Anxiety and OCD flare up...

[Mattimuss]

Hope everyone is well and doing their best.

It’s been awhile for myself being here however a recent flare up has bought me back. I was down in Melbourne over the weekend for the fights. Got into Melbourne Friday night, got to my hotel room and everything was fine, that was until I came back to my room Saturday afternoon. When I got back to the hotel room, I noticed I had slept in the room with the window open about 15-20cm all night. The curtains were closed and everything, the were also kind heavy however my ocd about bats reared it’s ugly head again after noticing the window had been open night without a screen. I’ve tried to block out the thoughts but that hasn’t been working, I don’t have another appointment til next week however I wish my ocd flare up would calm down. The odds of a bat getting in the room are very slim as also the whole motel is lit up with white led lights all over the place. I’m positive I would have woken up if there was a bat causing a muck being inside but logic doesn’t always work. Does anyone have any advice? Has something similar happened to you? Have you ever slept with a window open without a screen on it?
Thanks for and and all support

[Summer Rose]

Hi Mattimuss

I'm really sorry that your OCD is bothering you. My daughter has OCD so I understand how bothersome these irrational thoughts can be.

I want to reassure you that the evidence clearly shows there was no bat in your room.

A bat could not have gotten through the weighty curtains. The noise and smell of the bat would have definately woken you up. The bat would have had to have been super smart to get back out again.

Based on the evidence, I'm 100 per cent sure there was no bat in your room.

I sleep with the window open regularly and have done so for years. Nothing has ever gotten into my room.

It's okay, my friend. You are okay. These thoughts will pass.

Hang in there

[Mattimuss]

Thanks for the reply Summer Rose. I hope your daughter is doing good with her OCD.

I have been trying to convince myself that it’s really not possible for a bat to fly through a weighty curtain, they’re too light. Thanks for reassurance though, it does help.

Do you have screens over your windows? Also asking as bugs could be a nuisance I imagine when the weather heats up.

Thank you again for your words of reassurance though

[Summer Rose]

Hi

Because of the design of my windows there are no screens! They "wind out" if you know what I mean.

As we get into summer I need to close them due to insects but that has been the only issue.

I did have a bird fly in my house once through an open patio door. There was no way anyone could have missed it, as the bird was terrified and therefore very agitated which made it noisy and very active.

Do you have any distraction techniques that could help you at present?

[Mattimuss]

Oh yeah I know the windows your talking about.

I am feeling slightly less anxious today after also realising a lot of places down in Melbourne don’t have screens on the windows as of how the windows are, and their windows are open a lot.

I have been listening to podcasts when I can, also journaling always seems to help along with talking to family members. Also remembering to not google is always good as that causes more drama than anything else with anxiety and ocd flare ups.

[Summer Rose]

Hi

I'm glad you're feeling less anxious today. Your distraction techniques sound good. I agree: never google. It will only ever make things worse.

Have you ever tried exercise? Any kind of movement seems to really help my daughter. She says she needs to "shake it off" sometimes.

Of course time is also helpful. The thoughts will always eventually pass in time.

Kind thoughts to you

[Mattimuss]

I do try exercise most days, just been bad weather lately around me since getting back from Melbourne but hopefully the sun stays out tomorrow. I gave found similar to your daughter that it’s like needed and helpful to ‘shake it off’.

As much as I also say don’t google, at the start of any anxiety coming on I google without thinking which makes it worse. It’s addictive at times despite it causing nothing good