I used to share a room with my cousin and sometimes woke up with morning wood. Does that mean something ?

??? I love OCD it makes us all crazy about things that don't matter! I'm laughing with you because it's outrageous and I'm laughing at myself for the same reasons! Laugh with me at ocd

@deputydean Glad to hear you’re doing okay. I’ve been in a rut. Sometimes I’m right on top of not letting my thoughts control me and, yet other times I just feel so low. I’ve been disappointed today and my chest has also been tighter than it has in a while today. You know what it’s like. I have to hold onto God. He’s gotten me through some pretty miserable days and saved me just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse. That gives me great hope. I will get through this no matter how this feels right now and I’ve felt much worse than this. I know that you’re on this forum because of something that’s hurting you, but it’s really good to hear from you again?.

You're selling reassurance. Guys get approximately 4-5 erections each night by our nature.

You're right, some things don't matter @j289l, but OCD can cling on real events and things that did happen that may or may not mean anything as well.

Damn so it’s really all in our heads ?

@deputydean How have you been?

Hey, @Catlady! I'm doing ok. My stress levels have been manageable, but it's there. Doing my best. You?

@Catlady I've been in the same situation. I keep looking at what I want out of life and the thoughts will get the better of me and it feels like I'm so far away from what I want. I've had moments in which I was able to move on and not care, and others in which I can't stop the intrusive and nihilistic thoughts and end up in a rut. I've had moments that, through His Grace I was able to keep my cool, but I'll still feel the effects of this, like headaches, chest and heart pain. We're all here bc something is hurting us. I try to help others bc I know how painful this is.

@deputydean I completely understand feeling like you’re being pulled away from everything you want in life. But the times when I’ve felt like that have helped me relate to and sympathize with other people. That’s why I can tell people that there’s always hope. I’ve been at rock bottom before, wondering how things could ever look good for me again, but then my life changes into something even better than it was before I started suffering. It makes me wonder what amazing thing is going to come out of this nightmare I’m living in.

@Catlady, I admire your optimism and I wish I was more like you in that regard. I just feel spent. I've put so much energy into fighting this nightmare that I don't have much energy left for anything else. I know what I want out of life and I know what I definitely don't want. My OCD keeps creating these theories or tormenting me with disturbing thoughts and memories most of which I can't tell if they're real. I see others getting the life I want and it feels like I'll never break free and make myself my dream come true. I know that God will help, but I just feel... Spent. I used to have such a drive and wanted to go out there and date, and I actually did. But now, after and during this, I fear all that I used to think about and want. My mind goes on these tangents and I try to think positively, but it's so hard. I have definitely developed a certain sensitivity to people going through OCD and especially what I'm going through. However, I wish and pray I could get my life back on track.

BTW, is there another way we can reach each other, bc this app is a little weird?

@deputydean Thank you so much. I’m not positive all the time, but it’s encouraging to hear someone say that. I know you feel spent now, but you’re going to get through this. I’ve learned that when we have God, what is on the other side of our troubles is so much more beautiful than what we ever could’ve imagined while we were suffering. I know it’s easy to lose hope, but hang on. Have you ever heard Lauren Daigle’s song “Trust in You”? I like my privacy, so I’m not really on any other social media platforms. Do you know of any platforms or apps that are anonymous like this one?

Hi @Catlady. I've never heard of that song. I'll look it up. As for alternative apps with relative privacy, Reddit is the one I use. You basically just create an account and start browsing