- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 3y
Yeah dont go back to wherever your thoughts were
Hello! This is a theme I’ve struggled with for the past 6 years. I’ve spent hours upon hours going back and forth to the places where I thought I hit someone. I would tell myself to go back one time and look, but then I was afraid I hit someone again while checking the original spot. It was an endless cycle. It came to the point where I would record myself driving. I had to limit myself on where I would need to go for errands or appointments because I was so afraid of driving. Now, I am in a place where I feel good about driving! The anxiety and thoughts are still there, but I am no way near where I was prior to treatment and threapy. I highly recommended ERP! You will see a difference right away! You just have to keep driving and tell yourself that you won’t go back and check. The more you drive and the more you’re exposed to your fears, your mind will start to have more control. I know that hit and run ocd is so debilitating and stressful. But if I can get to the point of driving without feeling so stressed out, you can too! You got this and I wish you nothing but luck!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for this. I have done ERP and it has helped me a lot in other areas I struggle with OCD. I haven’t been to therapy in about 3 months because I generally was feeling better and doing good but now the anxiety is coming back strong. I can deal with the thoughts, it’s the anxiety that is the challenging part. I really love driving, it just sucks dealing with this. But again thank you for your support
Hi there! I’m so sorry you’re going through this—no fun at all! Have you tried sitting with the discomfort? Doing that will allow your body calm down which will help in the long run. Also, just sit with the uncertainty-you may or may not hit somebody. I know it’s uncomfortable, but it will help! You’ve got this!
Not specifically this ocd theme however the work is the same for all. Regardless of the urge to analyze, dwell, or ruminate, focus your attention literally right now on whatever it is you actually WANT TO be doing. This could be going for a walk, playing music, hanging with family, etc. moment by moment just choose to notice the discomfort, and not give any attention. Is this easy, no way.. but its the foundation to prove to yourself you can do it! I believe in you
Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with intrusive thoughts&images. At first i had intrusive thoughts around my partner, now it’s centred around me & I can’t be around window ledges or medication due to a story I read online(it’s too triggering for me) . Sometimes I feel like I can’t leave my bed due to the thoughts being so overwhelming I just break down and want to sleep. I aren’t taking any medication or therapy yet. I worry that if I don’t give my thoughts a reaction that my thoughts are true and not OCD. I’ve had these thoughts 24/7 for 2 months.
I started dealing with OCD when I became fixated on health issues, particularly the fear of contracting a life-threatening disease. If I experienced any kind of medical symptom, no matter how small, that even remotely hinted at something potentially fatal, it would drive me crazy, and I couldn’t stop obsessing over it. Then one day, I started having intrusive thoughts about accidentally hitting someone with my car, and I would end up driving in circles to check if I had. Eventually, I found myself overwhelmed by a flood of new obsessive thoughts and compulsions. One day, while I was at the park, a squirrel came near me, and for some reason, I felt like it attacked me. I Googled it and learned that squirrels could carry rabies, which spiraled me into a deep fear of rabies. I became consumed with the thought I received a bite from a squirrel, raccoon, or bat any time I’m in areas that trigger me. It started off only being inside then transferred to even being in my own home. This made me obsess over every physical sensation in my body, compulsively checking to make sure nothing was wrong. One compulsion that I hated the most would to be putting rubbing alcohol on me to make sure that I had no open wounds. Every day feels like I’m walking around in a fog of anxiety, constantly worrying that I won’t even make it to old age. Sometimes, it gets so overwhelming that I just want it all to end. It stresses me so bad at times to where my brain feels like I’ve been studying all day.
I have pure ocd i think , i always gotta make sure i do certain things like tap things , light switches on n off , shut things few times and re open them till it feels right . Walk in a room go back out and back in out in in till my mind is right Its exhausting
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