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Has anyone gotten sick and/or started antibiotics and your OCD suddenly flared up? It is the weirdest thing. I was fine and then Boom a flare up. Although not as bad of a flare up, it’s there.

Here's my story, I'm just your typical 33 year old, going through life, started feeling depressive/anxiety symptoms starting about 29.5. Benefitted from CBT immensely. I am also avid podcast listener and did a lot of diligent work on this path to self discovery, overcoming my people pleasing, learning to set boundaries, saying guilt free nos', standing up for myself without it wrecking me after, so on. My symptoms on most days are non existent, just the usual stuff, the seasonal depressions, and so on. The only thing I haven't fully mastered/managed/learned to manage has been my somatic symptoms. I get hyper aware of some sensation, or symptom, try to ignore it, goes away on its own, the mental triggers, I got that down, ignore/observe/let it fade away. Few years ago, I developed somatic breathing, where I suddenly become aware of my breathing, or feeling like there isn't enough of it, this started post pandemic. Think it had to do with a lot of anxiety, not having seen my family in years, so on. There was also some swallowing related somatic feelings too, I used to check my O2 sat. That was probably the trigger. It went away over the course of the years and became manageable and even one I totally overcame. Recently, I've been feeling kinda stuck, wanting some change, feeling like there is a permenence to the impermanence, coupled with a rather depressing and low sunlight winter, I am going through a bout of seasonal depression. My darling body and mind are taking care of me, being over protective, etc etc. Few weeks ago, I had a near fainting episode, with the trigger being fear itself. Coupled with dehydration, some exertion by taking too many stairs, I even remembered thinking, oh this is happening, it was brief, and I went to the ER, they were amazing, took so much care of me, did all kinds of tests, and determined that I was all good, just an unfortunate incident. Now my depression is making me not feel motivated to workout or anything, but I am high functioning and I get through it without much of a change in how I show up in the world. I was able to invariably conclude that the trigger was fear itself. And I recently heard a podcast where the doctor/speaker mentioned that for somatic symptoms, the distraction on onset of symptoms itself is the trigger. Much like when we shine a light on a strange thought. Although it's only been a week and a half. I'm already mostly back to normal, and grateful for all the support and kindness I've found during this time from family, friends, and the amazing doctors. Here is my little insight: there is a catch 22 about somatoform, the fear of the fear or fear of reoccurrence, or reading about the symptoms, even to educate yourself, are triggering. Much alike pure o. My only suggestion, compassion to yourself, and do your exposures when you are ready, don't rush. Love and wellbeing to you all.

I have extreme fear of rabies and it triggered my usually bearable ocd to the point i cant function normally. Whenever I pass by something on the ground resembling a bat my brain tells me its a bat and that I have touched it with my hand and that I have rabies now. Sometimes I take a photo of potential triggers to be sure I wont ruminate later aka ask myself what if it was this or that and i just look at the photo i took and be sure its nothing. The triggers are also becoming harder to bear everytime, for example 3 days ago it was night and I saw something small and dark on the ground and didnt see it clearly, phone was almost dead and i couldnt take a photo of it, probably wouldnt anyway because there were two people nearby so i just left myself a note in the phone that it was nothing and I didnt touch it, but you guessed it, my brain says its a bat and that i touched it, creating a false memory and now i feel like i cant know what actually happened..rn i cant think of anything but being terrified of dying of rabies because i cant trust my memory. I feel like Im going crazy

I didn't even realize. I'm about to get my period and my anxiety is higher. I'm noticing how my friend hasn't written back to my texts or hasn't answered the last 3 times I called. I think he doesn't want to be my friend anymore. I wrote a text and asked if I did something wrong and he didn't respond. My other friend annoyed me. And I think my other friend doesn't like me that much. I feel abandoned and forgotten and like I must be a bad friend or bad person or why would they all forget me like this. What did I do? Did I take my opinions too far? I've been picking at my skin, having a feeling of unrest. I just watch Netflix and lie on my couch to avoid it. I look okay, but I haven't worked in a year purposefully to find a new way, but I haven't found it yet. I'm doing so much, but it always feels like too little. I tell myself again and again that I'm doing enough, but there's always a voice that says no you're lazy, you're unhealthy and you're just making excuses. I hyperfixate on stupid solutions like blood tests, supplements, genetic testing to explain my symptoms my depression (or is it laziness) my anxiety, my lack of energy, my aches and pains. I quit all drugs and alcohol even caffeine. I track my sleep. I want to feel good. And believe it or not I was thinking I did feel good? Until the afternoon. I don't know. I really hope this is just some fucking b vitamin deficiency and I'll take some pills and be reborn as a human and not a trash pile. Look at me all perfect. With all my career, and my money, and friends who don't like me. Don't I look put together. I'm so imperfect and so scared of anyone finding out. I'm so scared to tell anyone how messed up I am on the inside. I rant to my therapist, my coaches, whoever but I'm just going around in circles. Without support I'd be fucking nuts. Thankfully I pay people to support me. Because no one would for free. Fuck my.life.

I lost my temper this morning because I can’t get into a routine with my meds. If I taje them late or early I’m in a bad mood for a lot of the day. I went full on street with a man over 70Rs which is about 50c US or 60p UK. I started having thoughts I’d end up in jail. I’m pretty sure I have ADHD so it is hard to take them at the exact time. I have an alarm set but I usually have left the house by the time it goes off. I’m also having thoughts that I’m getting psychosis. I have to figure out which hospital in this city has a psychiatric department so I can discuss my meds with someone. If I do take them on time for a while I feel amazing. 🤷‍♂️ I just wonder if anyone relates.

Hi, im relatively new to the community. I’m hoping I can reach out and hear from some people who have health ocd. I used to have perfectionism, or “everything right” ocd, but ever since an incident involving a health issue last year, it’s manifested into health ocd. It may have exacerbated by the death of someone close to me, as it was cancer-related, and that’s what my intrusive thoughts seem to be about most of the time lately. How do you deal with it, especially when you ARE someone that’s prone to health issues?

Was having really bad health anxiety worrying about chest pain being out of breath rapid heart rate. Went to the doctor today got an EKG done it came back normal have to follow up with cardiologist. But it’s so insane how anxiety can cause such crazy symptoms!!! Anyone else ?

I felt so understood when I learned that a characteristic of OCD is to question or doubt your own judgment. This is something I experienced quite frequently, and especially around my physical disability which causes pain. I wanted to ask if anybody else living with OCD and a disability or chronic illness sometimes questions their pain and has thought patterns along the lines of "this hurts... but does it really hurt?" Or " I don't feel good.... but do I just not feel good because I'm thinking about how I don't feel good?" Let me know in the comments if this is something you experience. Sending love and support to anyone living with OCD or other comorbid conditions. P.S- I have found OCD recovery YouTube Channel very validating

What's your experience with food & ocd? Curious how much you all feel your diet helps or affects you. It's actually helped me to reduce sugar and caffeine, only drinking decaf, but mainly being meat free again. No judgement on your lifestyle please share 🎃

Has anyone experienced weight gain while on lexapro? I was on it for many years with no weight changes, but recently gained weight without changing my diet or exercise and I’m wondering if lexapro could be contributing. Thanks!

For those of you who struggle with severe HA, how do you balance being your own advocate for your health with health anxiety. In my particular situation I have been to see a specialist who felt my situation was normal and recommended no tests or follow up. I have spiraled down the what if rabbit hole- what if they didn’t feel what I am feeling, what if they aren’t reading the same journal articles I am, what if something was missed and it’s going to fester. My friends and family feel I should accept the medical knowledge given and not seek a second opinion as that would be reassurance. So how do you find the balance?

I don’t know what to do anymore. Anytime I feel the highs OCD ruins it and I feel like I can’t be happy. Im 20 and I can’t imagine living the rest of my life like this. I have no idea what to do, im so hyper aware of my actions (blinking, etc) a complete hypochondriac and I cannot enjoy life anymore. There is no quality of life with horrible OCD.

Hi…I don’t know whenever I eat anything I feel heavy in my stomach and chest….i also feel tightness and heavy breathing is followed by….i Don’t know if it’s anything related to ocd or anxiety but every time I have a meal I feel this way. Does anybody has any advice on this?

I often convince myself I have some kinda of life threatening illness… currently colon/ rectal cancer is what I’m obsessing over… anyways I struggle on when seek medical attention because I don’t know when there’s a real medical issue or if it’s just ocd telling me there’s something wrong. Does anyone else struggle with this, and if so how to decide when so see a doctor or when to ignore it

I had surgery a month ago and it re-triggered my heath anxiety really really bad. I keep getting intrusive thoughts about having heart attacks, blood clots or dying and it’s starting to feel really unmanageable again. This has happened before where I would go to the hospital a lot and was basically agoraphobic because I needed to be near a hospital and was afraid to leave the house. I’ve been having a lot of compulsions lately too through checking. I have a blood pressure machine and a pulsometer, and it’s gotten bad again to the point where I need to have them with me all the time and check my vitals regularly. It’s exhausting :/ I’ve been off my Prozac for 3 years now and really don’t want to go back on but I’m starting to think I won’t have a choice.

I guess this post is just a rummage of thoughts. I have been wondering lately as to why some people respond well to medication and others do not. Im also very curious as to the real reason SSRI's work. Could there possibly be a hormone it works on that hasn't been found yet. Im not buying the seratonin theory. First, Psychiatrist are not doing bloodwork to see peoples seratonin levels before prescribing drugs. 2.) If it just low seratonin why does SSRI's not cure OCD? A lot of people who take SSRI'S only see a mild decrease in symptoms. Even at high dosages.Im interested in the data coming out on GABA. If they can see that the brain behaves abnormal during screenings what is causing so much misfiring. Why do some people develop it as children, while others have an onset later in life? Besides Pandas. More importantly for children who contract it during strep, why does it normalize. Its weird that one bout of strep could permanently damage your brain, especially one that is still forming. I would have thought it would autocorrect. Why are more women diagnosed than men? Like I said just thinking.

I'm paranoid that I have several things neurologically wrong with me, and my psychiatric NP made me feel so insulted and infantilized this week at our appointment that it triggered an extreme OCD episode that I've been stuck in all week. I'm dumping him, obviously, and I'm trying to get in with a psychiatrist ASAP. My father and I are being more serious than ever about getting me help. It's been an extremely tough week. I feel absolutely insane and psychotic for believing everything my OCD is telling me, but I can't turn it off, and I feel like everything I do to try and help myself is just a mental compulsion. I don't know what to think anymore, and I don't know when this episode will end. I miss feeling like myself. I feel like a completely different person and it's both horrifying and embarrassing.

This is the one thing I haven't told my family about and I don't know how to break it to them. I've been addicted to sex and pornography since I was a pre teen. It was when high school started that it interfered with my life. To this day it's all a problem. Intrusive thoughts about videos I've watched, intrusive thoughts about sexual acts that are regrettable and disgusting, and constantly worrying that I'm going to slip into my old habits, which one way or another is just me delaying the inevitable. In adulthood, it's been affecting me in different ways that haven't happened in my teen years. If I relapse to it late at night, I won't be able to sleep right for at most 2 days. Insomnia has been a reoccurring problem no thanks to this, stress, and OCD. I think it's also affected my fertility greatly. I'm still working on seeing a doctor about all of my health concerns. Truthfully I just want this to stop. I don't want to deal with this anymore. I don't want to keep watching out for triggers, have intrusive thoughts about anything sexual, or remember very unfortunate things I've seen in the past. There's a woman that I really do like genuinely for who she is. She's been on my mind for a long time now and I really do wish to get to know her more, but this awful addiction that I've been dealing with for almost a year now holds me back. This was never something I liked having in my life. Even as a teenager, I knew something was wrong. I had a hunch that this wasn't something that I should be okay. Through all the hijacked dopamine and changes in my mind, that was always on the other end of the spectrum for me.

Its currently 6:53am, woke up around 6:00am in a panic from a nightmare and I can’t fall back asleep. I have contamination ocd and emetophobia. At night i have a hard time falling asleep because every time ive gotten sick its been in the middle of the night while im sleeping. Before bed i usually get bad anxiety its going to happen again, even if theres no reason for it to happen. This obviously can trigger dreams about it, which then make me feel worse. Through out the day Ill overly manage my eating habits (no chicken certain days etc), take certain routes home to avoid getting sick, wash my hands when i can *feel* the germs on them, do certain tasks so it doesn’t make me sick etc. Its really getting to a point where i feel like its consuming me , and I need help but I am so scared to get it.

I literally cannot sleep in my room anymore! I just obsess over getting a kidney stone, or my appendix bursting cuz I have some stomach twinges. Oh, but wait, I might be having a brain aneurysm cuz I have had a headache since noon. Or maybe my gut burst and now I am having stomach pains because I have sepsis! Also, my mom had knee surgery so I, of course, am going to start having knee pain. Now, back to the stomach pains…… and on and on and on! I want to turn it off but it starts screaming in my head- over and over and over again while I try to sleep! What do I do?! I am making myself miserable!