Wait guys, kind of random but does anyone else’s OCD come with images too? Like I imagine a cop or whatever came to my door, gave me summons for court against a Karen, and I just forgot about it/lost track/wasn’t paying attention. I can’t seem to think of this happening at all, and I’m confident nothing happened but it’s driving me crazy knowing this might have happened and I just forgot about it. Like going outside now is weird bc I can’t tell if a cop came or not with summons for a Karen lawsuit and I forgot about it. This just fing sucks bc I was so close to feeling calm, not doing compulsions, recognizing ocd, accepting uncertainty of the fact that we can get sued, but then this thing came up. I don’t know what to do- it makes me want to check online to see if I’ve been sued, ask family members if they can look it up and all. Anyone can suggest me as to what to do?

The rumination is the compulsion and the way to break it is to do nothing with the thought. When it pops up, don’t engage with it. Look at something next to you or name 5 things you can see. Always redirecting the brain to see or do something else

Yes. When u start to notice your mind drifting in the direction of ruminating the thought..:redirect yourself to do what you need to focus on like ..oh I’m going to ruminate, imma finish reading my book. Or there goes that thought again I’m going to watch a show.

Your ocd is a tantruming child and giving It attention by engaging with it makes it stronger and scream louder

Mine was based of something real too then OCD likes to twist it around and make it lie on me. In a weird way it’s trying to protect me. It’s exhausting. All I can do is refocus and redirect my thoughts. Like bumpers on a bowling lane. The ball is the throught and it wants to go all over to the next lane (aka rumination ) so all I can do is but those bumpers up and redirect myself back to whatever game I need to focus on.

Yes they’re called intrusive images! I have them too

As in don’t give the thought credence, focus on the present moment, recognize that I’m ruminating and all and refocus on something important to me?

This is great thank you so much! Are you someone that has recovered from these legal fears and all that - mine is based on a real legal event (I won handedly thankfully) from like 2 years ago I just keep getting stuck on and being unable to move on. Even though like everyone is like “chill bro, live life, move the hell on”, but I’m like what if the Karen tries to find something stupid to get back at me again.

Initially I read your post to tell you that you are not alone, which you aren’t. Many OCD sufferers can have intrusive images as a part of intrusive thoughts. But now I only think it’s fair to let you know you have triggered me. I am named Karen. It has been hard to have my name turned into a derisive term for hateful, bigoted, racist, willfully ignorant women. It is also very distracting from the serious issues for which the women in questionable events of such negativity and hatred are called “Karen”. As in, hearing my own name despite the perpetrator of hate not being named Karen, naturally distracts me from the important issues at large. I don’t want to report this post because all the actual Karens I know are caring and understanding. However, I do think it’s right to stand up for ourselves. If letting you know how triggering it can be can help another Karen from losing sleep, then it’s worth it, even if I do sound like “I want to speak to the manager.” (And that last part is my coping mechanism to try to make light of the situation to counteract the sadness and distress.)