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So someone on here told me that a way to stop getting anxiety and know that you wouldn’t do those bad things is to sit with the thing that’s making you uncomfortable for me I have intrusive thoughts about smothering someone/my cat with a pillow so they said to try nudging your cat with a pillow or putting the pillow on the cat and being near etc.. so today the thoughts were bothering me a lot and making me feel like I was actually bad so I went and got the pillow and nudged my cat and then I put the pillow on my cats head/face while my hand was still on the pillow and then I had a thought ‘yeah I wouldn’t want to do that’ but then I started doubting again thinking if I tried to do that again it might be different and then I started crying and get anxious as soon as I held the pillow on my cat so the crying and anxiousness kind of gave me relief for a bit since I thought ‘okay I do hate it’ but later on in the day I started getting anxiety and feeling like I could have a break down because I suddenly thought ‘that’s technically the closest it’s been to the intrusive thought being reality since I held the pillow on my cat and then I started getting anxious and as soon as I walked into my house I saw my cat sleeping with a pillow behind him and I got instant anxiety and now I’m worrying ‘although I held the pillow to help myself cope and know I’m not bad, say now in the future when I doubt myself I will try to prove I’m not bad again by putting the pillow on my cat but I actually end up being evil?’ Now I’m worried that I will try to test myself physically it’s bad enough testing myself mentally by imagining things to see if I’m bad but I don’t want to ever do that pillow thing again, although it’s part of therapy I just hate it and don’t want to but now I’m worried that when you do something once it becomes easier or a habit to test yourself physically again. I kind of had it in my head that although it felt real as long as I stay away from pillows or haven’t actually put the pillow near my cat it’s fine but now I’m worried because I put the pillow on my cat, I don’t want any part of this please someone give me advice I have been having anxiety and feeling uneasy, even though nothing happened it feels like I’m a criminal and it feels like from the stress of worrying about the thoughts and constantly paying the thought out in my head and now having actually put the pillow near my cat it feels like something bad has happened even though it hasn’t and I feel uneasy. Also even when my mind gets reassurance it doesn’t register, like it wants more and more to doubly sure it’s not true like when I first engage in a mental rumination of imaging the thought to test myself sometimes I will instantly feel ‘yeah of course I wouldn’t want to do that’ but my brain isn’t satisfied and will sit there and reimagine until it feels like ‘maybe I would and I start doubting myself’ I don’t get it at all

I was just binge watching random YouTube videos and I’ve come across a video essay about how loli art in the media is never ok, which I totally agree with since I am truly disgusted by it and has been negatively affected by it as well due to it becoming a “normal thing” within the anime community. Therefore, being exposed to that gross stuff, it caused me a lot of regret of things that I did as a child, and I still regret to this day. Makes me think I’m a p*do and I really bad person even tho I was never attracted to those types of things, I just hate how it can be encountered within the anime community which can cause a lot of psychological damage to children and teens who watch anime, as it happened to me. Even tho the video is very triggering, since it causes my real event, fake memory, and POCD to flare up, I’ll still watch it because I know I will never watch or like that type of disgusting media ever. Anyone in the anime community also agree that this type of media is harmful due to how it can be easily exposed kids and teens? And we’re you also negatively affected by it?

Don’t y’all ever do everything that’s in your hands? Exercise, got to therapy, eat healthy, go for a walk, etc etc and your obsessions just don’t go away, they just scream louder 💔

So, I cheated on my wife last year, bad, I know. We were going through divorce at the time and we had a rough last year. For years before I felt unhappy because she wasn't giving me what I need, I'd tell her what I need and how to give it to mee and she says her way should be enough. I felt more like a room mate than a husband. We've been married for 10 years and she hasn't had a job until 2021 when I got out of active duty army. I tried for years to help her get a job and she just didn't want one. She would sit at home, playing on her phone or games or watching TV while dishes and recycling piled up. We had our first son in 2020 and it made her even less desiring a job. We had my chores and her chores and she says that we should just share the chores, which I agreed too until she never helped me with what were my chores. We recently had our second son and she's upset that she has to temporarily go back to work while hes almost a month old, which I can understand. While we were going through divorce she tried to commit suicide, went to a hospital, learned all this stuff and even realized how I felt before the divorce stuff. She learned of my cheating we fought and reconciled but she has returned to the way she was before divorce and cheating. She thinks she's the only victim and doesn't see that I'm unhappy with how things have been going. She changed from how she was while we dated. I married that woman, not this woman. She says she changed into what she thought I wanted but never asked or listened to what I wanted and need. I'm also highly into BDSM and I'm a Dominant and she was my sub while we dated. It's how we met. Well, since marriage I've had to try and surpress the BDSM side of me even though before we got married, I told her numerous times that I can't be vanilla. Well it's come out in fights that she doesn't understand that it's a part of me and that I can't be me. I have to hide and surpress myself. I have been diagnosed with anxiety driven depression. She has some of my ocd traits. We'd start watching a movie, or show, and during she'd want to leave and go somewhere and get mad that I wanted to finish what we started watching, even if we've seen it numerous times. She hates that I need to have things mirrored and that I get upset with my projects if they aren't like perfect, especially when I know I can do better. I tell her I need her to initiate things like hugs or cuddling and sex instead of me always having to do it, she doesn't understand no matter how many times I explain it to her. I feel like I have to do everything while she sits and does nothing. I mean now she has a new born we have to deal with and a toddler. But if I don't do something, it almost never gets done, even before we had kids. I don't make much at my civilian job, I've tried getting a job that pays more and get denied. We are behind on phone, internet and power bills because I don't make enough to pay rent, gas for my vehicle and all the other bills. She just wants to sit and do nothing and gets mad that I want her to have a job to help out.

so this isn’t ocd related but i wanted to get an unbiased perspective on this: i’ve always been a homebody. for as long as i can remember, i’ve preferred my own company to other people. i still have close friends but they all know i can go days without talking to anyone. i don’t even really like parties. i never have and my family has always hated this. the ocd has made this worse but i want to say that my introversion hasn’t changed too much. after a certain amount of time (and in larger crowds) i tend to shut down after a few hours and stop talking. i recognize that this can be seen as rude, but i don’t really know what to do to change it? i really honestly do go mute if i’m exhausted enough and my family has always had an issue with this. even more so now with my diagnosis. i just got into a fight with my sister over this. my therapist has also told me many times that the way to fight ocd is to do what makes you happy and be around people, but being around people doesn’t make me happy. it’s kind of the opposite actually😭 so, any advice? i know my introversion is awkward for my family and that i can do more to compensate for it, but at the same time, i kind of wish that people will take the hint and leave me alone.

Any tips on how to let things go? It’s the weekend and I’m perseverating on work conflicts. Combo or perseverating and guilt ocd. No physical compulsions on this just mental anguish.

I'm not sure if this ocd or not. But basically someone that my dad knows and visited as they moved into a care home (he doesn't know them too well, but they were always kind to him so he visits them) gave him an envelope to give to me with some money and a lovely note saying it was towards my savings for moving out. I was so incredibly grateful and touched by their generosity. I have never met them and don't really know them. I struggle with talking to new people especially over the phone, and even more so about what can be sensitive topics like money. So I wrote them a card to say thank you and how much it means to me. I feel bad for not phoning them as my dad has their number but I really do struggle because it becomes a "what if I sound stupid/offend them/they think I'm weird or rude" and my mind just goes blank. I also didn't want to get into a long conversation as it prolongs my anxiety even more. Also sometimes I think in today's world receiving a handwritten note is more thoughtful than a quick call. I just struggle really badly with phone calls and new people if it's not face to face (it also sets off my ocd). Then I ruminate on it for days. And right now I can't stop obsessing over that I'm wrong to not phone them and write them a card. I'd be more comfortable visiting than phoning cos I can see their reactions and "read the room". Is the card enough to show my appreciation? Will they be offended that I haven't phoned? I'm not good in these social situations. I really can't phone strangers cos I start shaking, sweating and panic. It's not all the time and depends on the stranger, but it's enough that I don't do phone calls. I also thought if I write to them then it's a great way to be able to send them Christmas cards and other notes (a bit like a penpal) as they live a little way aways. I'm also worried that posting this will make me come across as really ungrateful or rude, but I swear that is not my intention and I appreciate it so much and it means a lot to me. Again, idk if this is ocd or not, I just can't stop worrying about my response and how it will come across to them, and just needed a safe space to get my feelings out. I am so incredibly grateful by their kindness. It's a little bit of sunshine during a rainy day to be reminded that the world can be just as kind and caring as it can be cruel and judgemental.

how has this been for anyone else? I've completely handled this with self-reassurance and figuring it out but I have full understanding of why it's there. It's just that I still completely fear it with the movie I get when it pops up and how real that feels. I'm also curious how it started for anyone. Is it just linked to feeling like your going crazy? I'd love to hear your guys experiences! Thank you 🫶🏻

I can't stop ruminating. It's been hard. Anyone have advice? I would appreciate it.

I am a Christian but I have been worried that I do not believe in Jesus as the Christ so I try to ask Him to save me but I feel like my prayers are being directed to the devil and I don't know how to handle this. I worry God won't hear me if I feel that way.

How is everyone doing?

I'm a pretty messy roommate so I already pissed her off because of that... but she then said that I was whispering things under my breath that I don't remember saying.. I felt really guilty about it (even though I didn’t whisper anything) and I ended up asking her what I said and she was telling me to not play dumb and that I was cursing at her… when I was blaming myself this entire time for the messes that were occurring and never once said anything to indicate that I had any vendetta or anger against her for my mistakes... I hate myself already because of everything in my life... now this... I just feel extremely downtrodden and alone in my room with no one to talk to... I don't even want to feel bad for myself because I know people wouldn't feel bad for me in any way..

I have ADHD + OCD and no post has ever given me more perspective, it’s amazing to have somebody write out what I have been feeling. Give it a chance, let me know how it makes you feel. I have taken this from u/evergreenjay on reddit. Find the original post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/OCD/comments/uhjndw/a_masterpost_of_what_ive_learned_after_a_4_year/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf A masterpost of what I've learned after a 4 year long battle with OCD I've always thought about making a post like this since so many people come on here scared, newly diagnosed and just overall understandably confused. **I don't consider myself as fully recovered, I've had a lot of ups and downs and a relapse just recently. I just feel like I gathered a ton of information and tools during these years that maybe could be helpful to share.** **The basics of OCD** Learning about intrusive thoughts, the OCD cycle and compulsions is the first big step. To give you a brief rundown of these 3 key concepts: * **Intrusive thoughts.** They are thoughts (but they can also be images!) that pop up in a very unexpected way in your mind, they often cause anxiety and the content of these thoughts **scares** you or unsettles you. They are not wanted, and the content, especially with some subtypes, is egodystonic to the person that has the thought: that means that they probably think the opposite of that thought. The subject of our intrusive thoughts is something/someone we often value a lot, even if the intrusive thoughts make it seem like the opposite. There's a million example of intrusive thoughts, because we could have them about anything! They sometimes start as "what ifs", but they can also sound like commands, or start with "I wants". A few examples (big trigger warning for , well, everything) : "What if I hate my family and want to kill them?", "What if the door is unlocked and my daughter is going to get kidnapped", "What if I'm actually trans and have been lying to myself?", "Do I want to cheat on my girlfriend with a guy?", "I contracted AIDS but didn't realize it until now!", "There's definitely poison in this drink", "I want to break up with my boyfriend but don't have the guts to", "I'm a terrible person because I did X in the past, I'm disgusting", "What if I commited a crime that I don't remember?". As you see, the content of these thoughts is unsettling, very polarized and often aggressive towards yourself. * **Compulsions.** When we have these intrusive thoughts, we really feel a need to calm down because they hit you in an unexplainable, horrible way. The first automatic response is to **ruminate** as a way to make sure that the thought is wrong, and that's the main compulsion that we all. Let's take the first of the examples. You'd probably start thinking "What? NO! I love my family, I went on vacation with them a week ago, we had so much fun, they're the most important people in my life" and on and on. The problem is that by doing this you're actually feeding the OCD, that would probably respond to you with other intrusive thoughts, like "Well, you fight often with your mom. Who says you won't lose control one day and do it?". That is going to scare you even further and ruminate even further. Some people just ruminate as a compulsion, but many others have other compulsion that give you, for an extremely brief period of time, some relief from the anxiety. There are a million compulsions and they're often specific to the subtype : people with ROCD check their feelings with their SO or "test" their attraction, people with checking OCD go back and check the locks , people with contamination OCD wash their hands / bedding / furniture, people with false memory OCD check for evidence. There's also people who count, touch specific surfaces, pray, do a specific action with their body, say a specific things... there's a world of compulsions. As you can see, there are physical compulsions and "purely mental" compulsions. And even if you don't do any of these things, you still do the main compulsions that is common to all of us: rumination. What you need to know is that while compulsions make you feel okay for 5 minutes, you'll go back to feeling anxious again if not worse. The more you do those compulsions, the more you get stuck in the cycle and feel extremely scared if you don't do them. * **The OCD cycle.** You get the intrusive thought --> you feel scared /unsettled by it --> you feel like you need to ruminate or do any other compulsion to feel okay --> you give in to the compulsion --> brief relief --> you feel even more scared and unsettled. * **How do I get unstuck?** By refraining from doing any compulsion, by sitting with the anxiety of the thought but not do anything about it. Ride the wave of the anxiety and of the uncertainty. Respond with "I don't know, we'll see", "It could be, who knows", "Maybe!" and then don't ruminate any further. This is what you practice in ERP and CBT therapy. **The basics of starting recovery and what is helpful** * **CBT therapy and ERP**. When I started showing symptoms I was in talk therapy, and it made my OCD 10000 times worse. This therapist had almost no knowledge on what was effective for OCD and instead tried to connect everything to my past, which was useful in some way but didn't do anything to help me practically with compulsions, intrusive thoughts etc. If you have even the slightest doubt about having OCD or not, always see an OCD therapist or at least a CBT based one. * **Self administered ERP**. I had some moments in these years where I wasn't seeing a therapist for multiple reasons, so I relied on ERP by myself with the NOCD app and it really did help a lot. Of course, it's always going to be more effective with a therapist but it definitely helped keep me afloat. * **Keeping your health in check.** I think it's extremely important to realize what stressors in your life trigger an OCD episode the most. For example, I know that for a lot of people having their eating schedule messed up really triggers them. For me, it's sleep. If I sleep even an hour less than 8 hours I will be a mess all day long. Fighting OCD is hard as fuck. Don't make it harder for yourself by not sleeping well, not getting exercise, and in general neglecting your health. * **Trying your hardest not to seek reassurance.** You've probably heard this word being thrown around a lot here. It sounds just logical to seek reassurance when you have doubts, the thing is that reassurance for people with OCD is like heroin. It gives you that very short but strong "hit", and then you need more and more to be okay. The problem is that, just like a drug, OCD can never get enough of reassurance. The more you ask for it, the more you feel like you need to ask more because OCD needs you to be 1000% sure about your worry, and that's an impossible goal to reach. This WILL have an impact on your relationships and friendships. A lot of people, in an attempt to avoid seeking reassurance from their loved ones, they come on here to ask for it but it's just as harmful! **Some more things that have personally helped** * **Working on my trauma**. OCD can be a trauma response in relation to some core belief you have about yourself. In my case, my core beliefs are that I am not trustworthy and I am in general , a very flawed and idiotic person, so my instincts and choices are always going to be wrong. OCD "helps" me feel a fake sense of certainty around things that worry me. When I hand over my life choices to OCD I feel safer because I don't have to take that risk of making my own personal decisions, because I see them as inherently stupid. * **Exercise.** I know that when you're at your lowest with OCD the last thing you want to do is to move and sweat and feel more tired than you already feel. But it works, trust me. You really need to try it and stick to it a few times to really feel it. It gets you out of your head, it makes you feel lighter, it clears your head even if just for a moment, and it helps with serotonin levels. * **Adopting some life philosophy principles.** Even if I've been diagnosed only for 4 years, I've had OCD for almost all of my life. And that shapes your views on life. My therapist helped me realized that I think that there is always an objective truth, that letting go of control means things always going south, that there's just black and white , and that if you aren't certain about something and still live your life regardless you're a bad person. I had to unlearn all of these things plus more, for example the fact that I have such a hard time trusting my decisions. I think trying to reshape the way you view life and unlearning all of these ideals that stem from OCD can have a very important impact on your recovery. You can be extremely good at dealing with intrusive thoughts, but if at your core you still believe that there can be 1000% certainty about everything that will really halt you. This will also really help when you face relapses, because it will give you that security of having solid principles that show why OCD is always wrong. * **Having a solid support network.** This doesn't mean that you need to explain or tell about your diagnosis to everyone, especially when we know how many people know nothing about OCD and is also so very stigmatized. But having a social outlet can be extremely helpful, because OCD thrives in isolation. Just being in the presence of a loved one, doing outdoor activities together can really have a positive impact. * **Connecting with people here in these subs.** A lot of people just use these subs to seek reassurance, but it can be a great place to connect with people that have our same struggles in a way that's not reassurance-seeking. Sharing our stories, listening to other people's experiences really makes you feel not alone. Also, trying to help people that post here really gives me insight on how to deal with my own struggles. It's always easier to help someone else rather than ourselves, so you can use that to really resonate around OCD in a way that's less anxiety inducing compared to when you need to deal with your own thoughts. **Around ROCD (one of my main themes)** * Your partner is a human. If you let ROCD run rampant in your relationship, if you confess a lot, if you break up as a compulsion, if you lash out and get aggressive because of intrusive thoughts you will hurt your partner a lot. A lot a lot. I empathize with you because I've been there multiple times, but we really need to make the effort not to bleed on the other person because of our wounds. * Make a list of all the feelings that you think are wrong to feel in a relationship. A lot of common ones are boredom, irritation, anger. Try and make and effort to sit with those feelings instead of doing something about it. Make them part of your love life, not a deranged mistake that you make. * Relationships are complex and OCD wants you to have 100000% certainty on a part of your life that can never be that certain. The difference between you and other people in a relationship is not that they are 1000% certain, it's that they are okay with that 1% uncertainty. **Some other things that I think are generally helpful** * **Stay the hell away from advice subs.** I made a whole post on it but you can probably guess why it's so bad for you. * **Mindfulness activities.** I think these can be great once you're in a more stable place as they can be very triggering, because they make you much more aware of your intrusive thoughts. I've done the headspace course on anxiety once or twice and loved it. There's a lot of ways to meditate: being in nature and walking in silence, "traditional" eyes-closed meditation, meditative yoga etc. * **Work on every other comorbidity you may have.** If you have more than one mental disorder, one may trigger the other and it can be a very frustrating experience. Even if you're fully recovered from OCD, being in the trenches with, say, an eating disorder makes it really hard for you not to relapse with OCD. * **Cut social media time in half.** Or cut it off completely if you manage to. Mindlessly scrolling when you have OCD can be a legit DRUG. It makes you numb and it muffles the intrusive thoughts' noise. At one point my phone usage was 11 hours. It makes you stressed, anxious, feel less than, can give your brain fog... essentially the perfect mix for an OCD flare up. * **Be consistent with therapy.** I think this point is so important. Even once you are recovered, it's still so crucial to go to therapy, even monthly is okay. My worst relapse happened because I could feel myself getting worse but I had been out of therapy for months and didn't want to admit to myself that I needed help again. Having that session every X days helps you check in yourself and catch relapses before they snowball. * **Avoid confessing.** I know OCD makes it seem only logical to tell your SO /family /friends about your intrusive thoughts so that you do the "right" thing and tell them "the truth". This only impacts negatively your relationships. Telling everyone each of your intrusive thoughts only makes you feel better for 3 seconds and has no real use in your life unless you're telling them to a therapist. It can lead you to really hurt your loved ones feelings, for example with ROCD. Your partner can feel very hurt listening to the intrusive thoughts, even if they have no meaning. * **Live your life.** I'd like to conclude on this note. OCD makes you feel like you have a massive obstacle in life and that doing "big" things can be too much of a risk. Challenge that. Go on trips, make experiences, try a million hobbies and meet a million people, live your life to the best you can even if there's OCD. Bring it along for the ride. And that's because you have two choices : either agreeing with OCD and give up on your life, or bring the fucker with you for the ride. Having a life full of things to do is a much greater enemy to OCD. **What I think about the most popular accounts on OCD** * Mark Freeman - not a therapist but has never claimed to be one. He gives great advice that is based on evidence, his videos are super entertaining to the point that I was following him out of curiosity rather than a need to deal with my OCD. He can explain extremely complex subjects in a very simple way and I think that’s an absolute gift. * Anxietyjosh - Really like him. I don’t particularly enjoy his format per se, the kind of account that posts a million tweets with these truth nuggets that are of course very heplful, but it gives a lot of chaotic energy lol. * OCDrecoveryuk - Just no. He’s a scammer and has in general proved to be a very sketchy guy all around. If you want to know more, try to search his name in this sub , the story is way too long for me to write it here. * NOCD - I know that there are very mixed reviews about their therapy services but I never tried them so I can’t say. I found the app to be very helpful, it’s very nice to have your own app with erp exercises, community threads, SOS support etc. I’m really interested to try one of their support groups in the near future. * Awaken into love - This is a very hard one for me. On one hand, this is one of the first, if not the first channel, that brought awareness around ROCD and I know so many people in this community will be forever grateful for that. My problem with her is that even if she’s never far off with her explaining of OCD, I find that her solutions are a little odd. It seems like she often transforms OCD from an individual problem to a couples problem and I think that’s a little dangerous. She talks a lot about deepening connections, opening up more, putting the work in your relationship and that’s awesome, but it’s not really the point to me when it comes to OCD. OCD is an individual problem, it’s not a problem of the couple. Don’t get me wrong, everythings she says I think it’s 100% spot on and it’s wisdom everyone should reflect on. But all of this talk around relationship hardships to me relates more to relationship anxiety…? * Obsessivelyeverafter - certified therapist with a past with OCD. Love her, honest and trasparent and isn’t afraid to show the dark parts of OCD. * Youranxietytoolkit - OCD specialist on ig. Recommended! * Sheeva Rajee (shrinkwrap) : another big name regarding ROCD. I feel like she’s more focused on CBT, ERP based recovery than Kiyomi . I feel like she balances the wisdom part around relationships in general and knowledge around OCD well. I haven’t read her book yet but I’ve heard fantastic things. Other accounts I really like: OCD and Anxiety on youtube, theocdstories podcast, jenna overbaugh, ocdoodles, ocdexcellence, anxiouslovecoach EDIT: I'm going to add a few things that were brought up in the comments that were really good points, as well as some other things I wanted to add. **What about medication?** Medication can be great and very effective for OCD. I 100% think that if you want to go on medication you should also pair it with therapy , in fact it's the standard advice that professionals give, but medication can really help you not hit extreme lows. I personally just have a benzodiazepine that I use when I have severe anxiety, I initially wanted to go on medication but I have a few other meds that I'm on for other health conditions that are already giving me side effects, so the worry was that mixing them would cause more harm than good. However, if I ever feel like the benefits would be higher than the "risks" I'd gladly take them. I also think you can recover without meds! They are an awesome tool, and it's your choice wether to use it or not. If you are on the fence about this, your therapist or family doctor can help you. **What if I can't afford therapy?** This is, sadly, the case for many. I also had to stop for a while because of the cost and going back made me feel extremely guilty and anxious about the financial side of it. Given that mental health shouldn't be a luxury and it's beyond cruel that to get the right treatment you have to pay unspeakable amounts of money, there are some options. 1. First of all, look up if there is any kind of sliding scale / free limited sessions program in your country. This varies a lot from place to place. 2. Secondly, we luckily have a lot of books that were written by therapists or fellow sufferers that are absolute gems and that walk you through your OCD recovery. I'll put a list of my favourites below. I have read a lot of them especially when I wasn't in therapy and they are amazing, I now use them as reminders whenever I feel worse, because they condense a million things on OCD in very simple explanations. 3. Support groups. There are online support groups popping up everywhere nowadays! NOCD has a lot of support groups for a lot of OCD subtypes. 4. The NOCD app. Like I said in my first points, you can self administer ERP if you don't have a very hard time with it. I'd **definitely** avoid it if it triggers you to the point of not functioning or wanting to harm yourself , but if it triggers your anxiety in a "reasonable" amount, I'd say go for it. They have this ERP exercise layout that is super cool and that makes you track your progress. They also have some resources to help you during a crisis and a community chatroom. **Books I've read and loved about OCD** [You are not a rock (Mark Freeman)](https://www.amazon.it/You-Are-Rock-Step-step/dp/0143132601) [The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD: A Guide to Overcoming Obsessions and Compulsions Using Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy](https://www.amazon.it/Mindfulness-Workbook-Ocd-Overcoming-Compulsions/dp/1684035635/ref=pd_sim_sccl_2_5/258-0448772-0821427?pd_rd_w=l213R&pf_rd_p=0a8fd29c-6c57-4a75-a733-6fbd6f4ebb63&pf_rd_r=W43DF3XF2JFCM33626R2&pd_rd_r=5d262008-cdc9-42da-bddb-f3379a756260&pd_rd_wg=0sy2h&pd_rd_i=1684035635&psc=1) [The ACT Workbook for OCD: Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Exposure Skills to Live Well with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder](https://www.amazon.it/Mindfulness-Acceptance-Workbook-Ocd-Integrating/dp/168403289X/ref=pd_sim_sccl_2_14/258-0448772-0821427?pd_rd_w=l213R&pf_rd_p=0a8fd29c-6c57-4a75-a733-6fbd6f4ebb63&pf_rd_r=W43DF3XF2JFCM33626R2&pd_rd_r=5d262008-cdc9-42da-bddb-f3379a756260&pd_rd_wg=0sy2h&pd_rd_i=168403289X&psc=1) [The Self-Compassion Workbook for OCD: Lean into Your Fear, Manage Difficult Emotions, and Focus On Recovery](https://www.amazon.com/Self-Compassion-Workbook-OCD-Difficult-Emotions/dp/168403776X/) [Relationship OCD: A CBT-Based Guide to Move Beyond Obsessive Doubt, Anxiety, and Fear of Commitment in Romantic Relationships](https://www.amazon.com/Relationship-OCD-CBT-Based-Commitment-Relationships-ebook/dp/B08WHWXM7Q) Other books that I have not read but heard good things: [The OCD Answer Book: Professional Answers to More Than 250 Top Questions about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder](https://www.amazon.com/OCD-Answer-Book-Professional-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/1402210582/) [Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Personalized Recovery Program for Living with Uncertainty, Updated Edition](https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder-Personalized-ebook/dp/B00DYX9PX8/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=Y4Oq7&pf_rd_p=29505bbf-38bd-47ef-8224-a5dd0cda2bae&pf_rd_r=ZR6QW1WRSK6NM6N6HYHF&pd_rd_r=e82e763a-d18a-4d57-8bb9-0e96e2f6c0df&pd_rd_wg=1n7fc&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m) [Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts](https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Unwanted-Intrusive-Thoughts-Frightening-ebook/dp/B01LWA5RQU/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2GN59ZQGB697Y&keywords=overcoming+unwanted+intrusive+thoughts&qid=1651615472&s=digital-text&sprefix=overcoming+%2Cdigital-text%2C324&sr=1-1)

Hey everyone. I have been struggling with this theme this week. I had a panic attack at the beginning of the week and I got hit with a bunch of suicide intrusive thoughts. That is the last thing on earth I want to do and it hurts me because my mind makes me believe I want to. I get in a really sad dark alone place and sometimes I think about it but also I feel like it is intrusive because I have told myself no matter how bad it gets, no matter how shitty it feels I will not do anything to take my own life. It brings me so much sadness and guilt when I think about those kinds of things. It’s been hard because I have been trying to mindfully redirect and stay in the present moment but the thoughts come back and it makes it so hard to move on or when I’m in a happy moment that feels good my intrusive thoughts just come flooding back. I have tried to accept that those thoughts are there and I need to do things towards my goals and values but it’s been so difficult to accept this feeling and notice those thoughts when they are so against everything I love and it’s so hard when it’s one of my biggest fears. I cry and cry because I’m just so scared of those thoughts and it makes me think I actually want to do it. Anyway has anyone else experienced this? I feel so guilty and sometimes get thoughts that this feeling will never go away even thought I know for a fact I can get past it. Any advice? Or does anyone relate?

recently my real even ocd has been bothering me. I had an intrusive thought that my boyfriend sexually assaulted me and it was bothering to figure out if it was true or not, and I know his intentions are good and he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me but I just have a problem trusting people due to my past experiences. I confronted him for reassurance which made me feel worse because my ocd is telling me that I’m being gaslighted and manipulated and that I’m in denial of my ocd. And it confuses me a little because my boyfriend has always respected my boundaries and has never coerced me into sex or has done anything to harm me and he has told me that he would never want to hurt or harm me in anyway.

Hi guys today my best friend kinda flirted with my Ex boyfriend. I know he's my Ex but I don't want my best friend to date him My OCD gets really bad bc It's my fault that we broke up and now I think I'm a total b**** I kinda miss him but I don't know what to go back together bc it'll be weird if I ask him I guess I don't know what to do

I’m getting urges to make fun of people. I also believe that something bad will happen if I do this. Like a karmic thing.

I’m new to NOCD and was recently diagnosed with having traits of OCD. I’ve yet to start therapy, but I’d like to start to engage with the community and especially with anyone who can relate to what I’m currently experiencing. I’m a spiritually based person and my OCD has latched onto my spirituality, religion and may be making me question my overall reality, etc. This also makes me question whether or not I am experiencing Magical Thinking OCD as well. Can anyone who deals with spirituality, religion and false memory OCD help guide my thoughts and I? I know that we’re not licensed professionals, but I am seeking fellow users who can relate to what I’m currently going through and experiencing because I currently feel alone and like no one else immediately around me can relate. Thanks in advance!

I know it won't help it at all. I don't know what's real and what's me. I feel like I've lost myself bcs of so many themes right now. I think it's causing me to dissociate bcs I get extreme existential thoughts, & images that feel so real that I'm all alone. That is my worst fear to be alone/feel alone with my thoughts bcs I don't even speak up on things that I do want to say or knowing what to say "do I express me feeling awkward or not knowing what to say" or let myself be seen & to be myself even with my family because I feel like no one wants to hear me and what is valuable to me. It feels real but I know my family loves and that they try their best. I'm so broken that I feel this way because I want more than anything to love my family and just be in the present to show them love & receive there love w/o questioning it or the real distress is constantly noticing things that may initiate that. omg me saying that freaks me out bcs why me saying makes it true. Another big obsession with this is if I have psychosis bcs how I think about it all day. I just want to go over to my sister rn and ask her why I feel there is sm distance between us. I just want to feel her love and that she can express herself w/o feeling like she can't or at least to communicate to each other abt this kind of quietness. I had big past event OCD when she wouldn't talk that much to me during the day like my other family members and how easily argumentative we are.