Struggling with OCD

[MZPN139]

I recently spent the night with my partner, we were close to being intimate, using protection, but did not end up going through with it. Since that night, I have not had my period, which would  not be off its schedule, and have experienced all the regular symptoms i get in the days before my period, but due to the lack of my period itself, its caused my obsessive and compulsive thoughts to spiral. Every rational thought I I have knows that I'm not pregnant but the lack of 100% confirmation has led to multiple panic attacks a day. I have repeated rituals in trying to "prove my thoughts wrong"  so often in a day that I can't think about anything else and my constant anxious-ness is making me feel very ill. 

[J1980]

Sounds like a classic case of OCD at work. No matter how many times you check/analyse/confess, OCD will never be satisfied. Try to allow yourself to feel what you are feeling, without trying to ruminate. Eventually the chemistry drops off and you look back and laugh at how silly it was.

Never forget OCD will always target what it knows will cause a reaction.

[Doors24]

Dear MZPN139,

As a sufferer of anxiety and OCD, I was wondering if perhaps you could eliminate the root of your intrusive thoughts? Could perhaps a pregnancy test that detects early pregnancy be helpful to try? That way you could have tangible proof to combat your thoughts? I am not sure what times are needed to take these tests, but it could be worth checking out.

Sometimes with my OCD I just have to tell myself “I have checked/seen/confirmed A,B&C. So leave it.” And then I do have sit in discomfort. But every time I do that, the anxiety goes down a little bit each time the intrusive thought cycles back around. Another thing that you could try is a grounding exercise in the moment. Somatic tapping exercises are helpful for me as they break the thought cycle by having to have to focus on the tapping that I am doing. They are easy to find with a quick search.

 I hope you are able to find calm soon with what you are feeling. You aren’t alone if you want to talk more.

Doors24