I’m so tired of being triggered. Feeling horrible today…

Thank you

I hate this theme so much and my heart goes out to anyone who has it. It’s not easy to go through at all and I don’t wish it on my worst enemy. Wishing you the best

@Just Breathe ❤️ Same! If you ever need to talk I am an open door though. It has caused me so much pain just having it for the few months that I have had it already. I worked with kids too and now cant even go back to my job because I am so scared. I wanted kids for so long but now idk anymore. Its literally hell. I hate my brain now.

@Breezy624 I totally understand trust me. If you ever need to talk I’m here to help. I just hate feeling so anxious and guilty all the time because of the sexual intrusive thoughts

@Just Breathe ❤️ I understand the guilt completely that is what fuels it for me. I have some past stuff that contributed to bringing this on and so unfortunately until I work through that and guilt idk if ill get over this. I dont even get as anxious over the thoughts themselves all the time more just depressed.

@Breezy624 But you understand right I’m not the only one who has intrusive thoughts like that? I feel so ashamed I absolutely hate the thoughts

@Just Breathe ❤️ Oh no pocd is a common theme as ocd attacks the things we care about the most. And once you have them its not like you can forget so to move on it really comes down to acceptance and not reacting with anxiety/fear. It is easier said than done. Like i tell my therapist if I never knew about ocd and themes i would never have these thoughts but now that i know about them ill always be thinking about it in the back of my mind. At least if i cant get over this with erp and get past my real guilt.

@Breezy624 Oh ok it just worries me what if my thoughts are different and what if it defines me ya know? I don’t want to ever be what I fear and I don’t want the thoughts to define me at all. I agree with what you said if I didn’t know about ocd I would never have these thoughts and everything would be totally different. The anxiety is so hard to deal with. Do you have any tips on how to deal with the anxiety when an intrusive thought comes up? I know I have to sit with the thought and accept it but it’s so hard to

@Just Breathe ❤️ Well i have a hard time still with accepting them otherwise i wouldnt be freaking out today lol. I have gotten over my other themes by sitting with them And not engaging with it or analzying the thought. I just say okay maybe i want to hurt myself or maybe i do and sometimes laugh at it. The point is not engaging and ruminating. Let the thought come and then move on with whatever without reacting with anxiety or fear. The more you sit with a thought thats distressing you should become desensitized in time and the less anxious you become the more likely the thought will lessen or at least not effect you. Thoughts dont define you though its your actions. Sometimes i need to be reminded of that on more than one occasion too. Its hard i know but it takes effort and time and doing things that are uncomfortable.

@Breezy624 Thank you so much for the help I truly appreciate it. Just knowing I’m not alone is so helpful. My thoughts just get so detailed and bad I don’t know how to deal with them but be anxious. I have a therapist and I’m supposed to do erp but it’s hard to. I totally understand and know you are not alone either and we can get through this!

@Just Breathe ❤️ I get it that was me all this week! When i first developed these intrusive thoughts a few months ago i didnt understand it and thought i was losing my mind or was a monster. It was so bad i called the crisis line to confess and said i was having suicidal thoughts. The more i learn and practice erp the easier it gets. Pocd is a tough one for me but i know if i beat the others i can beat this too. Heres a good article on rumination too: https://drmichaeljgreenberg.com/how-to-stop-ruminating/ . I frequently read this when i start over analyzing my thoughts. He also has a podcast on rumination which is helpful.

@Breezy624 Thank you so much for your help! Wishing you the best

@Just Breathe ❤️ Any time! I know it helped and still helps me having others to talk about these things with especially pocd since its so taboo. It took a lot of courage to bring it up to my therapists and my bf/some of my friends but none of them ever judged me and so its okay. You arent a monster and your thoughts arent you. I hope erp helps you and make sure you do your homework for it and really put the effort no matter how hard it is. The only way out is through but once you make it through there is a light out there. If you ever need to talk shoot me a message and best wishes as well!

@Breezy624 Yes I told a friend of mine it was terrifying but he didn’t judge me he’s like a brother to me and when I told my mom she didn’t react well and it was sort of traumatic. I will definitely try my best to get better. Thank you if I need to message I will!