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I just had a moment where I confused my intrusive thoughts for “hearing voices” and now I’m freaking out… anybody ever experienced this?

If you believe in God or a higher power, how do you incorporate God or how do you see God in all of this OCD nonsense? My faith has held me steady for a long time in the past, but since I went down the rabbit hole a few weeks ago, I’m now either doubting God cares or am convinced this anxiety and panic is bc I’ve done something to deserve it. Is this just another obsessive theme and reasoning?

--> what is real? People can rest with "everyones reality is different, i believe what i want" but that makes me bad, like i can choose what i believe,what will make me happy,thats egotistic. What is the truth? Even the words of God(bible) is percieved differently by people, then how do i know what is God actually saying? It feels like i just make a reality that makes me feel good but thats not reality.

I always wanted to have tattoo and even more now since I can whenever I want, but always had some false thoughts about it and fears that don’t let me do it. I know the better way to respond to that is to get it if I want to because « even if » I love tattoos and OCD shouldn’t take that away. But the fears are really hard to not think about, like I’m afraid if I gain weight one day they will be ugly forever and will forever loose the emotional meaning they add. What about if one day I loose memory and don’t like it again? Even if I know I will forever love it, also scare about the fact that I will never go away, and that’s what I want but the UNCERTAINTY like « forever » or WHAT IF this or that.. is really hard to forget!! I have many many other fears about tattoos and I just want to have my favorite things on my body it will help me to love myself more and fight ocd because I love the idea of do it EVEN IF. So I wanted to know if someone experienced the same things as me?

Hi — I am in the grips of a very bad health ocd challenge. I am convinced I am dying so I can’t focus on anything happening in the future (bc I am convinced I will not be alive to experience these things). I am wondering if anyone has insight into what you do to distract yourself from these intrusive thoughts when they are this intense. As in, any tactics or strategies that have worked for you? Part of my challenge is I have a physical symptom that acts as a trigger so it is hard to escape. Thanks for your help.

-TMI warning, but I have to get this out of my head- When will these shenanigans end? My cortisol is generally through the roof first thing when I wake up. I get a racing heart and high anxiety symptoms and my thoughts race like horses. This is not ideal for a person whose digestive system is regular when they wake up and has issues with bathroom contamination stuff, lately with solid waste. Every morning there seems to be an "issue". Today it has to do with a crumbly, loose bit of 'stuff' on the toilet paper near the end of wiping, after a couple clean passes. It happens. A 'normal' person might think, "ok, that's fine, it's gone off you and disposed of." I am positive I kept wiping after that to ensure cleanliness--otherwise I never would have stood and left--but of course brain is now doubting. When I stood to pull up my undies, of course brain goes, 'what if something else crumbly fell out/off of you and is now in your pj pants?'. Something like that has NEVER happened to me, that I can remember. I washed my hands and then shook them out in the tub. Some dark lint and maybe fuzz fell off--not the colour of my current 'stuff', so get out of here, doubt--I pulled up and went back to bed. Of course, brain goes, 'what if it didn't come off when you shook them out/was inside the pantleg and there's feces in your bed now? On your body pillow? Your shirt? Your plushie? You'll contaminate yourself again and again. You'll spread it through the house and make someone sick.' It's also saying, 'what if it's still in there and on your legs? You should shower. If you don't you're just making excuses by blaming your brain and being irresponsible.' I am so anxious I feel nauseous. I am resisting checking. I am not going to shower. I am not changing my bedding. I am not telling my mother to inform her what I am choosing to do--that's like confessing and a tactic to reduce anxiety I unfortunately give into often. It's fine, there's nothing to tell. (Besides, she has become quite annoyed with me doing so...) I have given into thoughts like this before and spiralled with showering, changing clothes and towels, etc, then when it was all over and I calmed down I could see how unnecessary all those "precautions" were. I refuse to do these things because of some inane doubt, because of what if questions. I was confident I was fine when I left the washroom. Brain pulls this with me so often and so far nothing has happened each time. (No, I don't think this is the exception!) This kind of thing makes me dread getting up in the morning. I think I made a mistake by shaking out my pants in the bathtub. That's basically checking. Wish me luck, folks...

I’m constantly going back and forth about whether i have it or not. From yesterday i feel like i dont know who my partner is. His face doesn’t come to my head when i think about him. And it’s really freaking me out. I don’t want this to end. I knew how old me felt about him and i want to feel that way again. I want to think about him and feel happy. Idk why my brain keeps telling me “he is just another man” when he is much more than that.

What if you did something extremely horrible as a child that you didn’t know how horrible the events were that your POCD and real events OCD targets? Does it make the intrusive thoughts true? I'm getting anxious from my POCD and real event OCD based on real events (3 times) from when I was 13…… I don't ever want to ever be a P at all… I don't ever want to ever be a Chomo at all... i don’t ever want to ever be a rapist at all… I was 13 when these real events happened and now I'm 20... I've asked my mom about this so many times and every time she tells me that it's not serious anymore, that the person is okay, and that I'm not a rapist or a P or a chomo...  I didn’t realize how horrible the real events actually were… I was 13 at the time… now I’m 20… my POCD and real event OCD call me a P or a chomo because of the real events… while my mom reassures me all the time that it’s all over, that it’s not serious anymore, that the person is okay, and that I’m not a P or a rapist or a chomo, but when I was doing compulsive research, I remember when I saw a post on a non OCD forum about someone’s similar situation to mine and two people said to the person that they m*lested and that they needed  to turn themselves in… I don’t ever want to ever be a P or a chomo in any way shape or form… i didn’t know how horrible the real events were when I was 13… I really didn’t… and after the real events I never did anything like that ever again, and I never once ever thought (before, and after) about doing stuff with kids in any way shape or form... I never once fantasized about kids or wanted to do anything with kids… I was 13 and didn’t realize how horrible the actions were at the time and I never did it ever again… I never once fantasized about kids before or after the real event… I don't ever want to ever harm a child in any way shape or form... I seriously don't ever want to do that to any child in any way shape or form and I seriously don't ever want to do anything like that to any kid now or in the future… I never have had any fantasies about kids and I don't ever want to... I don't ever want to ever be a P or a chomo in any way shape or form... I was 13….. and after the real events I never did anything like that ever again, and I never once ever thought (before, and after) about doing stuff with kids in any way shape or form... I never once fantasized about kids or wanted to do anything with kids…  I was 13 and didn’t realize how horrible the actions were at the time and I never did it ever again… I never once fantasized about kids before or after the real event… And it’s comparing me to actual P’s and chomo’s who did stuff from 12-15… and making me think I’m a P and a Chomo because of it… I don’t ever want to ever be a P or a chomo in any way… 😭😭😭

So five years ago I made the biggest mistake of my life and chatted with other women online I felt so disgusted and dirty and told my partner everything I smoked alot and I mean alot of marrijuanna at the time and wasn’t thinking clearly no excuse but!my partner was angry but said we could move past it and she forgave me,now five years later the thoughts of what I did are plagued I’m my brain and I’m scared I will lose her even though she was over it five years ago I feel like a bad person partner and feel absolutely worthless 😢my brain is even fabricating false memories to make me think I did worse things it’s so hard to not be able to believe in myself and the truth like I was honest about my mistakes and it just seems pointless to have been so honest if I am still suffering from these events,I think it’s typically bad because I have very good morals and to do something like that just is completely the opposite of my usual behaviour I treat my partner like a queen for ten years but I can only think of the one bad thing I did,sorry for the long post I hope someone can relate and help me even just a little

Im doing acid with my friend tomorrow. It might be a really stupid idea. But I love psychedelics. Im just really worried for my ocd. But handling ocd and trips are very similar, you just ride the wave, you feel the uncomfortable feelings and get through it. I don’t want this to go out of control but maybe lsd can give me some fresh personalized insight from myself. I want this so bad to go well but I just need to let go, and be uncomfortable. Maybe I will just do half a tab lol

Everyone wants to be comfortable. But for those of us with OCD, seeking comfort paradoxically leads to continued discomfort. If you’re trying to get comfortable, that means you’re hoping to reduce your anxiety by doing a compulsion, making your OCD worse and all but guaranteeing you more discomfort in the near future. Trying to get comfortable doesn’t work if you want to tame OCD. People who win against OCD wrap themselves up in discomfort, actively searching for ways to get uncomfortable as a new way of life. They create a tectonic shift in how they approach their days, going from “I hope nothing triggers my OCD today” to “I'm going to look for opportunities to make my OCD anxious and uncertain. I hope I'm bombarded by so many triggers that OCD passes out!” This “go for the gusto” attitude is exhausting, yes, but it’s also exhausting for OCD. OCD thrives in a carefully curated, avoidance-centric world where it knows what to expect, like a snow globe perched just out of reach so that careless children can’t upset its delicate winter scene. But the attitude taken by successful OCD tamers is that they are going to turn OCD’s world upside down. They are going to give the snow globe to the kids because, hey, snow globes are meant to be shaken. If this sounds like a radical attitude that’s not all that practical, consider what Susan David says in her TED Talk, "The gift and power of emotional courage": “Discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life.” People who win against OCD sacrifice comfort for meaning. But do it self-compassionately. FULL ARTICLE CONTINUES HERE: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/beyond-the-doubt/202001/3-ways-power-your-ocd-therapy

I have an issue just being around certain people, just being near kids, or certain people, not everyone, but most people in general, so I went to the store today, and ofcourse it was a madhouse, so now I just feel off, trying not to compulsion, I didn't run to the shower, but it seems like my mind makes it "more important" as time goes on, why won't it ease off? I have had OCD since I was a kid, I'm 35, but it seems like the more I fight it, the more shit my mind fabricates to make compulsions, I literally get pissed at myself, repeating hand washing patterns 10+ times just because it didn't "start out right" like am I too dumb to count to 1? 😕 I am having a rough time, and it has been ongoing for over a year, I can't even catch a reprieve, it's just non-stop, it use to fluctuate, I could reason with myself, but I feel like I have lost control, any responses are welcome, I don't need reassurance necessarily, just want to see if anyone else has similar issues, I can deal with "being" OCD, but I need to be able to manage to pee, or wash up, or brush my teeth without feeling like I have to wash up to my armpits for 20minutes, I KNOW I should only be doing 30 seconds, I KNOW counting is counter productive, but I don't know how to control it 😕

Sigh... I was filling up the keurig to make a tea when suddenly brain goes, "did I forget to wash my hands after going to the washroom last?" Like. Really, brain? YOU are the one making me wash up my forearm every time. YOU are the one making me wash my hands again after doing that exact thing, for fear that the arm recontaminates them. Would I, someone who's been desperately afraid of contaminating others with my bathroom germs since late November (ish) of last year, EVER forget to do something like THAT? I smelled my hands. Scent of the particular soap in my washroom was there. Went up to investigate: the bottom of the sink was wet, and there were "fresh" drips on the countertop. (I recorded this in my journal near the time but I KNOW the doubt will resurface later) I made and drank my tea anyway. Sat with the anxiety for awhile... ended up giving into washing the keurig reservoir and my mug in the sink, lysol wiping a number of other things... I know. It's so far out of character for me to "forget" to do that it is completely absurd. Thing is, I wash my hands up there so frequently that I cannot pick out the specific memory and brain is going to TOWN with that. It's freaking about my clothes being contaminated now... I am not changing. I will wear my robe again. I'm throwing the rest of my coins into the "I did the thing shut up brain" fountain and leaving whatever else it comes up with to "fate". It feels... really horrible, like I'm deliberately inviting my mother's death/illness from contamination of kitchen stuff, but... I also, despite what I've already given into, don't really believe this thought. Yes, it's scary if true, but... it came out of nowhere. Do intrusive thoughts come in this colour too? Daily, I get them with the "did I step in/touch/etc. this nasty thing?" shade, which usually leads to arguing with my brain and other no-nos of anxiety... hm. I feel like I am treading into dangerous territory. Not necessarily that my decision will create what I fear, but if I am doubting memories of doing important washing... will this throw me into a deeper pit, if I cannot even be certain of the measures I take? Even the reasonable ones? Good lord. I'm getting older, but am still too young for a faulty memory like this. Thanks for reading folks. Just had to get this off my chest. I am holding onto the hope that things will be fine and that I won't end up double or triple washing in future just to cement to my fool brain that it was done at all, let alone properly...

Hi all. Looking for advice and/or methods that people use to bring themselves away from believing their OCD thoughts and feelings. I’m suffering from HOCD (or at least that’s what I hope it is). I have an ocd therapist that has diagnosed this. I’ve been suffering for 8 or so of the last 10 years. A barrier that I’ve struggled with is believing the ocd thoughts and feelings. It’s like deep down I believe them. As such, it’s become a real barrier to treatment. How do people practice not believing the thoughts and feelings? Even when they feel convinced it must be true? What strategy do people use? Is it just trust in the process? Fake it till you make it?

I wake up with obsessions and compulsions all day long. I can't stop them. I'm frustrated and severely depressed. I have a psychiatrist and Psychologist. I've been going through this for 35 years. Ive done ERP. At times I had a grip on things but not now. I'm at the end of my rope. I can't handle much more.

I feel my OCD is worsening. Just now, I was asked to put food wrappers in the bin, and felt disgusted when touching them. I proceeded to wash my hands multiple times, excessively, due to how unclean and contaminated I felt. Even in the mornings, I’m using kitchen roll to lift the kettle and open cupboards. I feel awful whenever someone touches me and I pull away, feeling repulsed. I don’t know what to do, or how to help myself.

I’m struggling so bad rn… and for some reason meds are not helping this. I’m black but my theme lately has been prejudice against my own race… I’ve always been an advocate against racism so why am I having these thoughts lately 😭 it’s too many thoughts in my head and I hate it so much I don’t feel like myself and I’m fighting so hard not to do compulsions but they’re finding their way. Plus I feel like I have to do them so I can make I’m still myself…

I need some encouragement… I’m marrying my fiancée soon and I am so happy we have got to this stage, I had been worrying that my ocd would get the best of me in the past and the fact we’re still here and moving forward is a dream come true! However, I guess I grew up being taught that physical attraction and ‘chemistry’ was the main importance in a relationship, in the past I would go for people based of a so called ‘spark’ believing it to mean they’re the one or that it was a sign from the universe whereas now my beliefs have changed significantly and I know it’s just hormones / attraction. I have genuinely got the strongest bond with my partner I can’t explain the strength of love I have got him but he is my favourite person. But it’s different to anything I would have imagined , it’s not been sparky and I have had issues with shallow things like us being the same height/ questioning if the lack of spark would be an issue in our relationship. I have intrusive thoughts about another person I saw in the street who I found attractive and I can’t stop thinking about them and I know that’s part of my ocd obsessions but it makes me feel so guilty. I googled if a relationship can work when it’s not based of physical attraction and the answers were resounding no’s , lots of people saying that it’s selfish to continue and they felt sorry for anyone in a relationship with a person who didn’t feel extremely physically attracted. I know that I’m never going to end things with my partner and I know I love him ridiculous amounts to the point it hurts when I think of anything going wrong for him , I care about him more than anyone else. I strongly believe that superficial sexual attraction and sparks are not important when it comes to a long term relationship but friendship , intimacy and love from the soul is what counts but I’m scared I’m being unrealistic based on what society says?

I was prescribed lexapro about a month ago and I have yet to take it. I am terrified of medicines. (Even supplements) I ask my doctor a couple days ago if I could start with a half a pill just to get started she said sure and I felt better and like ok I can do this... well with pill in hand... I can not do this. 😫 I feel like I really need to be on something because I am constantly at a level 10. But when it comes to actually taking something.. I just can't and idk what to do about it . 😔

So I got diagnosed with ocd a few days ago .. and I I’ve been experiencing experiencing false memory ocd this all started when this one night I got this really uncomfortable feeling in my throat it literally felt like a slight numbness my throat was really tight there was a bitter taste in my throat ( if that makes sense ) it just felt like something was there and once I got the feeling I got flash backs of all those “street drugs kill” banners I’ve been seeing all over my city which whenever I see those I get into a panic , anyway I got flash backs of all those scary drug banners and my mind literally told me I felt that sensation in my throat “because I took some dangerous pills and forgot and I’m gonna die” so I went straight into panic I was searching up “signs of overdose “ I was also convincing myself I had all the symptoms I was asking my sister & mom if they seen me take anything guys I was so scared all I was thinking abt was the possibility that I might have and if I did I was for sure gonna die .. after that I kept getting the sensation but I learned to tell myself that , that “feeling “ in my throat was just anxiety until it got worse now out of nowhere my mind tells me I’m taking things even when I don’t have that throat sensation I’m still getting these thoughts whenever I do I convince myself I’m overdosing and I’m pale .. every single time whenever I swallow my salvia ( this is disgusting) but whenever I swallow saliva and the swallow felt a bit “rough “ I get the thought like “what if that was a pill your gonna die” it’s so frightening I can’t even eat because I get thoughts like “if you eat or drink your helping pills that are in your throat go down your gonna die” I can’t even eat bro I’m so frustrated and what makes it worse is that I visualize myself taking pills and dying “ I literally sob I would never actually do anything like that in reality.. I keep getting thoughts that I’m taking dangerous pills out of nowhere EVEN WITHOUT THE THROAT SENSATION! Any advice 😞 ( I’m 14 ) btw