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ivybasil

OCD-UK Member
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Everything posted by ivybasil

  1. Might be worth sending an email to the OCD UK team - they could help you get the right support! It's so frustrating sometimes trying to get the right help! You're doing the right thing though.
  2. I'm so sorry this is happening, and know that we're all here for you. OCD is incredibly cruel and often difficult situations like this feel like they make it more prominent rather than less! Is there someone who can support you today?
  3. This is entirely a personal choice but with the support of your doctor, it might be worth a try! I get stuck thinking that I can get by without meds probably, then I get an adjustment and it reminds me how much better I can feel WITH the medication! I often worry about not getting better too - the thought that "it'll always feel like this" when I'm at my worst...! It's difficult! You're not alone!
  4. For sure - this is something that I find difficult too! Can you plan plenty of fun things to do while she's away?
  5. I'm sorry you're going through this! You're not alone and I hope you find this forum helpful. Do you have a doctor or therapist at the moment?
  6. Hi Mini, sorry you're struggling at the moment! Do you have a GP or therapist helping you at the moment? I have a similar experience - like there's always OCD background noise. Paul's suggestion is good - was going to say the same! There's a good exercise in Jon Hershfields "Mindfulness for OCD" book where you go for a walk and allow yourself to ruminate for ten minutes while you do. Let the thoughts go where they want. Then after ten minutes, put on a podcast or some upbeat music and focus hard on every word while you walk. Practice bringing your attention back to other things besides OCD.
  7. The thought being constantly in your head is likely rumination - excessive thinking about something! It's rough, and mental compulsions can often be challenging for us to tackle! I'm in the same frustrating boat! GAD and OCD are often co-morbid though and a good therapist will be able to help you work through it!
  8. Then lets take a moment to celebrate the achievement! You went to work, fed 600 people, all while facing OCD! You've made positive steps by getting support from your manager - they sound like they're willing to work with you in getting treatment. You're doing incredibly well, even if you don't feel it right now. Going to work and carrying on being busy is likely the best thing you can do right now - keep at it!
  9. For me, sometimes it's a conscious effort. I can be thinking the thoughts or ruminating and part of the challenge is to refocus on what I'm doing. "Now I'm going to get a glass of water. I am opening the cupboard" - like, narrate what you're doing and be deliberately present
  10. So happy to hear you had such a good time! Well done - a fantastic achievement!
  11. I have OCD and am a theologian. I recently picked up a book that offered a really balanced perspective on prayer. It's called "Prayers for OCD: Understanding and healing" by Fay Sampson. I picked it up because some of the proceeds go to OCD UK The prayers are about finding the strength to challenge the compulsions and to trust a doctor with the things you want to confess to a deity. I like the idea of faith and medical care going together like that. I agree though - repeated prayers run the risk of becoming compulsive!
  12. I'm glad you started your medication - hopefully it'll start to take effect soon. It sometimes takes a bit of time. My OCD is often loudest when I'm tired! Remember that just because you had to do compulsions today, that doesn't mean you've lost all the progress you've made. Honestly sometimes it's what we need to do to get through a difficult day. It's a bad day, nothing more. You are doing brilliantly. Keep at it.
  13. You can beat this. Thank you for sharing - you're doing the right thing. Do you have a doctor or a therapist at the moment?
  14. Setting OCD aside for now, can you make some practical plans to get through this? Is there someone you can meet before to go in together? Even if you just go for a little while, that's still a huge win! Lots of people will likely also be anxious and not saying so. You're not alone in feeling that way! I sometimes find it helpful to think "I'm going home at 10" and then I have a sort of goal and can stay later if I want, but I'll have met a little target for myself
  15. I know this is really difficult but you're going to get the same answers here as you are on the other thread This is OCD and the best thing you can do right now is go to the party and distract yourself.
  16. Totally normal! It's happening because you're so aware of the area and you're checking for the sensation, etc. At any given moment, there might be lots of noticeable sensations happening in your body that you aren't hyperfocused on! If I feel like I've touched something contaminated, I'm incredibly painfully aware of my hands and the weird tingling feeling that happens because I'm so focused on it. This is no different. We don't want those feelings so we're ready to notice them quicker! If you think about your nose long enough, you'll start noticing every little feeling! Remind yourself that this is normal, it's OCD and doesn't mean anything! Just because the feeling happens, it doesn't have any significance. You can do this! Go to the party, tell OCD to take a hike
  17. @foreverobsessing I love that idea! We can all be so cruel to ourselves - people without OCD don't know how big an achievement the supposedly "little" things can be...!
  18. Oh, I feel this so much! I was really unwell recently and not being able to be busy played havoc with my OCD! It's rough! It's great that you can identify what makes it worse though - and that you're taking steps to challenge OCD! I hope you enjoy the party - even if the thoughts and sensations happen, they don't need to mean anything! You can do this, and I'd love to hear how your evening goes!
  19. Maybe being busy at work will be the best thing you can do! Any time your mind wanders or the thoughts happen, refocus on the task at hand. Tell yourself you can think about them later. Delay the rumination. Hope you manage to enjoy your day tomorrow - know that you ARE beating this!
  20. You're doing it, though! You're showing incredible strength by doing these normal things like going out with family when you feel so bad. It's not impossible. You can do this. You are doing this!
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