OCD Encouragement

[Ehmel]

Hello everyone,

I live with GAD, OCD and C-PTSD. My anxiety and OCD are on a serious spiral at the moment, and my mind+body and my family are suffering. I am seeing my psych, on meds etc. My self-care really fell by the wayside this year, so I am beginning that as much as I can again. (Modified because OCD is ruling my life).

Can I have some feel-good encouragement, please - a lot of you understand how I will be feeling, which is nice.
Any apps or literally anything that you have used and helped would be amazing too.

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Ehmel,

I struggle with anxiety, depression and PTSD…and know how hard it is to care for ourselves when struck down with a trigger…

One thing I do when I go to bed, when my mind is very active it too listen to gentle sleep stories, they calm my mind enough to get a decent sleep most nights…I have learnt that if we don’t get enough sleep nightly that it has a huge impact on our mental health…maybe you might give a sleep story a try tonight….I use YouTube…and search get sleepy….then up pops some stories and I just select one….

My self care today was to sit outside under the warmth of the sun…It’s important to take at least an hour out of each day for us…to do something that we like to do….If you have a lot to do through the day, then put something aside and spend some time on you…everything else can wait and isn’t no where near as important as your mental health is…

What kind of self care things do you like doing for yourself?…

You are being so pro active with seeing your psych…and trying to step forward in your self care…

My kindest thoughts Dear Ehmel with my care….

Grandy..

[Ehmel]

Thank you for your kind words, Grandy. I really do appreciate it; it was like a warm hug!

I haven't listened to a sleep story in such a long time, so I think will take your advice tonight and do just that.

I love to read, do yoga and walk in nature amongst trees. I haven't done any of that for a long time, so I started yoga again this week at home. I don't have it in me to go to classes yet. Baby steps, I guess.

Thank you again for being so kind ❤️

[Summer Rose]

Hi Ehmel

I support my daughter who also experiences GAD and OCD, so I have a good idea of what’s happening for you. I’m so sorry that you have to go through this. Hugs to you.

I’d just like to remind you that you are not your thoughts. And those thoughts that trouble you are just that, thoughts. They can’t hurt you.

You are taking very brave and sensible steps to improve your health and should be really proud. I’d like to encourage you to get out for a walk each day, or engage in any type of exercise that you enjoy. It will help lift your mood and provide some distraction.
You keep fighting to live your best life, and I’m confident you will get there. It can get better.

Kind thoughts to you

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Ehmel,

So true baby steps to start with…then eventually bigger steps can be taken, your doing so well in starting up yoga again…well done…when you’re ready and feel up to going…Is the right time to begin again…no rush Dear Ehmel…in your own time…

Walking in nature is so beautiful, my anxiety stops me from walking anywhere alone…I am lucky where I live, I have grazing land across my road that houses many trees and wildlife, sitting outside at least an hour a day is my main self care…Do you take pictures of things that you like on your walks…that’s away to move your walks up a notch and into a mindful walk, because while walking you’re also looking and taking in all your surroundings and trying to find things to take pictures of….

I used to love reading, unfortunately I cannot settle myself enough to read, now I listen to audio books mostly, and at night sleep stories…I think it’s about finding the right way that helps us to distract those constantly bombarding thoughts, onto a hobby or something else we like….

Did you manage to listen to a sleep story last night…if you did, did it help you go to sleep without the anxious thoughts you have?…it doesn’t matter hun if you didn’t listen to one last night…again, when you’re ready is the right time….

I hope today brings you a bit of peace and some light…A gentle reminder Dear Ehmel,  to please do some self care for your beautiful self today….because you are so valuable to your family, friends, yourself and us here at Beyond Blue..

If it’s okay, I would love to send you a very gentle warm and caring hug 🤗 Dear Ehmel..

Grandy..

[Mozaik]

Oh my! I can't pretend to know what you're going through. Just know that I don't know who you are, and I care anyway, I really do, because we here all suffer. I do use a sleep app, in case you might need one. It basically uses white noise, it's like a gentle crackling. There's a few of them around. The white noise is meant to just clear your mind, so you can sleep better. Of course, you'll always have your thoughts, but what I do, is I allow my thoughts to come through, then I acknowledge them, acknowledge what they're saying to me (or what I'm saying really), then I let them go, and move on to the next one, until all the thoughts in that space are cleared, and I can move on to a more quiet space in my mind, and I can try and relax. This will come in waves, and the ability to allow, then release, allow, then release takes practice.

Good luck... God Bless You!!