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OCD Advice
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Hi everyone, I've been recently diagnosed with OCD and sometimes finding it hard. My obsessions sometimes are if I don't do a compulsion that I will be cursed and forever think about that compulsion. I have been doing good at home dealing with my obsessions and compulsions but now I find when I leave home, I am sometimes obsessed about things outside, like not walking over something correctly, the way I look at things and when I am driving if I see things, sometimes I need to turn back around and look at them again. It gives me a lot of anxiety; I am working with a psychologist and psychiatrist at the moment and trialing medication for the anxiety. I also sometimes hate doing things on certain numbers.
I was wondering if anyone else may have the same obsessions as me or is dealing with a high level of OCD that could probably give me some advice. I do know a lot of it starts when I am angry or stressed and I try to deal with that emotion and identify it, we are doing exposure therapy and making slow progress, but I had a massive break down yesterday where I broke down crying saying how much I hate having this disorder.
So, if anyone is going through OCD themselves or have managed to control it, I would love to hear from you and any advice you may have will be great. Thank you Kindly
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Hi there 🙂,
I have OCD and it manifests in checking, counting and intrusive thoughts.
As a child I used to have to chew my food on both sides of my mouth and then the front. If I turned around in a circle 3 times, I had to turn back the other way 3 times or else I felt unbalanced or “not right”. I grew out of that as a teen,but gained others through using the bathroom before school and every break at school. Everyone at my year level in school knew I did that for my whole high school years. But if I tried to stop it, I could not think of anything else until I used the toilet.
As an adult I count the cards in my purse everytime I take it out to pay for anything, then I check my handbag up to ten different times when I am out of my house, to count my important items are in my bag. I see them, I can acknowledge that I see them, but I can’t stop the need to recheck. I check doors and windows at night before I go to sleep. Even doors I know haven’t been opened for days. I know they haven’t been open, but I still need to physically check again. Or I can’t go to actual sleep. It is part of the routine.
I understand that it can interrupt your daily life and activities. I empathise with being tired of it being apart of your life and wanting it to stop. I applaud you for seeking help and working on these things with your mental health professionals. And your bravery to share here.
A psychologist shared a tip to try that was saying to myself out loud. “I have checked this window.”It is in an assertive tone. And then move away from the window. I am trying this. They shared that it will still be uncomfortable to leave the window, but that there will always be anxiety. In either leaving the window or feeding my OCD by checking it again. But it may be productive in leaving the window. Versus checking it again. Exposure to the anxiety may help reduce how long it takes to check and move on to the next thing.
My compulsions become heavier when I am stressed and overwhelmed. They take much longer to complete and for my “read” to be satisfactory. But I can understand that many of my compulsions are about control of potential dangers. That is why they started and continue to this day.
Remembering to be kind to ourselves is a great habit to maintain. We are already stressed and tired. Self-compassion and kindness in little things like a face mask, a new fragrance/colonge, a new set of pj’s or your favourite meal, means you are putting yourself first and treating yourself kindly during rough times.
Components of OCD can often be intrusive and unwanted. We may not be able to stop them from happening. So this is where kindness is really important.
I hope this may have helped in a little way. Or that you know you aren’t alone. I also am apart of an online support group for OCD. They exist and I found my group very helpful. Perhaps there is something in your area or online that you could try.
Wishing you well,
ABC01
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Hi ABC01,
Thank you very much for sharing your story with me, it's nice to know we aren't alone and learning about other people's OCD. I will try to find an online support group in my area, that is a good idea. Every time I get on top of one thing, I always seem to find something new. But I am hopeful that I will get on top of this and control it.
Thanks again for replying.
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You are welcome.
However it is better to try to have realistic expectations. Life continually throws things at us and we never are quiet. Sometimes just aiming to walk beside the OCD monster for a day or two vs always attacking it trying to get rid of it, may be the way to go. It can give you time to rebalance yourself or take a mental rest.
Please do take care of yourself. Always here to chat.
ABC01
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Hi ABC01,
Thank you for that, I will take all your advice on board. I found an online support group that I will be attending.
Thanks again.