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Education making mental compulsions worse?


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My OCD has attacked an area that I am finding really hard to deal with, as I am legally educated and I’m currently having legal obsessions.

I have created a hierarchy for the obsessions and I have been doing exposures but I’m really struggling with response prevention.

I feel like because a large proportion of the checking can be done mentally as the knowledge is already in my head, it’s making the mental compulsions really hard to deal with as I end up very deep down the rabbit hole quite fast. 

Its just making things so much worse as if I was having these types of obsessions but didn’t have any legal knowledge, I would have to do a lot more external checking via google etc. which would arguably be easier to identify and prevent. 

Has anybody experienced anything similar? If so, how did you tackle it?

 

 

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23 minutes ago, HadenoughofOCD said:

My OCD has attacked an area that I am finding really hard to deal with, as I am legally educated and I’m currently having legal obsessions.

I have created a hierarchy for the obsessions and I have been doing exposures but I’m really struggling with response prevention.

I feel like because a large proportion of the checking can be done mentally as the knowledge is already in my head, it’s making the mental compulsions really hard to deal with as I end up very deep down the rabbit hole quite fast. 

Its just making things so much worse as if I was having these types of obsessions but didn’t have any legal knowledge, I would have to do a lot more external checking via google etc. which would arguably be easier to identify and prevent. 

Has anybody experienced anything similar? If so, how did you tackle it?

 

 

Yes, it's a nightmare! I was dealing with compliance related issues in finance and it was very anxiety provoking. And it is a rabbit hole because the subject matter is interesting, so it would be something you want to analyse anyway. I have no idea how to deal with it in fairness. Currently I am not working- was let go from past job due to 'performance issues'. I wasn't quick enough, probably because I was adhering to compliance rules closely. Others sacrificed quality for speed and so didn't get let go. 

Just wanted to say I know how this particular obsession feels and to empathise.

Edited by Orwell1984
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Orwell, I am SO glad you responded! It has eaten at me for a number of years and as a result, I have not pursued a career in law as each time I tried, I was overcome with anxiety. I didn’t realise what it was until recently, so it’s a relief to know that it’s not just because I couldn’t cope but now I have to try and deal with it. 

I think similarly to compliance, when you know all the possible tunnels in the rabbit hole, it gives you analysis paralysis and you can’t make a move for fear of making the wrong choice.

I am constantly in my head thinking “if I make choice A, how will that impact situation B? Will situation B be covered if X happens?” And on it goes. 

This legal thought process applies to literally every aspect of my life and it’s so bad that I am just avoiding everything I possibly can at the moment. Not the best, but only way I can cope until I get a better handle on it. 

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