with their life by providing a medium in which understanding can be experienced. It could also help people in a bad place feel like they’re contributing to a greater good by helping others. I’m so sorry if this sounded rude, I just really want this place to be a filled with hope and positivity. I hope you have a wonderful day! d a i s y
- Date posted
- 7y
That’s why it’s important to read the guidelines of this group. Don’t reassure, dont try to give medical advice, don’t try and diagnose anyone. I think it’s fine to see if others struggle with the same thing we do and what helped them through (ie going to therapy, using the tools within this app). But someone asking if it’s ocd or not. Or someone asking if the thoughts are real are only going to make matters worse
- Date posted
- 7y
Also, mental illness is rarely black and white when it comes to diagnoses. OCD often comes along with anxiety and/or depression, and sometimes, it’s helpful to feel like you have a supportive community and create a level of access intimacy for these things. I’ve seen people get a little upset on here when you don’t reassure them, but that’s a them thing. I agree (if used correctly) it’s useful!
- Date posted
- 7y
Thanks for all replies. My suggestion is to use it wisely. And, as for diagnosis, trust the doctors. Do not self-diagnose yourself with depression or anxiety or other stuff. I think this is important.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 23w
I feel like I’ve had a lot of different categories of ocd. Some categories stick with me more and are repetitive. I’ve been doing well with mental health - not having anxiety stick around. When the physical feeling of anxiety sticks around, every thought is horrible, but when the feeling of anxiety is gone the obsessions don’t really impact me. If I can keep anxiety at bay, my life is good. I’ve been doing well lately, although this week I was scrolling through tictok and watched a video about someone in a coma and wondered if I was in a coma right now and didn’t know it. I had a panic attack for about 15 minutes. Anxiety, sweating, etc. It didn’t take ahold of me and it quickly lost its impact on me. It still shook me and I was just like “wow” where did that come from. Now I am staying away from social media. Is that avoidance? Should I make myself keep watching social media? Many ocd problems have come from social media or watching a movie or show that triggers something and then spirals. I am limiting what I watch, which I believe is good because I shouldn’t be watching that stuff anyway. What do you think?
- Date posted
- 20w
I’ve heard it’s not good to seek reassurance or give it because it lowers your tolerance to uncertainty. But how do I avoid seeking reassurance when my thoughts and doubts are so bad, I genuinely just don’t know anymore if I’m a bad person or if it’s just OCD? I know I’m supposed to sit with the uncertainty, but how can I do that when the uncertainty has me unable to trust my own brain? Especially when the OCD is real event and POCD? How can I not seek reassurance when I feel so alone and so abnormal and just don’t wanna feel that way anymore? In turn, I see so many people on here struggling so bad and my heart breaks for them. How can I give advice to towers without giving them reassurance and hurting them in the long run?
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 19w
I see a lot of posts and comments here along the lines of... "the thoughts/urges aren't you -- they're just OCD." Though this is often true and comforting, isn't this just a form of reassurance? The way to beat OCD is by accepting that the distressing thoughts MAY be true/real, a.k.a. "from you" or "not just OCD." By brushing distressing things off as "just OCD," you excuse the thoughts and therefore feel reassured. Obviously it is good to be aware of what OCD does to you and know when you're experiencing a spiral, but crediting all distressing thoughts to OCD is a way of finding certainty about them. What do you guys think of this? Am I right or wrong? This is just the way I think about it, but I see the "this is just OCD" thing so much on here and I often wonder if that is a form of reassurance.
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