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Hi tottenh Welcome to the forum as well. They will be certain ones that are giving him pleasure and ones that are causing stress, I agree with Snowbear that focus on getting rid of the ones that are causing stress, That hobby he has sounds cool and he must be getting pleasure from it. I notice people enjoy collecting lots of items and it must give them a lot of pleasure. The hobby itself sounds good but they will be elements within that hobby that might be causing him stress, for example I used to love collecting or building my collection for video games in the past, an unhealthily approach I had was I remember once I checked every disc just to see it never had too many scratches on it. I knew deep down this there was no point to doing this as I knew I usually kept them in not a bad condition. In my mind it felt like I needed to check all the games and I knew this was a big waste of time and could even even cause unnecessary stress as well.

Hi Snowbear That's an interesting point you raise there Snowbear. I notice when I was searching for proofreaders a lot of them do focus on many aspects when it comes to the proofreading. At the time of posting my message I managed to get someone to give it a go. I'm still learning more about how the proofreading system goes, funny thing was I was looking around for proofreaders online and I noticed you can make good money from it and they do as you were saying a lot of content and opinion based proofreading. I managed to get someone to give it a proofread and I will bear in mind what you were saying, the grammar and spelling might be the one I'm probably going to focus on more at the moment. Out of interesting how have you found the proofreading yourself? Is it a difficult one to do or is it the more you do it the more used to it you become. Thanks for the help and wishing me success Snowbear.

I hope this is okay post this. I've been writing a book and wanted someone to maybe give it a quick proofread to see if everything is okay. Maybe Check for typos or anything that shouldn't be there. That will be a big help to myself and the book I might be self publishing to raise awareness about Harm Ocd. The book is about four fictional Characters who suffer from harm ocd where you get urges act on the thoughts you are getting. I could maybe post the attachment as a private message if that's okay. If you post me a private message with your e-mail address and I could send you the manuscript if that's okay.

I used to get the urge to burp but I wasn't able to unless I took some fizzy juice with the tablets. When I was unable to burp it felt so horrible.

Hi John, Hi everyone It's scary to the sufferer harm ocd, I felt ashamed of something that happened in the past, I was 13 years old finishing off some homework then out of nowhere I got these thoughts telling me to stick the pencil into the wire and I went through with this, it ended up I started doing this around the house then I felt so guilty that I used tip-ex to cover up what I had done. We certainly do deserve to enjoy life and don't let the ocd ruin that for us. That's a really good post Roopoo47 about the survival mode. The thing is as well is that doctors will ask that question about ever acting on a thought, it can be scary but the doctor or therapists probably have to ask those questions.

This is a good positive thread. ? I had a little bit of a thing today as I was in the shops buying some donuts, I know I shouldn't but I was lifting the donuts I felt something walking on my thumb, it was one of those small flies. I don't like flies. Usually anytime I see a fly I automatically think it's going to go up my nose. My main ocd is the harm one. An achievement that happened yesterday, I was meeting up for a running group, we did roughly a mile running but by near the end of it I felt out of breath and wasn't really wanting to be competitive, I was merely testing myself to see if I could mostly run the mile. I felt proud doing that as I'm not the most healthiest person around. I used to love the running a long time ago back in my school days, I did the cross countries and shorter sprint type runs which I did not too bad in.

Only natural to feel anxious in general about the situation but don't let the ocd have it's way here, relaxation is probably the advice I would give, take things easy which will probably give the ocd less power.

Hi Flic, Hi everyone I usually get the harm ocd thoughts in relation to the covid like I could give someone the covid by coughing on someone. Ocd can really have an impact on us and it stops doing the things we love. The harm ocd makes me think I'm going to do something bad even though I'm 100% against the idea of doing something bad, That's a lot of us in the Glasgow area of Scotland in lockdown an announcement made today by the Scottish government. The lockdown can have an impact on our ocd, as we might be spending more times indoors and maybe that might mean more times our mind. Is your area in lockdown Flic, I'm wondering as I think getting out and about is very important to our mental health. The fresh air does wonders.

I think BelAnna is right they are strict about the housing benefit aspect. I'm getting PIP and my mum is my carer.

Oh this is quite a good question and subject, We meet again Orwell. To me I think I would feel guilty if I was to use the tough love approach. I tend to feel that compassion is a really good way to go. The other day my dad and I had a discussion about using the word lazy, I don't like that word as I see it depicts a very negative thing. On the other side of things yes I feel that it is a good thing to challenge peoples thinking. I think I needed that at times. I'll keep an eye on this topic for sure.

Hi Wonderer I think I knew what was going to happen or some sort of feeling, it was thoughts like if my mind was telling me to do something, I felt as if I had to do it. (Now my reason for acting on the thoughts are complicated but I'll have a go hoping not to confuse anyone. The main reason being was that I pictured myself living this life again but having not been strong enough to control the exact same urges so when faced with those thoughts it felt as if I had to act on the thoughts. It hopes it makes a little bit of sense as my mind did seem like an enigma back then. Sorry to hear that your son was very distressed, that must of been frightening seeing him do that Wonderer. I think with those thoughts and actions we probably have to keep stress to a minimum, the same with myself, I think I'm handling stressful situations a bit better now than I used to. I did feel a bit suicidal around the time of getting a diagnosis and I was crying a few times not because of the diagnosis itself but because I was more able to talk about the ocd and I was letting the emotions get to me. I did put a knife to my throat, it was more to do with the, (You would of acted on it if we relived the same moment). I did do the movement where I imagined myself cutting my throat, I did hurt myself a little bit by pushing the knife into the throat area. Thanks sharing Wonderer and others.

Hi everyone Lots of good and interesting questions getting asked, yeah I thought I'll chip in. It's me again. (I have ASD and ocd as well) I think I still do the hand shaking as it was something I started doing a long time, it was more severe a long time ago where I would pick up coat hangers or other toys or objects I could find and start to shake them. I tend to be more secretive now when it comes to the hand shaking, maybe people still notice but it's not what it was like in the past. I do believe our thinking can be a bit different with ASD. I have a great interest in quiz shows where I enjoy remembering quiz related facts. I went through a very strange phase, this was probably something I never mentioned about much as I was probably focusing on the harm ocd more but maybe this is part of ocd or asd where my mind was telling me to do things and those things did seem a bit dangerous. I stuck the sharp part of the pencil into wires that were around the house, I must of been around the age of 13. It was scary, feeling like you have to do the thoughts you are getting. My mind was telling me to bite down hard on the wires, I had braces on at the time. I remember biting some wires, it was old wires and some new ones.

I don't think I got anything for the mobility part but I did get more for other part, my mum was mentioning that I'm getting more money than before. I think it went in my favour as I'm doing a few hours volunteering a week. I'm thinking of maybe getting a job in the future but see what happens if my ocd is improving well lets hope. (Just wait for whatever the next story in the news is going to be) I need to face the news and be strong. I don't want to confuse anyone but I feel as if the ESA might be a bit easier than the PIP if anyone is not getting much with the PIP, maybe go for ESA, I guess if you are not working. Don't get me wrong I think the medical you have to pass is strict and I can understand why. I got called in for an interview and they were just checking over that the things that were mentioned on the form were true. (I think that's what they did)

Hi PhilM There was an article mentioning that all 1.6 million claims are to be reviewed, this could probably take sometime. The government never challenged the courts decision. Pip I think they are going look into the mobility part for people who suffer from mental health conditions. I'm receiving PIP support. I think Phil is right it's not to do with whether you work or not but sometimes might ask this question if it something you put in the PIP form. You could try for the ESA Phil if that is something you have not put a claim in for. Ocd is very hard to live with as it is and I feel that support can be of great benefit, PIP or ESA, I understand they are strict when it comes to the medical. You might see my comment on that bbc news website I posted.

Try to keep a calm approach to things. Does sound like it is a lot of money but sometimes it might be the best option Paul. I have autistic spectrum disorder and it probably does make me think a lot differently to most people. Things can be very complicated but it does not have to be that way, we can get through this. I know this might sound like unusual advice but let him know that you care a lot about him. All the best Graeme

Thanks Ashley for getting the right contacts for the ocd story. That's my story in the newspaper (The sunday post) Hoping the link works okay

Hi Ashley I like the whole idea of sharing our story. One I would like to go for if possible is sharing my story in a newspaper. (I'm a harm ocd sufferer)

Hi Swimming Your son sounds scared, I'm thinking that he sounds scared about the whole scenario and very understandable. I think with contamination ocd it can leave someone in a very fragile state not being able to do the things that they want to do, maybe when it comes to getting help that very prospect can seem extremely scary not that we should discourage it but take the tiny steps towards it. I agree with Nid, I think being alone could make his condition worse, sometimes it can be that he needs the company. When I'm going out to the shops I tend to go out with my mum as I tend to feel a bit awkward if I'm going out on my own, I don't think I've done that for a long time. I can be hard to change our mindset about therapy and I've got the feeling that your son sees therapy as maybe a bad thing or something that's going to be hard work. Is that fair to say? Graeme

Hi fefee I've been wearing my ocd t-shirt when I go out to the shops, I noticed that it gets a bit of attention which is good I feel. I might maybe have a conversation about ocd if anyone asks see how it goes.I was thinking maybe it would be a good idea for me to take a photo of myself wearing the T-shirt. (A comfortable T-shirt ) That's my first day wearing the T-shirt going out and about, I might do it for the next couple of days, trying to get as many peoples attention as possible. Only thing was I have not posted anything on facebook as I don't feel comfortable posting about ocd on facebook but I would imagine people on facebook would be understanding.

Hi FooBoo88 Sorry don't have much time to write but I found this very interesting I'm a 1988 person too, One thing I was mentioning to someone was I believe it can be difficult if you have not got the company during the day i'e someone you can talk to and to spend time with yourself, I do feel lonelyness can have a massive impact on us. I had to take the last week or day off the volunteering because my thoughts felt very strong. I'm feeling a bit better now but at the time being my mums my carer and I've notice she has her health problems herself and as my dad runs his own business from home. My dad gets a lot of phone calls during the day but he has to tell people that he's working. I enjoy my mums company when we go to the shops, I wouldn't go that much myself but if someone goes with me I feel more relaxed, I can't explain why but it must be like a company thing. In your situation Fooboo I feel like you are looking for some company as well, sorry if I've misread but this is me sort of reading between the lines. :original: Hoping you are okay.

Hi HeadAboveWater I think you are examining the thoughts a lot here and I understand why these thoughts are causing you a lot of stress. Remember these words (You are not your thoughts) basically because you find the thoughts disturbing you won't act out on them.

Hi everyone I'm looking forward to ocd awareness week, I'm taking part and going to start talking to people about my condition, I hope I do okay. . My mum seems very interested when I talk about my condition and usually I talk about the type of thoughts I've been having and sometimes might talk about stories of other sufferers, I've been inspired by many sufferers on the two ocd forums. I remember when I told someone at the volunteering, they seemed very understanding and interested in what I was saying. I'm not too sure if I would be allowed to wear my ocd T-shirt at the volunteering as I was wondering if other charities would discourage it, Lets say someone came onto our website and started to raise awareness about cancer, would that be okay. I guess it's the way we go about it. It gets you thinking that sort of question. It will be an interesting week to see how it all goes, I remember my gran said something and even though it is not ocd related she told me that not many people seem to have the time to spend time with the elderly, I felt this does relate to ocd in the sense that we may start talking to someone about our condition and the person might not seem interested. That's a very positive post Roy.

Hi HeadAboveWater The very first example I used was probably more an exposure experiment for myself that was something that was causing me stress as I was reading a news article about an incidant that happened, Try not to worry about that one. Sorry I don't think I explained it well there, hope I have not caused you stress with what I was saying. (I admit I probably used bad examples) The point I was trying to get at was something you explained well in using the term (True Desires) I'm trying to think of examples I may hear in the news. When I was meaning it needs to be in your heart, (True Desires) exactly as what you said there. You need to try and let the thoughts go, don't examine whether it's your (True Desires) You know deep down the thoughts are not your true desires. PolarBear mentioned a very good point. So true

Hi HeadAboveWater (Hope you are doing okay) It is a tricky one when we do examine the thoughts more, the way I tend to think about it is if you really wanted to act on something bad you would really need to want to do it in your heart. (It never helps with what's in the news these days). Trying to think of an example, lets use the sex offending one. I do tend to notice that many sex offenders regret what they have done, I know it was something that they probably wanted to do at the time but afterwards they may have regretted it as they know how much suffering they have caused to the victim. I do hope sex offenders are getting the right help and support. Another quick example could be someone who wants to start fires, each time the person starts a fire it makes him or her feel good. I do get thoughts like what if I was start a fire, I know this is an ocd thought because deep down it's something I would be against because of the dangers of fire. So going back to the original question I do feel that if you want to act on something it would be in your heart, I hope that makes sense. I hope I have not caused you stress there. All the best Graeme

Hi Bruces You'll be fine I'm sure there is nothing to worry about, I sort of feel the same way when I'm on my own as if I was to walk into a pub or Mcdonalds for that matter it feels a bit on the hard side when I'm on my own. The butterflies do feel bad sometimes but if you can relax a bit more tonight that will ease the butterflies. Don't overthink the situation.