"Pure" OCD - Community

I’m taking it day by day. I recently put in my two weeks notice and have left a toxic workplace. It’s been hard on me because this has happened so many times. I’ve been working since I was in middle school, cleaning hospitals, sleep centers, etc with my mom. And at 16 I got my first real, legal job lol. And it’s been rough, employers can be toxic or the job just isn’t set up with the tools to succeed. This last job I put my all into and like most jobs I’ve had I wasn’t trained, but I persevered and owned it. I had to leave from cruelty and just not setting me up to succeed but fail. I could take the difficulty, but I couldn’t handle the disrespect. I actually really conquered some of my ocd there and used some of it to my advantage with organization and starting up new ways to help the team, as well as actually speaking up for myself and holding a small meeting. It was incredibly difficult to understand whether I was right or wrong, but I followed my heart. Even with conquering those small things like speaking up, I was still left unheard by the people who could change the environment. I’ve struggled quite a bit since then with feeling like I made the right decisions or not. My mental health comes first, but I need money to eat. It can become so discouraging that you’ve got to work to live and these places don’t have to treat you like a person… it would be a lot to go into it. But I’m proud of myself, although I’ve become depressed and have lost myself in my head a bit. I’m coming out of it quicker than ever, and honestly that’s because God never stopped believing in me. God has helped, and my ocd really messes with my relationship with God a lot. I won’t quit, and I won’t give in. I believe in myself. I’m proud because through the pain I’ve still managed to keep up with the house and my laundry and myself pretty well. Today wasn’t that bad and that gives me hope. I’ve recently been working on my breathing too, when things get overwhelming I take deep breaths for 60 seconds. It helps settle me and my heartbeat. I know that my ocd is gonna fight me thru getting my next job. Tons of reasonable and unreasonable thoughts. I’ve got to try and I’ve got to let go of what could or could not happen and be myself. I’m a child of the most high God and if He is for me then who can be against me? I’ve done nothing wrong, and I’m a great worker. People have seen that and people will see that again. I can do this, if I believe and try ! I believe in you !

Okay so, I know ocd has prevented me from basically doing anything I used to do… but I also have had a lot of eye opening moments to what I see is or isn’t okay. Me and my partner have had issues with porn and shit in past, which has contributed to me not feeling ok about certain scenes in movies, like even if before ocd I used to watch whatever scene/movie with my bf, and we used to not care, porn is a big reason as to why I have chosen for us to not watch Sex/sexual scenes, strip club scenes, nudity, etc… I made it a rule when I had ocd , but just because I made that a rule doesn’t mean that it’s the only reason why. I shouldn’t have to be “ok” with certain scenes in movies, not everyone in life can watch that stuff without having their soul affected. I’m also religious and feel that certain things are wrong, so there’s a few reasons as to why we don’t do that now, but ocd is trying to tell me it’s a compulsion and that I’ll never get over ocd because of it. Like I think people are aloud to have change of opinions , yes when I made that rule part of it was because I was worried about triggers but there’s also that because of past issues I don’t want either me or my bf engaging in those types of scenes, no I’m not being immature (my own Nan skips past anything like that) we are religious and see certain things differently than others. On top of that because I used to watch like cardi b music vids and shit where she is just being a slut the whole way through in EVERY music video, I used to love her music and songs and shit, I still listen to her occasionally but just because I used to watch stuff like that doesn’t mean I should have to just to “get over ocd” yes part of it is about preventing being triggered, but also is a respect thing to myself, my partner, and Jesus and my relationship. I know lots of people wouldn’t give a shut about that stuff, but I do! It affects my soul. We are all brainwashed into thinking that people making videos like that is right, I’m sorry it’s not. I get that there may be some music videos I watch that may have certain things that pop up, but I can CHOOSE to look away like my partner does if there’s like twerking or something in it, but when I just KNOW the whole music video is going to be something that affects my soul or I feel Is disrespectful to my partner, myself and our relationship, (I wouldn’t like him watching a music video like that) I shouldn’t have to do that as an exposure right???? Exposures should be things that are normal like going to the shops, or public places for example. just because before in the past I didn’t see an issue with stuff like that doesn’t mean my opinion can’t change on that stuff??? As I said why would I do something I wouldn’t like him doing? It’s hard for me to sometimes know wrong from right because ocd fucks with my head, but sometimes I rely on other peoples insight like my mum or partner because I can’t think for myself at times… anyway all I’m saying is just because I used to fo that stuff before I REALISED how it affected my soul and stuff, I shouldn’t have to just be “ok” with it just because I used to, I just don’t want to think this is a compulsion and that I won’t ever get ocd with this mindset because that’s what OCD is telling me…. I don’t want to play it’s games anymore, but I also shouldn’t have to “expose” myself to sexual/slutty content/material just to “get over ocd” I’ll repeat again I have been a lot closer to god through this and feel certain things are just wrong like those scenes or certain music videos. Any Christian’s maybe similar to me, can give me some perspective?

I genuinely feel like crying rn, my thoughts are scaring me so much and the anxiety is becoming so unbearable atp.

i need fucking help right now please. i just recently had a psychiatrist meeting and i started experiencing meta ocd, because i always feel like im manipulating him because he assures me this is the right diagnosis. last night, i got up to pee and immediately i had rocd thoughts and doom and that turned into doubts about ocd, it didn't stop and i ran downstairs and started googling and calling my boyfriend and nothing was good enough, nothing sounded exactly like my brain. i had some really bad thoughts that didn't turn into themes but relationship does? so is it just real doubt? i don't want to leave him genuinely but im scared and i feel so doomed. i have been researching gad vs ocd and pure ocd and everything and im losing it help me now.

I was watching this random tiktok on my fyp and this guy was comparing his art vs how how he looks or whatever. He is 15 and when he showed how he looked in real life I had a thought that was like 'damn that's how he looks??' and immediately after I thought 'he's 15 why would you think that' and im so anxious that's proof that im attracted to minors. I am 22 and I have never been attracted to a kid, nor have i ever considered dating or persuing a kid. Ive had POCD intrusive thoughts before but still, the pictures had his face covered and they looked like those aesthetic pinterest pictures people post, and i wasnt expecting that. I feel like vomiting but that thought felt so natural and im worried i meant it. Why would I have a thought like that?? I know we're 'not our thoughts' or whatever but that didn't feel like an intrusive thought and now I'm worried that was proof im attracted to a minor and that one of my worst fears is true. I'm also worried if I pass It off as an intrusive thought im in denial or making an excuse. Please help.

Hi there ;) New here. I was diagnosed with purely obsessional OCD, but I have a hard time identifying those thoughts within myself. I was wondering if anyone could share their experience/thought patterns to try to help me recognize when I engage in these thoughts as well. Thanks for the time and have a lovely day <3

when i’m walking by people my ocd makes me think i accidentally touched them and it makes me panic … i know it didn’t happen but i keep thinking “what if” how should i deal with this ?

I feel I’ve done something so terrible my life would be ruined, my brain feels in pain for keep trying to remember the night over a year ago clearly what happened, I’m lost what shall I do

OCD is a consistent struggle for me. Causes me to be late to things and gives me so much anxiety. I’m ready to stop this.

So for the week I've felt like myself like actually myself so little intrusive thoughts groinal not really there anymore aswel and when I see a kid,tween whoever I can mostly acknowledge them and move on like I did before this theme but I got moments where like it doesn't feel like ocd feels like I want the thoughts,feeling sensations which makes zero sense because I was fine no symptoms forgot about this theme like 2 months ago and I've learnt about the backdoor spike but like it's weird why sometimes does it feel like I'm lying and sometimes feel really real, and also why do I try to make myself anxious try to get fear out of me and I do still constantly think like "why aren't i anxious, wheres are the thoughts gone it must be real" it's apparently meta ocd. But one thing that's still bothers me is that my attraction to women my age is not back really like I want to like them like I know I do but can't feel it which bothers me😢

I just figured out that i have pure OCD so now I dont know what to do. I heard that telling myself that the thoughts are just thoughts is a compulsion and now i can’t figure out what to say to myself to help my intrusive thoughts because I can’t differentiate it from a compulsion or if its actually helping me.

7 Years ago I was hit with intrusive thoughts on Harm and it suddenly took a turn. It got so much. With no sleep and constant worry my harm OCD quickly turned into “What if this is a message from God” and really stupid what if’s like “What if this is all a test” “What if this life isn’t real” Followed by REALLY intense images and it was so confusing. How can these images be so clear yet so hazy? How can these images pop into my head so quickly? Every time I seem to answer one worry about the images to disprove that they are not something sent to me by a higher power (Irrational I know) I seem to come up with something else like “Well maybe my images are different because my eyes were open” or “Were my eyes closed when I had these images?” Or even “What if my images are so unique and nobody else see’s these visions like me” Some advice would be good. Where do I go? Is this even OCD? Am I on a psychosis? Who knows… I just need some help. I will book into therapy but for now… I need this. Thanks all.

My father is overwhelming me with his mistakes and regrets on his life and is demanding me to stop being lazy and move in into the house so I can help them with bills and mortgage. I can see he is trying to manipulate me with his mistakes and telling me how I’m just not doing much. Meanwhile I’m just realizing I’m burnt out from my work and everything around. For god sake I teach art for kids for an afterschool program, and I am taking classes for cybersecurity that can hopefully get me a full time job. So to be called lazy is unfair and stupid. And I am tired and stressed from having to hear my father talk about his mistakes. My intrusive thoughts have been rising a lot now, to just wanting to run away, or hitting stuff, or just simply sit on the floor. Sorry for than rant

so w some of my real events i try to remind myself with the thoughts that if the thought made me feel guilty or upset that means that’s not how i really feel. but then i compare it to this one time. i used to have this friend in high school and the guy she was dating i had previously had feelings for before they got together. i remember one day i had the thought of “things would be so much better and different if i would have got with him instead” and i felt kinda guilty about that thought? but not like overwhelmingly guilty. but obviously it is what i wanted bc i liked him previously , and i’m with him now ( me and his ex already stopped being friends for other reasons before i got w him) so basically i compare that to other intrusive thoughts i have and am like “well in that situation ur thoughts were true so probably in this situation too”

I’m in a bit of a false memory crisis lately. All I want is to understand, I want to understand how a false memory can be false if it contains real details especially if it was from years ago. I just want to understand how my false memory seems to have real details that i didn’t even know were real until ruminating. Can it still be false? I’m in a never ending nightmare. I just want to understand this. I’m miserable.

I feel like such a liar and feeling so guilty again for something that happened back in March on this app. I was seeking advice on a sensitive topic about feeling bad for having fantasizing sometimes during intimacy. I feel guilty bc 1) I feel like that’s something my husband would not want me sharing bc I don’t even share with him and 2) a male commented ( not that I can control who comments on a thread) and what set my ocd off was that he said “let me Know if you need/want to chat” which made me uncomfortable and I even told him the comment made me feel bad even tho I don’t think that’s what he intended. Was just offering advice and basically said prior to that “who cares what you fantasize over everyone does” so, since I never told my husband about this random convo I feel guilty. Bc in my head the “let me Know if you need or want to chat” set something off that I felt like it was cheating? Does this make sense to anyone? How do you overcome this situation. Ugh I hate feeling like I’m sneaky and my ocd makes Me feel I have to tell my husband every single detail and word of every conversation so he knows I’m a faithful wife. :( I love him. He’s my high school sweetheart. I hate my brain

does your ocd ever make you think you agreed with your intrusive thoughts in the past ?

In addition to OCD I have borderline personality disorder. Every day something upsets me, and I blow up about it and then stew/ ruminate about it. This isn't good when you have harm OCD. Anyone else have this?

Hi, I found out two weeks ago I’m pregnant with my second child. I had a horrible OCD with my first child after he turned 1. I went to outpatient program and with medication and therapy I’ve been in recovery for almost 4 years. This pregnancy has brought my OCD back and even though I know what it is and what to do I can’t seem to pull out of it. My themes have always been around my child and if I love him. So of course the same theme has come along with this unborn baby and even trying to go back to my son. Are there any other second time moms that have went through this? To much of my shame I’ve even been considering an abortion to try and not go back to as bad as I was 4 years ago.

If I text a friend and they don’t reply quickly I really freak out and want to text them again to check they don’t think bad of me, and my mind starts ruminating about possible reasons they would hate me, fuck this ocd man

I was told by my therapist that it's possible that I'm a covert narcissist. Since then I started feeling very anxious and ruminating when I did something that could be a symptom of narcissism. For example today, I was editing my social media profile and I started going over my posts and looking at them. I got a thought "why do you like looking at this? Why do you do this so frequently?" and started ruminating that I'm a narcissist so I must be a horrible person. So I wanna know if anybody also obsesses over mental illnesses (not particularly npd)? It's really making my state worse because everything there is on npd online is written in a vibe that all narcissist are manipulating monsters who know what they're doing and can't be helped so break your contact with them. I wanna cry when I see this because I didn't know what I was doing until the diagnosis, also I'm terribly scared of being left alone

i have this memory that i think i’ve had in my head before but i think it’s a dream because now it feels false but i feel like it must be true because it was in my head before, has anyone else experienced anything similar?

My pocd has definitely improved with like thoughts but emotionally I still struggle with like when I see someone younger than Me sometimes it's like a weird postivie emotion towards it or sometimes feels like false attraction I don't like it but it's mostly scared now like I'm totally fine with people my age or older like I'm myself but when I see someone that's visually younger like you can tell they're not my age I get scared because it's like I'm scared of a trigger to happen with either intrusive thought, emotion sensation or groinal, it's like I got a mix of meta ocd and pocd in one anyone got advice to deal with this because im ish ok with really young ones now like 3-9 year old like I know wouldn't do anything nothing would happen and no ocd symptom but lime tweens 11-14 its weird scared feeling like I said because I never thought to be scared of them before I was so scared of the really young ones

Ive been doing well with managing my ocd for a while since ive been putting all my focus on my work. But today was a particularly bad day, and im scared that I might be getting a flare up again. My last one was horribly debilitating for months so I am terrified of it occurring again, even though this time around im better equipped with a psychiatrist and meds. But its just such a scary feeling of doom and panic, I havent been able to sleep all night. I just hope im overthinking it again and that ill be ok.

Does can just right ocd link into other themes like ROCD? I’m just curious really, you know that feeling where you start to think this relationship can’t be right because I feel anxious all the time etc?

It’s not something I obsess over, but I do feel guilty for it at times. I feel like everyone and everything eventually becomes somewhat bothering or annoying or maybe even disgusting at some point. I don’t convey these feelings to anyone, but it does cause me to retreat from people and places. I would like to not be so negative, but I’m not sure what to do about it.

Any Christians can you please reply. Me and my partner have recently discovered a like for Role playing, we have always dirty talked etc, but have been finding an interest in doing something new (role play) as much as I enjoy doing this with my partner, and he does too, I’m worried what if God resents me for these acts? Surely just because you’re religious, doesn’t mean you can’t have kinks right? I believe god may think that sex is a private matter between the couple & as long as this act is shared with my person I will spend the rest of my life with, I don’t think it is bad necessarily? I know god may not think everything said or done in intimate times is “holy” or something, but I don’t want to stop doing things I love with my partner, and neither does he, but we are both religious. Just wondering if there’s any Christian’s who may give me a bit of perspective. (When me and my partner are “role playing” we are not pretending we are other people, we are still ourself, not pretending to “be someone else” just acting out different scenarios) some insight would be good, from someone who is religious themself?

Anyone else’s false memories so precise? The details seem to be so real and makes it feel like I’m just in-denial? I have actual real details for example I manage to guess what colour clothes someone was wearing correctly or if there was a certain common object in a room etc.

part of its pocd, but i'm even embarrassed about watching something that's just family friendly. Most of my comfort shows are. idk why i'm panicking about this. like i'm too soft to be able to make in live. that's what everyone else says

this memory is really bothering me. in the beginning of my relationship i had a group chat w my friend (who is also female, as am i) and her friend who is a guy. i was out shopping one day and we were already talking the gc the three of us. and i sent a mirror picture (nothing sexual just a regular, fully clothed picture) , my relationship/ cheating ocd wasn’t so bad baxk then, so i worry that i had bad intentions. i worry my intentions were to impress this guy and that i wanted him to think i’m attractive. now, if it was it would probably be a subconscious thing bc i don’t see myself consciously being like “let’s make him know i’m attractive”. i even remmeber at the time having a thought in my head “why are you trying to impress a guy” but then i told myself in my head that i’m not. so maybe it wasn’t what i wanted. but then i also worry bc i think i also had a thought like “if ur not trying to impress him why don’t you just send the picture to ur friend privately and not in the gc” and for some reason i still planned to send it in the group chat. so that’s why i worry it was a conscious thing. but also since my ocd wasn’t bad maybe i thought it was dumb to just send it to my friend privately since we was already talking in the group chat. or maybe i was able to fight off the “ur trying to impress him” intrusive thoughts since my ocd wasn’t bad so went ahead and sent the pic anyways. i am not even sure if i sent a picture but i think i was planning to do that doesnt even matter if i did or not. i’m so worried about my intentions and that this was cheating. i’ve always loved my bf.. i guess sometime when i think i look good i like to show it off maybe? and that doesn’t mean i was trying to be desirable to him. this fear and worry has been in my head all night and it’s always in the back of my mind. i live w my bf and anytime he’s nice or shows affection i feel i don’t deserve it bc in my head i “cheated”

I need some advice I feel like my OCD is going to ruin my holiday with my partner. It is saying things like he is going to drug me and hurt me and I know this is down to watching a lot of TV series and hearing about horrible stuff like that in the news. I was hoping someone could help to calm me down I’m suppose to having fun in the pool the sun and drinking cocktails but I just can’t and I don’t want to ruin my holiday as well as my relationship

I hate that I get so sweating when anxious I m scared I have body odor even though I take care of my body and have lotion deodorant and perfume I m scared people can smell me :( ugh

Haven’t been somewhere where I can’t keep myself busy. And don’t know how to do so or what to do. Any tips would be helpful. I am very anxious. Everyone is working and I don’t have a car so I am trying to schedule an Uber and can’t find a ride.

I'm getting better by not doing any complusions especially driving today I said no I'm not going back too check your a bully soon I will get a diagnosis on my ocd still a bit worried I will lose my licence because I have being doing complusions every now and then but when I had my appointment with him I told him this but didn't say anything about this just increasing my mediation after my diagnosis I will join nocd

I have had this feeling for a few years now and it keeps getting more intense. It’s a sort of feeling where you don’t want to do any hobbies you used to like reading, drawing, or learning and instrument because you think it’s stupid and useless and a waste of time. Same with making friends or going to college clubs Same with playing games or watching tv. But you can easily spend 2+ on your phone scrolling Oh and if you do stuff like shopping or drawing you start feeling really guilty?? Like you’re wasting time on nonsense? What. Is. This.

How do you guys do exposure therapy for existential anxiety?

Who diagnosed you? A therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, doctor, or a behavioral specialist? Or someone else? Did they just diagnose you with OCD or dive into what type of OCD you have?

I have no control. I can't get help because have no insurance. It's terrible living like this.

So I had an intrusive thought (wow what a shocker! Lol.) I made a point to not give into doing anything about it by immediately finding something to keep myself busy with and sure the thought remained and tried to come back a few times but the anxiety eventually dissipated and I could at least be like “I don’t agree with this, this is not me”. I don’t like the thought by any means and feel bad for having even had had the thought but to know it’s the OCD helps. And also on the not so fun days that feeling eventually dissipates after I’ve had the chance to sleep it off. Not the best method perhaps but I could night’s rest can be rather restorative! Anyways just a little reminder that “redirection” can help! Stay strong everyone.

I woke up this morning and told myself that i’m going to do my best not to think about anything ocd today and I was thinking about what I was just dreaming and my ocd kicked right in telling me I dreamt about hurting someone I love and even though that’s not what I remember dreaming, now i’m questioning if I did dream that and am I really a horrible person?

Does anyone else agree that social anxiety and soocd go hand in hand? Like my social anxiety makes my HOCD worse but then my HOCD make my social anxiety worse….. endless loop at this point

I definitely have been trying to challenge the thoughts that come up more whenever I get something negative or something snagging at me or have a recurrently negative thought. When are the things that's been sticking with me more because it seems like it's something that is attacking my well-being or concept of my well-being has been what if I face some sort of stress or problem in my life that I can't deal with and I do something to fatally hurt myself or something like yesterday after I had talked with you when I was done with my security officer training class I started to get worried about what if I start doing the security officer position and some of the stresses of that job if I face any start to affect my life and my outlook of it in some negative fashion and then my perceptions change to be more negative and I start to go down a really dark path or something. Just more catastrophizing I know and I've been trying to leave it up to the concept of whatever happens happens and I'll just try to deal with life as it happens bit by bit and that tends to give me some peace but then I have these nagging negative thoughts and catastrophizing scenarios that come up and I get caught up in them sometimes and I do try to stop myself and challenge what I'm thinking

Hey! Hello. I'm a guy from Spain who wants to help his girlfriend with OCD. Any advice? Lately, she's been struggling a lot with relationship ocd. She questions herself if she loves me or if I could want to be with other people... She doesn't even leave her house for fear of seeing other people and her body reacting as if she liked them. Excuse me if I made mistakes writting in english! Plus: If someone here talks spanish and want to share experiences with her, please let me know! It would be great if she could meet more people with OCD... Now she is creating her own account♡.

Guess I'm welcoming myself on here🥸. Anyone on here deal or have dealt with sensorimotor stuff?

Hi everyone. I’m so glad i found this app… reading all these testimonies really makes a difference to me, i feel less lonely… I’ve had rocd for a couple months now, and even though i feel like things are getting better, i’m so aware of how my anxiety is manifesting that : when i feel less anxious i fear that i might not have rocd after all, or that it will come back with certainty… It’s sometimes like im waiting for it, as some kind of indication that i do have rocd. I love my bf so much, but it’s so confusing… my recovery work from now has been going to an ocd specialized therapist, trying exposures (mostly accepting the thought than disregarding it), writing worst case scenarios and trying to not do or think something of them… But somedays it’s really hard… Today is a bit hard… Do you have maybe any recovery tips? on how to do erp better? or on how to ease the anxiety? and to stay hopeful, bc i think it’s the hardest part. I really want to get better and better. Thank you ♥️

My imagery is somewhere between a hallucination and a mental image. Normal or no?

I’m currently talking to this guy and we get along really well, but I’m overthinking. I want to have a relationship, but I’m scared my OCD is going to hold me back. If anyone is in a relationship, and has OCD, any tips on how to overcome this?

Does this app help me and how do I do it?

The other night I went out with my friends and got way to drunk, and there’s parts of the night I don’t remember. I convinced myself I kissed a boy in a blue top and I’m freaked out as when I looked back on the pics from that night a boy in a blue top was in it. I don’t actually remember kissing him but I had an intrusive thought about it and I don’t know how I managed to remember the blue top he was wearing. I’m so scared and I don’t know if I’m getting all these details confused somehow as I don’t remember kissing anyone but it also feels so real.

You guys. Do not underestimate the power of a long walk outside. Doesn’t matter how cold it is outside. Put on your coat. Walk for about an hour. Don’t check to see if you feel better. Just do it. Walking clears the mind not only in ocd peeps but in all people. Bonus points if you take your dog with you :)

Hello, I sometimes get confused with the recovery journey. I’m feeling a bit off it today, I feel anxious and that something going to go wrong. I’m not anxious about anything in particular just feeling off. I don’t know if being comforted (no reassured) but comforted is bad for recovery. You know when you just feel like you need a cuddle.

Hi guys!! This isn’t ocd related but I was wondering if I can please get some advice! Yesterday my partner and I got into a fight because he was playing video games and I decided to wait for him at night since we always FaceTime before bed. I was a bit disappointed as he took an hour when he know I was waiting for him so we can catch up before bed. He knows it’s important to me at the end of the night to talk on the phone but when he called me (an hour later) he sounded so annoyed. We got into a fight and he basically said it was my fault for waiting and I could have gone to sleep. He doesn’t understand that I wanted to wait so I can talk to him. I just don’t feel appreciated at all. Also, I don’t know if anyone can relate to this but when he’s upset he calls me names. He’s called me a “fuc**** loser” “retard” and has said things like “are you dumb” when I confront him he thinks I’m too sensitive. Any advice?

sometimes when i’m anxious or have intrusive thoughts my hips involuntarily move foward for a quick second and it makes me think i do it bc i agree with my intrusive thoughts and that makes me panic … most of the time i don’t realize i did the movement until it already happened , there was one time where i knew it was about to happen and instead of fighting it i just let it happen ( i thought ignoring it will make it go away )which made me feel even worse … any advice ?

So I was watching a kids show Nicky Ricky dicky and Dawn and I kept getting intrusive thoughts about the kids. I don’t know why but I keep thinking whenever I see them “they’re a beautiful/handsome/adorable kid” then a good while after that an intrusive thought pops up and is like “oh so you’re attracted to them” and I freak the fuck out because no I’m just complimenting them. Then it starts all over again. And I’m questioning whether or not the intrusive thought is true. And on top of that I can’t feel emotions and it’s making this worse. Pls help idk what to do im about to cry for the second time today and it’s only 9 am I woke up 2 hours ago like wtf. Anyway also I found out ocd is chronic ????

I’ve been having weird impulsive thoughts (I think they are at least) and it’s been stressing me out. Especially because when I get them I feel emotionless. Like I’m incapable of feeling any emotions even I try to. Like when I see something bad happen, an impulsive thought comes up about it I suddenly don’t feel any sympathy or literally any emotion and it’s making me freak out and stressed. Like is this how I actually feel or what 😭.

Anyone else have a fear of feeling good? I have felt so poorly for so long, that when I have moments of clarity or reduced anxiety it feels wrong and my brain says I should not feel good and I start ruminating about how I’m still ill and need to compulsively check my bodily sensations (heartbeat, breathing, digestion, aches and pains). I just wish my mind could accept that it’s ok to feel well.

I am diagnosed with pure ocd and i started taking sertraline for it a few days ago, i'm really hoping it will help. Honestly ocd is the hardest things i've ever dealt with and i'm still actively dealing with it does anyone know how to help with obsessive thoughts or anything i could be doing along with the medication to help with this? The thoughts completely control my everyday life and it's hard to maintain my relationships or even function.

Having a severe OCD spike and I want to engage in compulsions. Anyone got any tips? Seriously struggling to just sit with it 😞.

I accidentally misgendered my friend today. They recently came out to me as nonbinary and when I was talking in a group chat with them I called them a man. I immediately was going to correct myself, but then I didn't because I didn't want to just out them without their permission so I didn't. Anyway my friend messaged me about it and I apologized a few times and explained why I didn't correct myself, and I promised it wouldn't happen again. They're ok with it but I just feel the guilt eating me up. Everytime I make a mistake it feels like a stain on my person I can never remove, like I'm permanently tainted. I feel like such an awful person. The craziest part is im nonbinary myself. This friend has misgendered me before several times and I never really get upset with them, I've corrected them a couple times but I stopped because I felt obnoxious doing it so much. And I turned around and did the same thing. I feel so bad I don't know what to do with myself. I feel so anxious and I want to cry. Morality OCD is hell, every mistake I make feels like proof im some awful irredeemable person. And I feel bad talking about it because it feels like gaining sympathy to excuse bad things I've done. I dont know how to deal.

sometimes when i’m anxious/nervous i move my hips foward for a second involuntarily… i don’t know why but it happens when im sitting down or standing up ….. my question is should i let it happen or should i try to stop it ?

So since everyday is a new intrusive thought for me at this point my brain was like,what if instead lf everyday,make it every second which led me to what if i turned everything into an intrusive thought,now my brain is actively trying to turn anything i see into an intrusive thought,instead of just letting them come to me.

whenever i’m anxious my body twitches involuntarily…. to get over this should i not think much about it ? should i just let it happen without trying to stop it ?

sometimes when i have an intrusive thought or i’m anxious my body tics and it makes me think im agreeing with my intrusive thoughts… any advice?

Can staying up late and being bored make OCD worse ? Or make it feel extremely confusing and real? I feel like ever since I've started to stay up later the boredom has been getting to me making me think and research for hours but I'm wondering if anyone feels the same ?

… some days i admit , ocd sucks bad . Some days i feel no ocd , then there is those days where i have weird ass thoughts , better take care of my brain . no drugs or alc for me

Hey guys! My name is Carolyn, and I struggle with OCD, but I just wanted to share a few tips with everyone that my therapists gave me, and that I feel like it could a lot of us. I struggle with repetitive behaviors and if I don’t repeat them then I feel like something bad will happen. My therapist told me that instead of repeating it, say to myself that it’s not me wanting to repeat it, it’s my OCD. trying to make me to repeat it. OCD is the bully it’s not you, it’s trying to control you, don’t let it control, you be the one to control it, remind yourself that you are the boss of your brain, it’s not the boss of you. If you don’t try your best to give in effort to get better, then OCD will just keep on controlling and affecting your life and those around you. So if you want to get better, ignore the bully, OCD, walk away from it, it’s just trying to annoy you, because it knows how much better you’ll be without it.

I don’t drink that often but notice when I do my triggers become so much more sensitive and anxiety and intrusive thoughts sky rocket. Anyone else?

I feel like my intrusive images are at the foreground and what my eyes actually see is in the background Like tracing paper over my eyes Does anyone relate?

Don’t you just love it when you’re out in public and a random intrusive thought flutters through your mind and “attaches” to a random person and you of course worry it may become true or is true? I know it won’t with what I had happened to me today when the intrusive thought happened, but it’s a distressing thought despite the fact that It is untrue. What helps me from having a meltdown is reminding myself just because I thought it does not mean it’s true. Because if that were the case any and all intrusive thoughts could be true and I have a magical brain like professor X (reference to X-Men for those of you who may not know). What helps you all? Anyways, I hope you’re all having a wonderful day. Stay strong!

Don’t you just love it when you’re out in public and a random intrusive thought flutters through your mind and “attaches” to a random person and you of course worry it may become true or is true? I know it won’t with what I had happened to me today when the intrusive thought happened, but it’s a distressing thought despite the fact that It is untrue. What helps me from having a meltdown is reminding myself just because I thought it does not mean it’s true. Because if that were the case any and all intrusive thoughts could be true and I have a magical brain like professor X (reference to X-Men for those of you who may not know). What helps you all? Anyways, I hope you’re all having a wonderful day. Stay strong!

Today was..mentally and emotionally chaotic. I had a panic attack and told my sister everything that’s been wrong with me. Thankfully she doesn’t think the worst, it’s been the same answer with everyone else that I’ve told as well. But there’s still so many ways where I still feel convinced. For one, I apologize for my persistent posting on here. I think deep down I know what I’m doing and want from posting all of this, and it’s ultimately reassurance. I want someone to tell me it’s not what I fear and it’s just OCD, undiagnosed or not. I’ve grown reliant on those brief moments of relief I’d get from you and the ones closest to me. Two, I really need to understand that I need to accept the uncertainty, if that’s what’s happening. I’ve been trying my hardest to figure it all out and all I’ve been doing is just convincing myself more and more of all of it. Applying and identifying with all of these horrible things and now I can’t go back to where I was before. How do I move on from all of this despite it still being there? It’s scary and depressing cause when I try not to worry about it it feels like I’m just accepting it and making peace with it. It feels wrong. But in conclusion, until my appointment, I’m gonna be as distant as possible from this app along with posting on here and trying to go about things differently. I hope and wish you all a wonderful and peaceful recovery and happy holidays. Thank you to everyone that’s been there and trying to help me ground myself in reality. See you guys soon :) good night.

Hi everyone. I have dealt with pure o symptoms for a long time and have had success by myself for awhile. I have gone through a long period of stress and a lot of my thoughts have gotten worse. I’m hopeful that in time I can see my way through again.

Who here is dealing with this nightmare?

I’ve been sleeping great for the last few months, but just recently I have been having a hard time sleeping at night even if I try to take a nap. So obviously I’m more tired than normal, which makes my ocd worse. Now when I try to fall I sleep i have anxiety flare up and makes it even harder to fall asleep. I’m literally tired trying to fall asleep relaxed and comfortable and can’t. Does anyone else have this problem?

Hey everyone, just was wondering if anyone else has the fear of wasting time. Like I love acting and the dramatic arts, but lately I’ve been just hyper worried that it’s all just at a waste of time so why do it,.you’re not even being your self and your saying pre written words like a puppet so why do it? Stuff like that and it’s really bugging me.

I was teetering on the edge of slipping into an episode. Unfortunately, because I was stressed I made some poor choices and made some mistakes that probably offended people. Trying really hard not to shame myself but all I can think about is how bad did I mess up and should I message people to apologize. I have to get on with my day and not get stuck here. I'm crying a lot these last two days. I wish I was less harsh on myself. I just meditated to try and help calm myself.

Does anyone wanna drop some questions i should ask my psychiatrist today!? gonna talk about meds for the first time for my ocd!

I have the belief that I also go through health concern ocd since before starting soocd I had already had episodes where I became obsessed with the fact that I was sick and in the end I had nothing, I have alternated these topics and currently I think the health topic is coming back I am suspicious that I know I may be suffering but I am looking to compare symptoms and I am worried that it is not what I think it is and is something serious, does it sound like OCD?

Does anyone ever feel like every conversation they have with the opposite sex you just HaVE to tell your partner or you feel like your lying or hiding something? For some reason, this happened back in March.. I was looking for advice on here and it was a sensitive topic ( maybe that’s why I feel like I have to tell my husband) because I shouldn’t be talking about this stuff in general, well I’m not sure who comments on posts and a male did and gave his advice and on the thread he ended with let me know if you want to chat, which triggered me. I even said it did. Idk why? Maybe bc of the topic my ocd was about that I shouldn’t be talking about it especially with another person or gender .. I should have posted about only having women comment but I didn’t even think of that. So anyway, someone commented and told me basically “who cares what you fantasize about everyone does it but I can see why you think your cheating” and then it ended with the opposite gender saying “let me know if you need to chat” to which I said made me feel worse and I would no longer answer back bc I guess I took it the wrong way, the conversation was sensitive topic and I feel wrong for even speaking about it with another person let alone opposite gender. So now my ocd has me feeling guilty like I’m hiding something from my husband by not telling him about this: I know if I did he would not take it lightly. He’s not the type I can speak to about this stuff without him thinking the worst so I’ve resorted to support pages. Has anyone ever dealt with this? Idk why I think I have to tell my husband every interaction or convo I have and if I don’t I’m doing something wrong and hiding something from him :/

So I’m currently at work and I often get this feeling like they all hate me and are putting up with me and don’t want me around. What didn’t help is that I overheard two coworkers laughing about me taking medication (not OCD related/ blood pressure from pregnancy) every morning and I feel extremely uncomfortable and I’m avoiding everyone by sitting in the break room to do my tasks. It just sucks because I feel like I got that confirmation that it’s true and they all hate me and think I suck. It makes me also want to avoid our upcoming holiday party :/

Does anybody else get triggered sometimes by what people post, cause I regret opening the app so early in the morning:)

Hello everyone, I am new to this group and its been great seeing all these posts about living with OCD! I have been looking for a community to gain some perspective on other people’s experiences, and it all feels comforting to know that I am not alone in this. As for my own story, I’ve been diagnosed with OCD since I was 11! Funny enough, it pushed me to go for a career in neuroscience and now in clinical psych. Even though I chose this path to understand my habits, I am still struggling to be the role of my own therapist lol. OCD has been weird in that it’s changed for me throughout the years, mostly in terms of subtypes and fears. The new current fixation I am struggling with is the constant fear of going to prison for simple mistakes I’ve made, or for distorted memories that I have of my life. I am hoping I can work through these with time and practice on managing the thoughts. Here’s to a new year of help and healing :)!

Let’s shine some light on OCD and our creative brains. What’s the weirdest thought you’ve had?

My therapist often asked me this during our sessions and it’s helped me immensely realize how almost all of my intrusive thoughts all will lead to the same core fear in the end. She would ask me “what would it mean if that were true/ what would happen if that were true?” And I would answer and then she would ask again and again and I would realize that for all my intrusive thoughts it would all lead to the same conclusion. This helped me lean in and accept uncertainty since ocd will make assumptions about the future but there is no certainty that will actually occur. Try this out sometime and see if it works for you!

So I seem to have ego syntonic thoughts and that’s really scaring me. Like I’m genuinely attracted to people way younger or way older than me etc. Any advice?

What are some ways for me to stop trying to figure things out, and not let guilt feel me in?

I had a thought earlier, was I dreaming of was I awake. I know this thought worried me and made me anxious, but I cannot remember what it was, I am trying to remember why I was worrying about but I have no idea. Has anyone ever heard or known of things like that? Or has any personal experience on how you don't ruminate on something you can't remember exactly what it was you were worried about?

What would compulsions look like if I thought I done something awful one night intoxicated I don’t know if I’m oblivious to them

Does anyone else get depressed and triggered whenever they see others stories on social media? Most people I know and follow post about their life and then I feel like I’m not living my life and it makes depressed and I start ruminating and catastrophizing I’m thinking about muting their stories and avoid watching them but is that considered to be a compulsion?

Last night I was talking to my bosses about my trip away and I’m how nervous for Australia because of the snakes and spiders, they freak me out I hate them. And we were laughing and chatting and they asked what I didn’t like and I don’t like the way they move of the feel of them or the way they could just go for me and win, how the way they move and their bones feels unnatural and grim and what’s their purpose? Like why? Then I said it’s the same with wasps and flies like why do we need your please leave! And now idk why but I’m freaking out that I’ve said something wrong with calling snakes unnatural and I don’t like ghem. Basically my brain has taken what I said and made it sound like I’m talking about people who are gay. My bosses are gay and as soon as I said it my brain went “oh they hate you now they think your talking about them” when I know I wasn’t but it’s only because my boss laughed at the work unnatural my brain then said oh he’s thinking this. So now I’m sat here stressed out because I said that about snakes and spiders and my brain is now lyring to me to convince myself of horrible things just to have me panic, it’s like it wants me to stress out over shit I haven’t even said! Yes I said unnatural, but about a snake and spider because I fucjing hate them. Now I’m thinking “oh that’s homophobic” but I never said anything like that! I’m far from homophobic, I support and believe that people should be allowed to be whoever they wanna be it’s one life people get on with it and get out of peoples business. But why is this happening? Im severely worried they think I meant it like that, that I think things are unnatural when I literally meant the movement and feel of a snake and a spider. I hate this so much

How would you feel if you found out you and your northern in law share the same set of great-great grandparents? Making my husband my third cousin once removed. We’ve been together for 7 years and found this out by a distant cousin. Idk how to feel. Idk if it’s my ROCD or just gut. I can’t get passed it

I’m having anxiety just to post so I think I’ll just start with that to get over it, so to speak. I’m disturbed by the thoughts or desires, I guess you could say, that I have sometimes. I hate it. I feel like I have no control over it. Out of nowhere sometimes I can have big feelings and disturbing thoughts and I don’t feel safe to share them. I want to cry and I’m already starting to. I guess I’m a sensitive person and have reached my limit. I feel like I can’t handle things and like I’m losing it and I’m scared.

Does anyone look back in the past when their OCD was not as bad and wish they could go back? It honestly makes me quite emotional when I look back at pictures when I was in a better place than currently.

Holy crap how do y’all not engage with your thoughts? I try to ignore them, and my anxiety skyrockets, and then I’m spiraling out of control. Every time I think I get over one thought another comes in and I’m not doing well at all🙃

anyone have any luck with this med? tapering off lexapro and trying this.. hope I find some relief 🙏🏻

I know groinal responses are a thing but can it be the same for like, the 'butterflies' feeling? (I don't know what else to call the feeling, like stomach turning? I don't know) I dont get groinal responses as much as I used to be lately I seem to be getting the 'butterflies' feeling/feeling hot in response to anything even slightly suggestive. It's kind of annoying but I don't know if it's an OCD symptom or if something is wrong or what :'D my OCD sexualizes EVERYTHING but I don't know if it's OCD because it's not always a groinal response. Has anyone else experienced something similar?

i said a joke about my intrusive thoughts and now my brain is thinking “ was it a joke or do you actually agree with your intrusive thoughts “ ….

- when i get an intrusive thought that starts with “i am” or something horrible, i take a deep breath, stare at what’s in front of me, and say in my head “my intrusive thoughts do not speak for me, nor do they represent me”. and that’s it! i find that this tip helps a LOT with my pure ocd. in my case my intrusive thoughts repeat and say horrible things and i spend a lot of time trying to control them. this is short and shuts them up almost immediately. i guess it could be considered a compulsion, but it’s a pretty helpful one if that! hopefully this could be helpful!!

Fat kid growing up, was picked on, even by my mother, got harm ocd at age 19, flunked out of college, fought my way back, made it to grad school , flunked out of grad school after a harm ocd relapse, had to move home, and at age 48 I still live at home, never made more than 11 dollars an hour, developed borderline personality disorder after mom died in 2008, got fired from my job in 2011, got fired from another job in 2013, and haven't worked since, broke my back in 2015, spent a year in bed, had surgery, had a bad reaction to the anesthesia for 2 years, applied to 500 jobs, my grandma died, Covid 19 happened, my dad got cancer and I am forced to be his caregiver, despite the fact he's the subject of my harm OCD. Oh and I forgot I quit paxil cold turkey after 16 years and my brain has not recovered. People say I'm always angry, worried and unhappy. Why should I be? I won the misery lottery, and every day gets worse than the next.

Not bad. Today was a new start at trying to change my mood, no outbursts, controlling my temper when my brain was going a billion about different scenarios on how to act towards my family. No violent thoughts, for once, which is very good for me. This is day one of my journey.