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working to conquer OCD
I keep having palpitations and now I’m obsessed about having a heart attack…. I’ve been through 3 different EKG’s this year and everything looks perfect but I can’t stop obsessing about having palpitations and dying from it … the palpitations last about 2-3 seconds
Anybody struggle with thinking you have schizophrenia or are slowly developing it? Mine just kinda popped up out of the blue today. Idk why I have a sudden feeling that I might hear or see something that nobody else will hear or see. I just feel like I’m stuck in my own head and I might act out of impulse. It’s making me feel anxious, uncomfortable, and worried that something might be wrong with me. I even feel like covering my ears so I can calm myself down with some piece and quiet. Please tell me someone else knows what I’m talking about
Hi everyone, I've been dealing with POCD for a while now, and frankly I need help or advice or something because I'm getting nowhere, in fact it's only getting worse. I know that I'm supposed to not give the thoughts a response or attention, but I just can't do that, not with this theme. The thoughts feel so real it's like I'm there and doing those horrible things. The groinals make it so much worse and feel so much more real too, and I just feel like I can't possibly not go on the defensive in my mind when these thoughts happen, but it's too the point that the thoughts are constant now and I just can't keep doing this, but the alternative is just unthinkable to me. I feel like for me to ignore or not argue with those thoughts makes it feel like I agree with them or like them, and it's already terrible to deal with the thoughts when they feel like I enjoy them, even though I know I don't, so I'm terrified of being in a situation where it feels like I'm not disagreeing with the thoughts and actively fighting them. How am I supposed to deal with both of those horrible things at the same time and not feel like the scum of the earth. I already have spent so much time dealing with the guilt of having had these horrible thoughts, and at this point to just ignore them after having had so many of them that feel so real makes me feel like not arguing with them would just be the same as being a pedophile. If the thoughts feel so real, then for me to not fight them feels like it's morally the same as being a pedophile itself, as if I'm just a sicko thinking about all of these horrible things for pleasure, even though I hate them with every fiber of my being. Even that is something OCD tries to argue with me, that I somehow do like the thoughts even though I hate them. I know this has become a wall of text at this point,. but I just don't know what to do, I can't even get myself to do exposures because it feels like they just add fuel to my intrusive thoughts or convince me they're true even though I know they can't be and refuse to believe that. I just don't know what to do anymore, it's to the point that I hate being awake, like I live for the times when I'm not living.
Hi. Does anyone have any helpful tips for when your OCD urges you to ruminate and analyse an intrusive thought. I try to ignore the thoughts, but it feels disstresing and no matter what i distract myself with it’s always in the back of my mind bothering me?
I'm worked on my most difficult exposure today in therapy. I want to run, I want to hide, I'm at such an elevated stress that I want to disappear. It's all existential. I'm trying to make sense of this and I am so lost.
Have you ever experienced a relapse on ocd? I think im having one right now (i had my worst period a year and a half ago, i had to start Zoloft and therapy. Now it’s happening again but im feeling stronger than before and with more ways to cope. Someone that lived the same thing?
My brain can’t stop trying to figure out my sexuality and it’s horrible. I can find both men and women attractive so thought I might be bi, but then I don’t often want sex with my boyfriend so I’m worried I could be a lesbian. I can identify with bi or asexual quite happily but thinking about being a lesbian fills me with so much dread and anxiety. On Saturday I had the best day with my boyfriend. I felt so in love for most of the day which was a triumph considering I’ve had ROCD for the whole of the relationship. There was a time I looked at him and I honestly could’ve cried because I loved him that much. Surely I wouldn’t feel like that if I was a lesbian? I’ve always had crushes on boys growing up, but they were always romantic ones. When I thought of love growing up it was always romantic, I always felt a little alienated because I wasn’t interested in sex and sexual acts. Now, I enjoy sexual things with my boyfriend but he has to work to get me in the mood. I’m worried this means I’m not sexually attracted to him and what this means. But the love I feel sometimes is so intense and fills me with happiness. My mind can’t rest until I’ve figured it out
Hello- I have been battling many types of OCD on and off for 25+ years. Medication works but wanted to go off for 1st trimester of pregnancy. I am doing a good job deploying ERP tactics for pure o and real event ocd and it has removed physically anxiety symptoms and I can concentrate in life. However I do have a big sense of fear and all day gloomy feeling knowing that the thoughts that are disturbing are sitting out there and fear I will come up with new ones. Will this get better the longer I keep deploying the ERP tactics? I never have this when I am on medication. Thanks in advance.
does anyone else feel like their compulsion is also their intrusive thought? like my brain says "if you do *intrusive thought*, you wont deal with said intrusive thought again." i really need help because it deals with harm ocd and i really dont want to do anything bad. im so scared. i know it's lying, but it doesnt feel like it and i just feel so stressed and anxious.
I have a bit of a pill problem. I don’t take things without my mom knowing. As in I know where her medication is but I don’t touch it at all. She offers. I should’ve said no. But last night I took a Flexeril, which is a muscle relaxer, and a full dose of Tylenol p.m. I wanted to be unconscious I wanted no thoughts. But that’s just so stupid because both of those medications can cause dreams and shit. Flexeril can cause abnormal thinking and dreaming by itself. I was having the strangest dreams and the strongest feelings but in a weird way it was like supporting the fact that I don’t like women but now I’m scared that I feel weird saying that like it’s not when it’s true and I don’t understand why I feel like that. I definitely don’t like women I kept thinking about like boobs and stuff and I didn’t like it but there is just these weird strong feelings because of the oils. And I feel very terrified. So I’m lying here and I make faces as though I don’t it’s just the innuendo like the way my dreams technically supported the fact that I don’t like women physically or in any other way like that. And I keep trying to imagine pect rolls and I make a face like I don’t want I’m more than like them. And I looked down at my own body and I’m out of shape but I can still see where I once had a very nice body and I’m scared I couldn’t tell if something happened down there looking at my own private and I’m frightened that I make faces as though I don’t want I like the opposite of my private you know like dick. And now I feel really out of it and terrified and I could really use someone to talk to Like I woke up totally dry so to speak down there like the driest I’ve been in days. I don’t know how ovulating works but every time I get my period about anywhere from 9 to 11 days later I’ll be extra active down there for like five days it’s weird. And of course struggling with OCD my body is just doing its normal routine probably but my brain is like why is this happening kind of thing you know. People here know. Please help me because I keep making faces like I don’t I like dick that dream was so strange despite never having had it I like dick I don’t like the way I acted impressed with my own body like I do and I don’t like vagina and I feel very confused. And I’m scared I can’t imagine pectorals like I’m making faces as though I don’t wanna voice like them and I want them to come back and I don’t want to lose it for my guy despite him not knowing who I am and I’m frightened I am I don’t wanna be over a guy bodies I don’t like girls it’s just the dream is so creepy with the way it’s just totally innuendo like the strong feelings I was getting technically supporting my stance of not being gay or like I’m not I don’t like women at all and now I can’t breathe like I’m choking as though it’s a lie when it’s not but the really weird feelings the pills were giving me a scary I’m scared of the way I shrugged like I have and that is I don’t want that to be okay I don’t even want to stop caring about my guy and I’m more than care about him and then I said that without I don’t want him to have boobs I’m scared that’s what the weird innuendo dream actually meant and I keep making faces like I don’t I’m scared I do I don’t like fat deposits that’s all boobs are I don’t like the way they hang. I’m scared I don’t like the building fat sides I am so sorry I don’t goddamn like boobs I swear I need pectorals back I want my guy back and I feel really weird and dumb and it’s all my own fault
Today I start my first session of ERP with an NOCD therapist! Iam very excited but a little scared! Could you share your good outcomes after ERP? Thank you 🙏
Exactly what the title says. Avoid them. Most of the time they give you false information and feed you false ideologies. People spout bullsh*t for people that will follow and believe that bullsh*t. And you know what makes many people vulnerable to also believing and following that same bullsh*t? The false belief that if a crowd believes something is true, then it must be. That is ultimately NOT true. In fact, the whole planet could believe into something wrong with only one person believing the opposite and being right.It's also scientifically proven than they worsen mental health. There is literally zero benefit in them, you're just addicted. If you want information, read books and find the information your self. Don't settle with second hand, passed from mouth to mouth by people that starve for attention, information but settle with the type that you've found yourself. Learn how to trust yourself little by little, develop your critical thinking skills. While this won't necessarily help much with ocd since it doesn't listen to logic, it will help you to grow as a person. Good luck.
My fear of germs got so severe that I am freaking out when I have to go somewhere inside. I'd rather stay the whole weekend at home than go to the museum or shopping center and it makes me feel frustrated. And when I finally decide to go because I have to face my fears the anxiety is almost unbearable afterwards. But I know if I won't face my fear it will get worse. Is here anyone else struggling with this? If so, please is there something that helped you with anxiety after exposing yourself?
If its possible that i found out im gay through hocd then realizing im trans through im trans too through "tocd" is not far fetched is it. Im so tired, its everyday im on the edge, gettimg triggered by guys and by girls. It seems like i didnt have full unferstanding of myself and the world before ocd and after ocd Ive been shown the reality and found out my real self. Ive said this here so many times but its all i can think about
My son suffered a brain injury after HS football and his attempt to self medicate in 2016. We are winning now, however he is still not talking. Mitchell is now showing severe OCD. All our therapist now see the intense intrusive thoughts. We feel this is why he's not able to get full sentences or thoughts out. As a mom, I am looking for others to help me understand how best to help my son. And myself understand.. Thank you for this group.
What do y’all do when everything you think and feel is dread towards seeing your spouse? Like you have to fake through it - like they’re the one that wants it and you’re the one struggling. I don’t want to feel this way. How do you choose through it? And have you gotten on the other side of that specific thoughts and emotion?
Me and my brother both have OCD. Here’s how I’ve helped both him and I navigate through our lives with it. This isn’t reassurance but rather an attempt to rationalize what we go through - (Contamination) Though you should always be careful, it’s still rare for, say, an animal to carry rabies. There’s no need to avoid every squirrel, just don’t approach it. If it were that likely to carry rabies and chase you just to bite you then it would be a much bigger problem and it would be a genuine disturbance like COVID, for example. Worse than that, actually. But if no one else is preoccupied or being infected en masse then… - (Being harmed) Shocking news is shocking for a reason. (Someone getting seriously injured under seemingly normal or minor circumstances) This is because it is very, very rare. There’s a reason you only see it happen in the news and seldom in real life. It could be a horrible freak accident, but once again, if it were as common as you may think it is then it would cause another pandemic. It’s safe to say that as long as you keep as safe as the average person you know then it’s never going to be a problem. Wear sunscreen. Read medicine labels before taking anything. Don’t wear your contacts to bed or in the shower. You’re sturdier than you think. - (Seeking reassurance from people) STOP. Just live with the temporary distress for 30 seconds. Let the anxiety pass by. It is uncomfortable but important. - (Not wanting to move) Count to 10 and move a little more as you count up. - Try verbalizing your thoughts they do sound ridiculous lol. Oh, so I can’t enjoy doing something because I’m a bad person and have thoughts I can’t control? Bull. Live your life as authentically as you emotionally are able to at the moment. Even through my worst of days I at least try to do little things that make me happy. - (Intrusive thoughts) Intrusive thoughts are a coping mechanism developed by the brain because we never, ever want to do it in real life. It is a debilitating, isolating experience. It leaves people upset and confused. But it is manageable. When you know your psyche well enough, you will know that you are entirely incapable of doing what you’re thinking about. That is the first step to getting better. You are not alone and, regardless of your thoughts, you aren’t the only one having them. - (What if something horrible happens?) Then you’ll learn to face it. You can’t be preoccupied about it right now. Sometimes the things that feel the safest are unhelpful and unnecessary. Easier said than done but it’s almost always beneficial to break through our comfort zones. - (I can’t focus with all these people crowding me) (yes this is a thing) Google the spotlight effect again. People don’t care about you as much as it feels like. They’re preoccupied with themselves or paying attention to something else. It’s ok not to be perfect and to slip back into obsessions. Though it shouldn’t be a goal there is nothing wrong with relapsing or feeling bad and it doesn’t mean that it will be permanently the case. We are stronger than we like to think we are. I thought I’d be dead by middle school from cancer that I never had and here I am in high school, healthy as the average person my age.
Has anyone ever thought about the list of mental and emotional disorders they have and occasionally been upset by it?
I’m really struggling rn and I have nobody to talk to. I don’t know what to do
If you are in crisis, please use these emergency resources to find immediate help.
OCD doesn't have to
rule your life
