Symps07

I totally agree. I find NHS therapist's very rigid in their treatment. I've seen a couple of private therapist's and found them much more adaptable.

Makes sense. I guess that when we obsess on something, we automatically throw the thought up more, as we are thinking about it (whether we want to or not)? Thankyou for clarifying @Bev53 and @snowbear I still feel as though I know next to nothing

I thought OCD WAS intrusive thoughts that our brains throw out and want us to engage with?

Hi Breakfree, I also struggle with this. Often, I'll do ERP and find my focus drifting off or, I'll forget what the thought was in the first place. I also struggle with concentrating when talking to people. I've been referred for a ADHD referral, but it's a long process. So that may be a factor. But it may also be dissociation, like @Simonsky mentioned. Ive also done that since childhood.

Hi Intrusion, I feel as though I could have written your post myself, ad I can identify with all of what you have said here. I was very repressed for years and used to escape into fantasy worlds and imagined scenarios in my head and somewhere along the line, it entwined with my OCD which impacted on my relationship. Short answer to your post is, that I would advise you to treat it all as OCD. Try not to engage with the thoughts or question there meaning. Sometimes I will still end up fantasing about something, only for me to end up going down a rabbit hole and trigging myself. I don't know if you are seeing a counsellor or not? But I think that would be worthwhile. Symps

Hi Georgia, Sounds like he needs reporting to the police tbh... You need to try and unengage with these thoughts and try to resist the urge to ask for reassurance from your friends. It'll just send you round in circles and drive you mad. Maybe worth seeing a therapist if you haven't already, to help you with this? Symps

Hi NLL, I know it sucks. I was in the gym this morning using a machine and there was a young girl on the treadmill in front of me and I really wanted to look at her and believed that's what I wanted to do, but I took a minute to leave the thought be and not engage with it and the feeling went and I even forgot what I was thinking about. It's scary how real it feels at times, but if you can leave it be, it gets better. Stay strong mate, you can do this Symps

Hello, I used to worry I'd knocked cyclists off their bikes, and used to go back and check. I actually did my first erp over it! Checking doors are locked. That my handbrake is on, that the gas is on etc... and that I'd kick my boss too, for some reason I just try to be mindful in those situations and then not engage with the doubt. Symps

Hi Cora/Dust, I can relate to this as I am going through something similar. Horrible isn't it! It's easy to ruminate, check, compare, reassure, etc... but where does it get you? I think you have to try and leave the thoughts be and try and move on from them. Difficult, I know but it does feel better once you keep doing it, I just fall into trap of triggering myself all over again! Symps

Hi Greenlily, I am doing private therapy where I am doing schema therapy where we are looking at the roots behind my OCD (looking into why certain themes affect me and what triggers me). It stems back to my childhood and my fear of not doing the right/correct thing and being on the outside and being wrong. I've found it really useful.

Hi Callum, Welcome to the forums I don't have Asd, but I am glad you have received a formal diagnosis for that and OCD. Do find it has helped you manage both? Symps

Then I'd leave the thought be and don't let it ruin your life

Confessing, checking and reassurance are all compulsions. Is there any reasonable reason to confess? Or is it being blown out of proportion?

Hi Cam, It seems you already have the answer to this. I'm in a similar situation, where my thoughts are telling me I need to check something, but I know if I do, it'll just validate the thought and my anxiety will sky rocket. I'm trying to remember, that the obsession has nothing to do with the reality of the situation and focus on not giving it the attention it doesn't deserve. I hope you and your bf can enjoy your holiday, it's sounds amazing

Apologies, I'm on 50mg, it's Propananol I'm on 10mg of.

I'm on 10mg Sertraline, and I find it helps me. Just a note, my GP also put me on Propananol (apologies for spelling), as he said Sertraline didn't deal with anxiety.

Hi Hiroshi and welcome! I think I understand this. Sometimes I get triggered and I don’t really understand the obsession, as in I can't pinpoint the exact fear I'm having, what it means and so what I need to do erp to. Does that make sense? Symps

It could be your OCD trying to suck you back in? Ocd loves to create doubt.

I've not experienced it starting medication, but I've had phases of being triggered by my dreams. They'll lead me down a whole rabbit hole of rumination.

I try and treat it similar to ocd thoughts and not engage with it. The moment I go down that rabbit hole, there's only one winner and it's not me. I'm currently seeing a therapist to help me with childhood trauma, of which criticism makes up a big part of and also effects my OCD. My therapist told me to get a book, Breaking Negative Thinking Patterns by Gitta Jacob, Nannies van Genderen and Laura Seebauer. I've not read it all yet, but it seems to cover how we've been treated in the past has lead us to create habits to help us cope with the situation and also what beliefs they can lead us to develop. A lot of my ocd themes, are to do with being a bad person, being in the wrong and lack of certainty which I can see also relates back to that earlier criticism and the beliefs they left me with. Other than that, challenging the thoughts has helped, such as accepting that I was unfairly treated and no longer need to let the thoughts have power over me. Plus mindfulness (I struggle to do it by just sitting there, but playing my guitar or exercising works well). Hope some of this helps.

Here, here! Merry Christmas everyone

I've asked myself this same question many times. I've never been officially diagnosed with OCD eithe, although I've been in therapy for it twice but the treatments have helped me. A big part of OCD management is identifying what triggers us and when we're performing compulsions, and a having a the 'is this really OCD?' is probably one of the more common questions most people get. I suppose this could count as giving reassurance, although knowing OCD, the thought will come again. The point (I'm clumsily) trying to make is, OCD loves doubt, uncertainty, etc... we have to learn to live with it and certainly, don't let it put you seeking assistance.

Hi Gael, It may be your body getting used the change in medicine, I would have a word with your GP and explain the situation, it may just require time whilst you get used to them. Symps

It's been amazing seeing all the geese flying off for the winter. I don't think I've ever seen as many, flying altogether as I have this year, it's been quite the sight.

Hi Gael, I can only reiterate my advice to Mini from earlier in the thread. Hope you're feeling better today. Symps