Kickstart your recovery journey with a caring community of others
working to conquer OCD
The last few days I have felt amazing! No ruminating! Today out of no where… it came back!!! Why?
I’ve reached a point in existential ocd and “fear-of-psychosis-ocd” where I have a hard time believing in anything anymore. I have no more reassurance, I have no more logic to give this disease, it’s eaten up everything I have. Like when something scientific is explained to me it just feels so fake, almost like a lie or something. I used to be really bummed out about how meaningless everything is, like how we are just a floating rock in space and we are all just products of biology and science… but now I feel like I don’t even believe that! I’m just so suspicious of everything, nothing feels right anymore, nothing feels genuine or real. Whenever I watch the news, media, politics etc it all seems like a big act, or like an illusion. Even when I’m just looking at my cats or another person, im having weird thoughts running through my head like “well if nothing/nobody else is real, then what are they?” “Is everything some sort of government simulation?” “Something is wrong here” Etc. I can’t take anything seriously anymore, I used to LOVE history and science videos/documentaries but now I can’t even take them seriously because of these thoughts. I really really hate these thoughts and I try and fight with myself all day as to why I feel like this and try and logic my way out of these feelings but it just doesn’t work, no matter how many reasons I come up with for why I shouldn’t believe these thoughts, my brain will find a way to make me second guess it and not believe the reasoning. Even if i was shown undeniable evidence that the world is indeed real or whatever else my thoughts like to attack… I feel like I still wouldn’t believe them. What’s wrong with me? I don’t want to be delusional.
(Long post of celebration!) When I first began therapy at the end of 2023, the darkness was so thick and heavy that hope and brighter days felt like a sham, a lie. I couldn’t understand how the darkness got so dark. I went from occasionally wrestling with compulsions that I thought were personality quirks to full-blown intrusive thought spirals that I couldn’t free myself from. I was undiagnosed and fighting for my life not realizing that one OCD theme morphed into another then another to the point where I was a walking fear bomb on edge about every thing and person that crossed my path. The hormonal shifts of pregnancy and giving birth only made things worse. Postpartum depression + undiagnosed OCD. Whew! I was supposed to be happy in the sunshine after we had our miracle baby, but darkness. Feeling low only made me feel worse. Intrusive thoughts made me feel undeserving of my Faith, marriage, family, home, and career. After fake-smiling my way through Thanksgiving, I decided I had to do something. Finally, after taking note of my symptoms and wondering if I had OCD, I made the call to NOCD with tears in my eyes saying that I need help. “I think I have OCD, and I can’t live like this anymore.” Treatment began. It was painful to speak the unspeakable thoughts and fears. I remember my therapist saying that while it doesn’t feel surmountable, ERP will help. She said things would get better if I trusted the process and committed. That felt like a lie back in Dec. 2023…I’m so glad feelings aren’t facts! My NOCD therapist was right. Her specialized treatment + finally being braced enough to attend support groups changed everything. I committed to the process, and the darkness lifted in small spurts. Sunlight broke through my perspective little by little, moment by moment, day by day dismantling one compulsion, obsession, and fear at a time. The healing hasn’t been sudden or easy. In fact, it hurts at times because confronting fear sucks! But, it’s so worth it. Thank You, God, for making NOCD part of my healing journey. Even when it’s ugly, my OCD survivors, trust the process.
Hi all. I really need some rational advice here. About a year and a half ago, I went out to karaoke with a group of friends. At one point, I passed one of my male friends in the hallway on the way to the bathroom. I was getting out of the bathroom as he was waiting to go in. I remember I felt anxious and guilty that night as I walked back to the karaoke room. I had intrusive thoughts even at the time that I had made out with him. I remember feeling anxious and ruminating on the scenario. I probably even imagined it happening at the time. I remember it lingered a bit and then I started feeling anxious about something entirely different and then I never thought about it again (despite the fact that I had cheating OCD pop up many times since then). For the past 3 weeks this thought has not left my brain and I am dealing with constant anxiety all day every day. I am fairly certain that this did not happen, but the image of it happening is so strongly burned into my brain that it feels like a real memory. I am about to go on a trip with my partner and I really don’t want the constant anxiety to ruin it. I know seeking reassurance is bad, but I also know for a fact that I would feel 100% reassured and that I wouldn’t bring it up again if I just texted the guy and got confirmation from him that nothing happened. I know my own brain and I know that this would squash all the anxiety. I know it would look weird and creepy, but do you guys think it might be worth it to just give a quick description of my OCD and just ask for a bit of reassurance that nothing happened that night?
Does anyone struggle with thouhts that make them question if they’re actually~ a believer in God. Or question if they actually love God? Does anyone battle with these thoughts that make it hard sometimes to feel~ close to God? Even though you know He is REAL.
Hello! My partner and I are in the midst of moving to another state next month- and change can be a big trigger for me. What if things don’t work out? What if I am making a mistake? It’s also bringing up some ROCD around my partner and I am seeing myself becoming more irritated with my partner. I am worried that this means I need to break up with him and shouldn’t move- or if this is just OCD and my annoyances are normal. Need some perspective!
Ok so I'm 21 and turn 22 in August. Btw this might be a lil bit of a read but it'll be nice tho. So I have diagnosed Anxiety, CPTSD, and Bipolar 1 disorder. About a month and like 2 weeks ago I started having some really taboo intrusive thoughts. I've always been highly aware of myself and so searched up "Sexual intrusive thoughts" on Google. No wait before that I searched if intrusive thoughts were a symptom of Bipolar disorder. I came across a lot of articles about Bipolar OCD comorbidity. Basically a lot of people with bipolar are more likely to have OCD. I was like "wait what?? OCD?!? On whooooo??" Mind you I was thinking of the stereotypical OCD you see in movies. I was just thinking I don't have that so how? So in one of these articles it talked about the types of intrusive thoughts people with Bipolar OCD comorbidity can have and one of them were sexual and religious intrusive thoughts. I was blown away. I then searched "Sexual intrusive thoughts" on Google and realized holy shit I have OCD..oofie. I then went down the worm hole of obsessively searching all things OCD (which lol I found out was a compulsion searching and all) and realized I've had OCD for a while. Since I was a small tot for real for real. I've always had Pure OCD, but realized I have contamination OCD when it comes to being in and out of the shower, I used to but not anymore would always check if the stove switches were off. I've always thought about harm coming to my family and myself and would think up entire scenarios in my head for literally no reason. I obsessively think to the point where it physically tires me out. I get severe anxiety and literally will lose my asshole from just thinking to much. I've seen a lot of people comparing it to being trapped in your own head and it exactly how I feel. The things I hear, and see tend to trigger intrusive thoughts for me but especially the things I hear. I always thought noise cancelation headphones were for those with Autism but I find myself wishing I had a pair these days. I usually use music to drown out my thoughts and take me away from the world but once I stop listening all the thinking and thoughts come flooding back and I'm once again trapped in my own head. So yea idk. That's my sitch of a wation. If you relate or have feedback drop a comment. Also like share and sub to my YouTube channel. Hahaha nah jk I don't have a YouTube channel 😂 TL/Dr have a bunch of other mental stuff just realized I may have had OCD for the longest.
Hey everyone! I’m new here. I recently was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety, Depression and OCD ( Mixed obsessional Thoughts and Acts). I always knew something was wrong since I was younger. I was afraid to die by a natural disaster and obsessed with the weather. I remember being terrified that I had Cancer and my mom had to take me to the doctor several times and the doctor ran tests on me to prove I was okay. Over the past few years, my anxiety and worry has skyrocketed. Recently, I’ve had so much worry that sent me into a rabbit hole of googling and finding answers for my random thoughts. I worry so much that I’ve done something wrong or hurt someone. I will worry about one thing, let it go and worry about something else. Some of my thoughts keep me in the house. I recently started therapy and it has been helpful.
Anyone else with SOOCD struggle with seeing an attractive person of the same sex? When I notice they are attractive I started getting shaky and nervous, and I’m scared that what if that means I’m attracted to them because they are an attractive person. Any tips?
I became concious of my OCD when experimenting with hallucenagenic drugs back in 2020 during covid and the lockdown (yeah, horrible idea). My anxiety spiked for what seemed like the entire year and I developed a panic disorder. I didn't know it was OCD at the time. I went to a psychiatrist and got diagnosed only with panic disorder. Eventually, I saw a therapist and was diagnosed with OCD, but I couldn't afford to continue seeing him. I also wasn't sure yet that it was true that I had it, or perhaps wasn't willing to accept it yet. My method of managing it for the past few years became to keep myself busy and not think about it. This year, I realized I was running from the fear when it brought me to my knees and made me feel the way I did in 2020. Now I'm here and ready to tackle this once and for all.
Here is all my symptoms that I have been experiencing: 15 years old - first symptoms playing Fortnite and when playing my brain will tell me “go pickaxe that tree, do it or you will lose the game” and if I attempt to leave it my brain will say “go back, you better go back, you better do it or you’ll lose” until I give in and do it 18 years old - symptoms worsen with obsessions (such as certain games or tv shows) and I start to worry excessively and asking for constant reassurance that things are the way I think they are (if people like me, if people think the way I think etc) Present day - much worse symptoms: Noise sensitivity with doors in rooms being open and I can hear TV extremely loud or when people are talking in huge groups around me so I got noise cancellation headphones because I became so unbearable I couldn’t study or focus in education or at home. Obsessions with order such as sorting figurines in order of colour or name for hours at a time and excessive leg bouncing and tapping on tables for hours at a time (sometimes I don’t even notice until someone point it out), zoning out or becoming hyperactive. Feeling of extreme boredom very quickly after finishing tasks and extreme irritability especially when things aren’t done my way or done incorrectly. I can read people very well before anyone else does and I pay attention to details no one else can. I also think more in depth that other people sometimes in a manipulative way (I wanted to win certain things so I would act and do certain things so ensure I would win or I would say things so people would do what I wanted) and the biggest symptom I’ve had longest is lack of empathy and emotions. Are these all related to OCD or is this something else?
I gave into a major compulsion after a major trigger. I haven’t done that in many months. My anxiety spiked because of a trigger. How do you forgive yourself? I feel like a failure. 😞
Is the anxiety still meant to be there? I have so much evidence and it feels like no matter how much erp, I can’t get past the facts and evidence I have from my past memories…. This is so scary, erp is so so hard. Reassurance is easier but sitting with the thought makes me feel like it’s real and I get lost in these thoughts and spiral. Isn’t it supposed to go away? This is why I hate erppppp
I had a significant severe agoraphobia relapse a month ago and have been on leave from work since. I have been staying with my family and have not gone home alone. I feel so defeated that at all my progress is gone. It’s been so hard to do ERP and back to being terrified and overly sensitized of everything. I’ve been so down and emotionally and physically drained. Anyone have any supportive comments or experience to share? Not much is talked about regarding agoraphobia here. (I do agoraphobia and OCD treatment at NOCD and this is not reflection of the treatment.)
Working on my issues w ocd related emetophobia. Does anyone else struggle with this? Any response prevention messages that work for you?
Why are all these different things being called some form of OCD? It looks like every issue under the sun is some kind of OCD. Can someone explain the common trait that makes all these things a type of OCD?
I had a hard day today with my mental compulsions, rehearsing and thinking about stuff between me and my boyfriend and brought something up I thought was important. What happens every time I do is that he gets annoyed because it’s a demeanor that is intense as a result of obsessing. I didn’t say anything mean, I know it could have been much much worse, and I stopped talking about it much more quickly than I’ve done previously with going on and on and on. It’s really hard though, I’m thinking about it more, and it’s another reinforcement that it really is the same every time when you think about something all day. I feel like I’m going down a rabbit hole now where I’m thinking about it more after the fact, feeling distress at the uncomfortable thoughts. How do I stop this?
I haven’t done anything wrong and I’ve been trying so hard the last few months to love myself and bring me up but every time one of my relationships has ended I’ve got the full force of the bad karma and they’ve always got the good. No matter the situation everything for me always goes wrong. And recently everything has been going right, it’s been so smooth it’s been great, until I found out my ex and his new gf broke up (there’s an entire situation with him and her being incredibly disrespectful to me and he left me basically for her) and I finally felt like for once the world was on my side. So I caught my friends up with the drama and now ever since talking about it I think I’ve brought bad karma on myself, irs made me laugh considering everything I went through, and I’ve not been laughing at him because I know how bad heartbreak is, I’ve been laughing and his and her stupidity and disrespect and how finally I’m no longer in their drama. But for some reason bad shit is happening to me again. This guy I’ve been speaking to very recently only a week and a bit has just suddenly blocked me on everything when I haven’t done anything wrong. He was calling me hot and fit and sexy and how I’m thinking oh, maybe I’m not any of those things. Am I actually ugly? Like have I been stupid this entire time thinking I am hot? I’m so stressed out now that I’m actually disgusting and that once again was being used for my body. I’ve gotta stop seeing people for a while, and I’ve learnt the red flags I’ve gotta change my way of dealing with men. I’m so done. So done. Is this my bad karma though? Am I overthinking it or like has me talking about the drama back home caused me to have some bad karma on myself I don’t know! I’m stressing out!
If you are in crisis, please use these emergency resources to find immediate help.
OCD doesn't have to
rule your life