Helpful Sayings In The Fight Against The Disorder - And Why

[taurean]

These are my sixpennyworth:

The Rough Is Only Mental

How often do we see a professional golfer face up to a lie of his ball that looks impossible, then produce a shot that at least means he can now see the green and has a good lie. He accepts he will lose one shot, and relaxes and turns his mind to seeking to prevent losing more than one shot - more often than not he may do this.

If It Seems Like OCD It Probably Is

OCD demands certainty, and uses that as a means to seek to keep us hooked on its barbs. But if we are aware of that, and tell ourselves to accept probability instead, we can trump it.

OCD Fundamentally Operates In Similar Fashion, Whatever The "Flavour Of The OCD Gravy"

It plugs into an underlying fear, and plays on that. Could be of losing control, of having done or might do something wrong bad or criminal, of revulsion, of being something repulsive and opposite to our core values eg sexual preference, of an exaggerated threat.

"Your OCD Is Not Likely To be Unique Or Worse Than Others"

We all think that it is, but it is not likely to be so. There are sadly thousands of people out there with significantly debilitating OCD.

We Can Challenge Our OCD, Many Of us Quite Well

OCD bangs a drum to tell us there is a case ot answer, it could be true, a real reason to fear, it is NOT an exaggeration of threat etc.

Therapy guides us to the conclusion that we are actually worrying about that, not knowing it to be true. It is more likely OCD.

Edited June 28, 2015 by taurean

[Guest lauren415]

Thanks for the post taurean, you make a lot of sense

[Rourke]

"When we experience doubt we experience fear. "

I know this is obvious but sometimes I need to get back to basics

"To live without OCD is to live with uncertainty "

Again obvious but for me keep it simple

"Don't give up 5 minutes before the miracle "

OCD hates us when we are positive

[taurean]

Well done Rourke, good stuff.

How about "OCD is an attention-grabber and likes to engage us in conversation, in order to trap us - but we must be as frosty as ice in declining that unwelcome offer" .

"Get to know your OCD, then bid it farewell by choosing to apply what you have learned about changing thinking and behaviours, so you may overcome or at least manage it".

Edited June 30, 2015 by taurean

[Cub]

Shout-out to 'If it feels like OCD it probably is.'

[taurean]

How about "Probability beats impossible-to-achieve certainty hands down".

[gingerbreadgirl]

I often find myself saying 'don't even go there' when I find my brain going down the rabbit hole of rumination. Has saved me numerous times.

[taurean]

To counter a "why me" compulsion, say "why not me".

Convert a "what if" to "what is" - refocusing from anxieties to actualities and rational thinking is a great counter-measure.

If you realise you are overthinking, analysing, itching to test or research or query/seek reassurance, recognise that you are compulsing. Deliberately cease, and switch focus away onto something beneficial and intensely distracting.

Edited July 1, 2015 by taurean

[taurean]

If at first you don't succeed, try try try again.

Resistance is never futile.

Take patience and persistence with you on your journey to fight OCD - they will soon become your greatest friends.

[Guest ADD]

I do the same thing ginger. Esp when my mind starts bringing up creative unwanted thoughts and intrusions about some subject or whatever. I tell it to STOP and don't go there and then distract and break the mental habit and pattern by interrupting the process. Sure thought stopping doesn't work when you're already in the rabbit hole though it does for averting falling into it if you catch the pattern in time.

People often talk about learning to surf the thoughts and waves though that does take a lot of practice and skill. Surfing is not easy and can be quite dangerous and pull you under, or make you a bloody mess. Fear and hestitation make you lose.

So it makes me think of the quote in the movie Blue Crush. "You can't hesitate, you can't pull back, you can't hold back. No fear. Alright? If you hold back for even a second, you'll eat it!"