- Date posted
- 3y ago
- Date posted
- 3y ago
You’re giving them too much power, that’s why they keep returning. Rationalizing is doing a compulsion, it’s like scratching a mosquito bite. The itch goes away temporarily but it’ll start to itch again. You need to take the power away from it by sitting with it the itch. Train your brain by showing it you don’t need to scratch the itch. Allow yourself to feel uncomfortable. Expose yourself to the thing you’re fearing and then it stops coming back
- Date posted
- 3y ago
On a scientific standpoint, I heard that logic won't work because the OCD comes from the flight or fight response part and logic/rational thought doesn't communicate to that part of the brain (I'm explaining this terribly) so that's why like on TV some people see something and freeze when they should be running from it cos they'll be safe that way, and you're screaming at the TV "get out of there" but they just stand there and do nothing, it's cos the fight and flight part has taken over and the logical part can't communicate with that part of the brain. Same with ocd. You can see/feel the thoughts or urges, but the rational part of you can only judge or try to out think it, but it won't work.
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Yes I read that there’s a specific part of the brain that is activated when we have an intrusive thought, and it triggers our fight or flight response. And our brain tries to solve the fear to ease our anxiety but in reality we shouldn’t give it any energy at all, because giving it energy makes the brain think it’s something we SHOULD be afraid of
- Date posted
- 3y ago
I'm with you on this! My OCD tells me the same thing: If you just reflect enough on this, then you'll find an answer or figure it out. It's an OCD trap. OCD wants you to get stuck in a cycle of rationalization & rumination because then it wins. I so understand what you mean about having difficulty not getting angry or judging thoughts when they reappear. I think practicing some self-compassion can be helpful. It can be something as simple as saying to yourself, "It's frustrating that this thought is reappearing when I thought I already had it figured out. But as someone with OCD, this is how my brain works. It's not my fault the thought is back." Of course, the trick here is to resist engaging with the thought, because then you'll be running off into another cycle of rationalization. This could mean refocusing your behavior to another activity that isn't intended to decrease your anxiety. We unfortunately have to be willing to tolerate some level of anxiety, doubt, & uncertainty when refocusing. So much easier said than done, but just know you're not alone in what you're experiencing.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y ago
I was given ERP homework in which I looked up “late in life lesbian” story lines to help with my HOCD. I got triggered sooo bad and then got worried I’ll get confused because many stories felt similar to mine, married with kids then the question happened. Does anyone else ever feel like OCD keeps dragging you back in, like the more I learn about sexual fluidity and accept it I still feel the need to “check” that’s It’s not happening to me
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Yup actually when I finally got over my HOCD and accepted it for what it was, my OCD changed themes to POCD and I have two kids. I swear it’s like OCD doesn’t get what it wants so it keeps coming back in different ways to keep you depressed and anxious
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y ago
@Anon1294 Any advice on how to handle HOCD? No reassurance! Just advice on how to handle ERP
- Date posted
- 3y ago
@Anonymous Yes! Okay so the most helpful thing I’ve found is accepting the uncertainty. I am pretty sure I’m straight because I have only been with men, enjoy sex with men, and I have had manyyy crushes on men. But my ocd is like “are you sure?” And my answer is “no ocd, I’m not sure🤷🏻♀️” and I accept the uncertainty. I sometimes just tell myself I’m bi and laugh it off. I allow OCD to win and I don’t allow the thoughts to give me anxiety. I’ve trained my brain to be like “yup oh well I’m gay” even though I’m not, and I don’t live that way at all. And the intrusive thoughts actually lessened and lessened after I started practicing that. It’s about accepting yourself no matter what and then OCD doesn’t have a hold on you anymore, and then the fog lifts and you are able to live life
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y ago
@Anon1294 Thank you! I’ve been in this loop for soooo long and I’ve been resisting but today’s ERP about late life lesbians really triggered me but I guess it’s part of the process. I appreciate your advice and I’m gonna keep going! Fog is getting thinner
Related posts
- Date posted
- 18w ago
When an intrusive thought comes I can’t just say “that’s not true” and just move on. I always feel like I have to disprove the thought and be able to say it with confidence but the problem is that the ocd doesn’t allow me to feel and say it with confidence so I get stuck for hours or even days. How can I stop feeling like I need to do this?
- Date posted
- 14w ago
I struggle so bad with intrusive thoughts. They can be so bad that I'll cry because I KNOW that's not how I feel or want to do. (Too embarrassed to say what they're about) I'll constantly try to figure out why I have them, and constantly figure out what they mean, causing me to constantly circle around and around. I had to get on anxeity meds, which helped a little but the thoughts still happen. How do you help yourself with this? How do you know that you're just not some physcopath? 😅
- Date posted
- 11w ago
OK, this might sound really dumb, but when you guys get intrusive thoughts, do they just come once and then go away? I’ve heard that repeatedly thinking about an intrusive thought is considered ‘checking,’ but it doesn’t feel like I have any control over how many times it comes up in my head. It’s not like I’m trying to check anything—it just keeps showing up, almost like it’s terrorizing me every time. I can’t seem to stop it from looping, stop remembering it, or prevent it from coming up. Every time it does, I feel horrified, and I already know it’s going to horrify me. I don’t think I’m actively trying to see if my feelings have changed, so is this still considered checking? How do other people get an intrusive thought and just move on? Doesn’t it pop up a million times for them too? I always thought that was normal, but now I’m hearing this could be a compulsion, and I feel really confused, scared, and lost. Is this why my OCD feels so extreme? Because I really don’t feel like I can control how many times the thought pops up.
- Older adults with OCD
- Mid-life adults with OCD
- OCD newbies
- Relationship OCD
- Young adults with OCD
- Harm OCD
- "Pure" OCD
- POCD
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond