- Username
- Waaahmo
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Before you do anything, I would take a moment to reflect on your self-talk. Telling yourself that you need to “suck it up,” isn’t conducive to recovering. It’s just discounting your struggle as something you’re doing wrong, when it isn’t. This type of thinking will naturally cause you to do even more compulsions in response to the feeling of pain. Try a gentler approach if you can. Instead of punishing yourself for the impulsive habits you have, why not reflect on them without judgement? You could begin journaling each day (sounds like it won’t work, but it’s helped me), practicing mindfulness techniques when you feel yourself about to do something unhealthy, I like the 5-4-3-2-1 game. When I feel an urge to do a compulsion, I stop and focus on my breath. Afterward, I name 5 things I see, 4 things I hear, 3 things I feel, 2 things I smell, and I visualize my #1 safe place in my mind. Give yourself grace when you’re not able to cope with these difficult feelings. Give yourself realistic expectations and remember that recovery is not linear- you will have setbacks, you will do impulsive things sometimes, what’s most important is what goals you’re working toward in the long run.
Thank you so much. It's really hard to get in the right mindset and just start, as i often just want to scream in pain or sleep. But i'll try my best to do these things you suggested!
I LOVE the 5-4-3-2-1 game it’s so helpful!
Instead maybe try meditation that might help you calm down but not give way to compultions
I have a suggestion, you said “ when OCD triggers an anger/panic attack, I often feel so out of control that I either contact others, shovel food down my belly or break things.“ wouldn’t you consider those compulsions? If doing these things make you feel better when you have anxiety or a panic attack I consider this coping-which is a compulsion. And I would suggest to cut out all compulsions when dealing with anything that causes distress.
Oh, i never thought of it that way....maybe because doing this never helped. But i'll definitely try to hold back on it more, as i don't want to do these things anyway.
What helps when u can't stop an obsessive thought from Occuring?
Every time I feel like I'm doing something major that OCD has held me back from, or even just in a good headspace, something else will happen that sets me back of triggers my anger and hopelessness. This morning I felt so hopeless and didn't want to get out of bed. But I made myself get up, and order some groceries because I hadn't been eating much lately. Having a hard time with food prep and making sure everything is clean enough to use and eat. Anyway I ordered some stuff to have delivered bc I knew the stores would be packed on Sunday morning. I made coffee and started feeling like I could get some things done today I'd been avoiding, and that I could handle things. When I went down to grab the grocery bag that had been delivered, it was on the ground outside my building and it had some red spot on the outside, which is my biggest trigger with contamination right now. It was really discouraging and I got so, so angry. I know that there's not OCD god, and that things happen, and that I don't know what the red mark was, but I also don't know how to not worry that the person delivering it was bleeding or that I could use anything I got without worrying I'm in danger. Ive been desperately trying to find help and a therapist, even switched my insurance to see if it helped but I've had no luck and my life is unraveling right now. If anyone has any advice or encouragement, It would be greatly helpful.
When i see something, get reminded of something or talk to someone that triggers my train of thoughts, i feel a sudden racing spike in my heart, a knot in my stomach, kind of like that nervous butterfly feeling you get when you’re on a rollercoaster thats about to go downhill, or when you get jump-scared. My hands start to sweat and i just want to remove myself from the situation asap, wishing i felt the way i did about 2 minutes ago when i was doing just fine and wasn’t overthinking for once. The OCD goes wild in my head, instant overanalysis, sending me down into a spiral, making me want to dig a hole and hide in there until i somehow manage to persuade myself im not a bad person before I can go about with my day with ease again.
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