GettingBetterDaily

It does help as OCD can be seen by done as an addiction (means of certain escape). However, AA concentrates heavily on addiction being permanent, or as the big book likes to put it an allergy. It can help, but you’re better off with ACT imho if you’re going that route.

At NLL I am pretty sure most ppl on here have been where you are now. Go home, you have a family that love you no matter your OCD. They love you because they know it’s not you, it’s the OCD. Nothing to feel guilty about my friend. We all have our struggles but the fact you have a conscience shows you must at your core be a half decent person. And ffs change your username

This is true. To add, it works best to refocus on positive things that mean something to you eg getting fit at the gym rather than scrolling aimlessly on social media

Can’t speak for others, but I will not reply on this thread anymore. The comfort you are seeking from these posts is the OCD. You are reassurance seeking. You are in the compulsion right now and all of your posts may be the compulsion, just like your “confessions” are the compulsion. I understand you are upset but your posts are no longer helping, in fact they are working against you. Just remember, the obsessions themselves are meaningless

This happened at work with me too, everyone was told something about me and it is what my ocd theme is centred. At first it was horrible, BUT now it came true there is nothing to fear. Subconsciously things are probably rewiring now and this could be a blessing in disguise

You have to remember it doesn’t matter the theme, the themes are all meaningless. OCD is meaningless, that’s why it clings on because it’s so baffling as to how something so meaningless can stick around. Imho all of it is a choice to achieve something, ask yourself what is OCD “positively” giving you?

I really find this hard to say this as OCD has ruled my life without a day off for 22 years, however I’m starting to understand this may have been a choice. I know it sounds crazy, and perhaps a choice I wasn’t conscious of for years, but now I see it could’ve been I’m really starting to get better. Its a consideration that I recommend.

Look into the four f’s of trauma response

Also in SW under Swansea board. Comms has been sporadic and yes, also got the short notice letter after being ghosted for 6 months. Another few months passed and I got a random call on a Thursday saying would you like to start on the coming Monday! Thankfully, I’m in a position atm to do so. My session time changes every week so god knows what the therapist is juggling. Know from experience that therapists are advised against this, but what can they do!?!? Glad I’m getting help but like much of the NHS atm, it is about getting the numbers down. Guess the therapists are also under immense pressure so they are perhaps not digging as deep/paying as much attention as they should. Also having therapy on Zoom. Yes, it is odd, but I know someone who was having group PTSD therapy their first time in therapy! Mad

If it helps, this could be a good sign From my perspective, OCD is a defence mechanism, meaning that if you’re close to changing/abandoning it, the defence system will throw everything it possibly can in order for you to not abandon it. Stay focused, it sounds like you’re alot better than you consciously realise.

Thanks guys, you’re right, a line in the sand and finding what rewards me rather than what I think others would like/love me for. I am processing a whole load of emotions rn such as: intense rage over people taking advantage/the **** and me not standing up for myself more; 2: sadness I lost most of my friends. These are regrets and no matter how much I ruminate ( I honestly think these type of things often fuel escape back into the OCD as a distraction from them) they are done. Tough. OCD’s/mental illness’ collateral damage is often overlooked I feel but I guess it’s a personal journey. Seem quite different ends of the scale, but processing and letting these things go will help me draw that line I think. Just gotta go through them and let go.

Hi guys After years of OCD in pretty much every form (probably all linked somehow) I'm starting to face how much it has hurt me from a robbing of life sense. I am acutely aware everyday of the amount of management I put into it, but now Im trying to put less management into it, Im starting to acknowledge how much the onset of it has hurt me. I lost all my friends, always came across as the weird nervy, paranoid guy who goes to the toilet every 5 minutes, creativity and belief I can achieve dissipated, and my trajectory in life has been rooted in this OCD. Basically asking for any advice about mourning or processing the losses my period of OCD has caused. Is there a method for this? Been so concentrated on survival its only now I'm seeing the underlying hurt OCD has caused. Look at myself at nearly 40 and think Im still that 17yo who lost nearly everything.

Thanks Angst So the actual fear is rejection and a fear of people, which Im dissecting with my therapist atm. The actual OCD (fear of wetting self) is still ambiguous i.e is it the obsession or is it the compulsion? I know, it's odd, but after 22 years of thinking it was the obsession, it head bashingly could be the compulsion. My head is all over the place atm. I'm trying to piece together the onset of it, but I kind of understand why it manifested like this. Uhh man what a waste. Anyways, Im going to start a new thread with a topic I think means Im doing better, but coming out of the fog is bloody stressful, almost makes me want to retreat. Thanks again

Thanks for your advice. My therapist is resorting to ERP related to the compulsions of the OCD. I've already done this and it's almost like I choose to return to what I already know even though it is bad for me. I am convinced the OCD is a coping mechanism/severe way to distract myself from something deeper. I've made a decision to weed out the root cause of where this has all come from and it is helping. My opinion is there is no point in treating the compulsions if the OCD is a symptom of something deeper, as it will just manifest (and has done repeatedly in the last 20 years) in another theme down the line. Just seeing if anyone else has worked on things like PTSD which has alleviated their OCD more than ERP for the OCD has done...?

Hi everyone, Im undergoing CBT at the moment and doing a lot of analysis. My question is could I have developed PTSD from the sudden shock, continuing anguish and non resolution of the OCD? Or is the OCD a way to avoid the PTSD? My obsession is a fear I'm going to wet myself. I'm really stuck at the moment as that theme is also a common symptom of severe panic from PTSD. I definitely practice the four f's of trauma response symptoms, but I feel a lot of their symptoms came about more as a way to deal with the OCD rather than the PTSD - however the OCD came about because of PTSD. I hope this is making sense as Im so confused and in unchartered territory for myself atm, so any input or personal insights would be really appreciated. Thanks guys.