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My teen says that chores "stress" him and exacerbate the OCD. I of course don't want this to happen but I also feel that his chores are minimal and he needs to be able to be responsible and to function.

Accepting the fact that everyone will die one day seems the only way i can deal with this but when i do erp and accept that we are all going to die i really lose hope.. if im gonna die why should i even do recovery work? why should i even be happy? could i be experiencing sign's of depression with my ocd?

I don’t know if what I have is OCD or just severe anxiety.. I’m really confused. Every time I do something that I feel bad about I will think about it for ages and it will ruin my day, and feel guilty. I keep getting emotional all the time and feel distressed , as if something is off but I can’t explain. Occasionally I have the urge to confess things and if I don’t they will be In my head making me not feel present. And I keep focusing on my partner and getting the urge to break up when I don’t actually want that (of course I have doubts like everyone does) but it’s more of a urgent upsetting feeling which hasnt left for 5 months, the only time it seems to go away temporarily is when I’m with him. and I’m soooo confused. My therapist told me I would have had OCD as a child so I can’t have it (I’m 20 years old but I don’t know what is going on with me). Starting to think I’m going insane as this has been going on for several months now!

I’ve not used Instagram for almost 1 year and don’t use Twitter or TikTok. I only use Snapchat to talk with friends, but seeing random peoples stories and stuff really overwhelms me. Since I only talk to 2-3 people I think it’s better to just use WhatsApp exclusively. The amount of social media apps is insanely overwhelming and it’s no wonder why my attention span is shockingly low, as we’re always looking for that next news article or viral clip or whatever. Has anyone else deleted social media to reduce anxiety?

Trigger warning!!! I'm in a total slump this morning... OCD has ruined friendships and relationships, sometimes, because my constant suffering and my limitations keeping me from being all fun and games, sometimes because of my themes. When I hear, that OCD is OCD and that the theme doesn't matter, I can only shake my head. I am sure, I would have not been cut out by some people, if I only had "suffered" from MT OCD, as it might come off as weird, but not as dangerous and perverted. I got told by a former partner, that he doesn't believe, that I suffer from OCD... he didn't need to say out loud, what he believed me to be... but for clarity purposes I type it out, he thought I am a paedophile. Knowing that someone you love think that of you is really painful. And always wondering, if others cut you out due to your theme, but lying about the reason, is hard to take, too. I had medical professionals ask me - But you don't do anything to children, right? - when I had been honest about my theme. I had various themes and all had the potential to bring me down to my knees, hurt me massively and limit my life, but POCD hits on levels no other theme could and it makes people suffering from it, or at least me, even more alien and lonely. There had never been a pre and post OCD with my first big theme (MT OCD), but for years, I categorized memories that popped up in my head in pre 2005 and post 2005, aka pre POCD starting and post POCD starting. I suffer from OCD for about 32 years and from POCD for 17 years, I just have enough! I just want this self-distruction to stop! Because that's what it is, my own mind attacking me severely and there is no running and no hiding. When I told my sister, that I had hit rock bottom, I got met with a snide comment, that she hit rock bottom, too, as she has three kids and two jobs. I stopped talking about it, as all I wanted to say was - You chose them, your kids had all been planned and you chose your jobs, too... I on the other hand did not choose to suffer from OCD, I had no choice... It started, when I was 6, or 7 it impacted everything ever since... And before this post gets flagged, or deleted, no, I'm not suicidal, just massively sad and angry.

Sorry this is really long and has bad grammar When I was 10 I was in a toxic friendship with these two girls and one day everything snapped like there was a ton of chaos and drama. I don’t remember it clearly but I’m pretty sure I caused it like I got jealous and stuff because they would leave me out and one day I overreacted and we stopped being friends. The one girl had problems with anxiety and stuff and I had no idea really what anxiety was so I just treated her normally I remember her getting stomachaches at recess and stuff and I didn’t know what to do. So back to the one day. So one of them asked me to hang out and I couldn’t my mom said no so I was bummed out and I had a softball game that day. The other girl was at the school fair so I didn’t expect them to hang out that day and they did but I didn’t care really. I was a little upset. So I asked the one who was at the fair if she was still at the other girls house through text and she said no. But then I found out she was still at her house so I texted the one girl asking why she lied and stuff and she made a group chat and stuff and I don’t remember a lot of this part but I remember them rubbing it in my face that they were together and I wasn’t there pretty much. So this got me really upset and I know I shouldn’t have but I told other people what was going on, I don’t know why but I did. And the girl with anxiety started saying how she wanted to kill herself so I started comforting her and stuff because I didn’t want her to kill herself she was my friend and yk. Before that part I remember she sent a photo of a self harm wound she said she inflicted on herself because of me. I didn’t know what to do really. I forget the rest but We made up a few days later but im pretty sure the girl with anxiety went to the Er. I don’t remember why but I think it may have had something to do with me and what happened and the fact that I caused someone else to harm themselves they could have gone to the er makes me sick. I feel like a terrible person and if my friends now knew this then they wouldn’t want to be my friend. I’m sorry this is long I just needed to get this out there. It’s been bothering me and I’ve been wondering if I’m deserving of any love after this.

Some days I just feel weird. Life feels weird. I think it happens when I over think what I’m doing too much. It feels like I’m on the brink of a panic attack but I don’t know why. It’s a very weird feeling.

I just heard someone talk about how to shift your mindset for better health. I think it’s Law of Attraction stuff. They said “you become your thoughts”. That triggered me because my thoughts are the very opposite of me. Has anyone else heard this saying before?

Do the urges ever go away I feel like any second I'm going to cave into these intrusive urges trying to convince me I have to do these things. Does anyone have any advice or can share from there experience. 🥺

Ive been really struggling with this real event i had and im really scared that im a horrible person because of it, it was something i did when i was like 13-14 and it was bad i wont deny it and i regret it more than anything in the world but im scared that i am a bad person with bad intentions because of it and i actually feel like i am and its so hard to get over, its on my mind 24/7

I feel terrible and guilty writing this. I find my boyfriend’s best friend really physically attractive, maybe more attractive than my boyfriend. It’s giving me a serious case of “the grass is greener elsewhere” feelings. I find my boyfriend more emotionally attractive though. There’s a lot of “icks” with the other guy but I can’t get past his good looks. My boyfriend and I have similar values and he’d be a great life partner. The other guy, I’m pretty sure, would be emotionally unavailable in a relationship as he’s not looking for anything serious which feels familiar to me as in the past I only fell in love with emotionally unavailable men. My boyfriend isn’t the most conventionally attractive guy, he’s average but sometimes I think he’s really attractive and he does turn me on. I’ve experienced ROCD thoughts since the beginning (am I in love, do I find him attractive enough?). Last weekend was amazing, we’d spent two weeks not seeing each other because we were both away and coming back together felt like the honeymoon phase again. I was so in love and told him I loved him whilst looking him in the eyes and I didn’t doubt my feelings at all. We talked about getting engaged and I was whole heartedly in it. His best friend has become another focus of my anxious thoughts but there’s some truth behind it which makes me more worried and more convinced I shouldn’t be in this relationship. It feels unfair on him but I want him to be my forever. Please don’t be harsh if you comment, it’s taken a lot to type this out and get it off my chest

Can someone please help me? My OCD is telling me that bc I acted on harmless intrusive thoughts in the past (nothing about actual harm, just weird stuff) I am more likely to act on the harm thoughts I have today and that I eventually will, just to get the thought out of my head, and it’s making me panic… I feel like I truly am the special one bc of this! This is hell!

You all have figured out looptapes are amazing by now, yes? If you have not hopped on the looptape wagon I highly suggest it. This was one of the key points to my recovery. Let me know if you have questions about how to make looptapes.

I went to church today and had an anxiety attack trying to act like I’m okay when I’m really not. During the service a lot of existential ocd kicked in and all I wanted was reassurance. What do I do? I thought going to church made me worse and my brain feels loaded with negative thoughts not just from church but from thinking erp will not work because I’ve tried it before.

A compulsion is supposed to relieve your anxiety/distress, right? Well I don’t feel better after ruminating. I’m just thinking in circles about something scary. Does this mean it isn’t a compulsion? Is it part of obsessing? Or maybe it is a compulsion and I don’t realize that in some ways it is making me feel better? Thoughts? I think this would change how yo respond to rumination, but I’m not sure. Thanks :)

Hey community, hope you’re all having a good weekend. I was curious if anyone has tips or strategies that are helpful to you to catch yourself when you’re in the rabbit hole of rumination? My main compulsions are mental. The good days have been great, but then my obsession sets in and I start down the rabbit hole of rumination because of the overwhelming fear that it might be true. It almost feels like I’m aware that I’m gaslighting myself, and then have the urge to disprove it because believing it would be horrific. How do you catch yourself when you’re doing mental compulsions and accept the uncertainty in moments of high anxiety? Thanks so much!

So I’m starting therapy this week but I’ve been trying to use ERP myself, my main compulsion is rumination which I wasn’t even aware was a compulsion. I’m trying to do ERP but when I focus on observing the thought it goes, I dunno if I’m focusing too much on actually how to follow ERP or is this normal? I feel like I might be subconsciously blocking thoughts because I know how bad it is when I go down the rabbit hole, but then I also worry that the anxiety goes too quickly and that I’m finding it too easy to ignore the thought?

The more I try to do exposures for my HOCD the more aroused I get and the less fear I feel. Then I walk away depressed and ruminating about what that means. Anyone dealt with this? Anyone have good ERP for this unwanted arousal? I need help.

Does anyone find (believe) their OCD is as bad as it is because of the situation they’re in? There is a lot of talk on here that OCD is a chemical imbalance and that exposure therapy works. I’ve had this over ten years and can say with absolute certainty that exposure therapy has NEVER worked for me. It makes it worse. This whole idea of “exposure therapy lets you reach a level of anxiety and realize you’ll be fine” is very toxic. I have done this. Had a massive panic attack. Collapsed. And ambulance had to be called. My living situation is horrible and makes my OCD spiral. And because of the way the world is right now moving isn’t an option. Which has made my depression spiral. I honestly don’t know what to do anymore. All I do every day, every moment, I’m not at work, is lay in bed and cry.

hi everyone..I recently self diagnosed w ROCD (doing a professional assessment this week). I’ve been reading a TON about it and using this app which is so helpful, and I’m starting to understand like, the importance of not trying to seek reassurance or whatever etc etc. the thing is, in a way, I feel like my partner simultaneously is a trigger for me (in that I am so fearful that when I see them, I might have acknowledge a “flaw” of theirs and then I spiral into guilt/anxiety/etc) but at the same time; I feel like they’re also..reassurance for me? like we’re taking space this week because of my ROCD (this is the first time we’ve experienced this from me, and it’s really hard for her) but I’ve been pretty much having intense waves of anxiety on my own too, like every day. Throughout the day, and when I wake up. I am doing my best to now just sit w the anxiety — it’s incredible physically painful and overwhelming, but I’m trying. But the thing is, I’m scared that if I feel this anxiety while next to my partner, I will act weird or overshare (a compulsion)?** But at the same time..I also feel like I miss her SO much and WANT to see her so badly, and it’s hard to tell if it’s because I simply want to see her / want to experience good moments w her (which we had so many of before ROCD onset) or if it’s bc I want to see her to like reassure myself that I DONT care about her “flaws”. But since I read we shouldn’t ever seek “reassurance”..does this mean I’m not allowed to want to be with her? Or want to see her? I genuinely love this girl so much and before ROCD onset I wanted to see her a lot anyway, but now I’m like, oh..is this bad? But then AVOIDING seeing her seems like “avoidance” which is bad too. So I’m not really sure. I just want to get back to before all this…I want to give myself permission to love her the way I do, without feeling like I’m doing something wrong in terms of “treating” my ocd. Any thoughts welcome, thank you so much for reading — ** (On a side note: for people who get waves of anxiety or spikes of ocd when they’re physically w their partner, how do you handle it? Do you just try to breathe through it but act “normal”? Or do you over share? Or take space?) Thank you all, so grateful for this community. <3