- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
Simple answer is yes, I believe anxiety that is screaming for attention is just part of the process. You can do it!
- Date posted
- 3y
It is so hard!!!! . I wanna cry.
- Date posted
- 3y
I know, I'm also going through a rough patch but it's good that you're fighting it!
- Date posted
- 3y
I'm sorry your struggling. This is very difficult to deal with.
- Date posted
- 3y
Thanks, yeah it really is
- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 3y
Is it anxiety or is it ocd? You asked are you doing it right. "Right" sounds like ocd, it keeps screaming at you sounds like ocd. So my opinion would be to acknowledge it, then observe does it need something from me... like am I tried, hungry or thirsty, etc.. if it's something like that give it what it needs... go eat, rest, etc... if not and you are also feeling the need to do a compulsion. Then call it what it is, this is OCD and it's saying "blank blank blank" then return to what you are doing... let the anxiety rise and fall. Don't keep going back to it but if you catch yourself wrapped back up in it then just return to your work.
- Date posted
- 3y
A couple of things. First. It sounds like you are asking for reassurance. That is a compulsion. OCD is going to fight back and play dirty. Its not unusual when you first start doing ERP for the intrusive thoughts to increase. When an intrusive though comes acknowledge its there then ignore it. Dont try to argue or reason with it. Dont try to prove the thought isn't true. Believe me, I know it isn't easy. But it can be done. Think of OCD like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum. The more you react, the longer it will continue to cry. If a toddler sees their tantrum is going to get them what they want, eventually they will stop. The same is true for OCD. I saw another post where someone used that analogy and its a good one.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 21w
I don't know what to do anymore, the fear of psychosis and schizophrenia is so bad in so hyper aware of everything I hear and everything I see, I've always had eye floaters now I convince myself that it's really me hallucinating, I've always had tinnitus but now I'm convinced it means I'm going to go crazy soon, I can't sit in quiet because all I'm focusing on is what I'm hearing, and searching for any sounds I can't distinguish, when there's background noise I get so anxious if I think I heard something but im not sure I did or I'm just anxious, I'm terrified I'll start having delusions and sometimes my brain confuses some sounds for other sounds for example say I'm hyper focused and I breathe and my nose makes a whistling sound my mind interprets it as a scream and I freak out thinking I'm hallucinating only to focus closer and realize it's my own breathing, earlier I was so anxious that I couldnt tell if I had an intrusive thought or heard something, I don't know how to make it stop, I've been through this theme before I just forgot how hard it was I'm having a panic attack please help
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 16w
Here is what I say to people: I wish I could make it stop. I really do. I also wish I could stop tinnitus. What is tinnitus, you may ask? Well, have you ever gone to a loud concert and after it had a ringing in your ears. Or, in movies when a loud explosion hears, first it is often muffled, and then there is a very loud ringing sound. Well, I have hear that sound for over 30 years. Turns out the medications I took as a kid for allergies and all the antibiotics I was on for Strep had a side effect for some people - tinnitus - that sound that I have heard every decade, year, month, day, hour, and second, for the past 30 years. I have learned to live with it. As I type this, it is REALLY loud, because I am paying attention to it. But, in a few minutes it will fade into the background, and, while I will hear it, I will not pay much attention to it, and therefore I will go on with my night. I will listen to music, practice my story for the MOTH radio hour, and work out. I will clean up the kitchen and load the dishwasher, and I will eventually get ready for bed. I will go to bed hearing that sound, and fall asleep for a few hours until tomorrow morning when I start the day all over again. I cannot make the sound stop. There is nothing to do for it - no surgery or medication. Just learning to live with it, and that is what I have done. It is the thing that I hate the most in my life, and, if granted three wishes, it would be the first thing to change. For now, as I have for 30 years, I will live with it, and I will ask you to live with your noises in your head - the thoughts, the images, and the urges, and we will practice together accepting that things are not always as we want them, but we can handle that. We got this.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 13w
I find while doing exposures, rarely does my anxiety lessen. It usually amps up and stays that way for the remainder of the day. I could be having a fairly decent day, but dutifully do my exposures and then the rest of my day is anxiety filled. I guess that’s just how it is now? Also, I’m wondering if my therapist even believes I have OCD. I totally understand my therapist cannot provide reassurance. But it’s to the point it seems my therapist acts like I actually did the thing I fear. I feel so isolated.
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