[boliviamegs]

Hello,
I am new to this site, but am looking for information and support from other people suffering from obsessive thougths. I have always been a worrier, but kept it pretty under control. I have spent the last year and half as a peace corps volunteer and I guess living in an isolated village in Bolivia has maxed me out on stress and anxiety. About a month ago I started having obsessive thoughts that give me huge anxiety, yet that I know have nothing to do with my reality. Different therapists have said that I have OCD, or just a nuerosis of obsessive thoughts. I am not sure about the difference of those two. Anyways I do have many thougths that I feel that I cannot control. I feel like I think of something disturbing, then have a hard time getting it out of my brain. Even when I do distract myself, it tends to pop back into my brain. Sometimes I get scared that I am inventing new obsessions. I do not do any ritualistic activities, besides ruminating on my unpleasant thoughts.
Does anyone have this?? Do you have any thoughts on how to stop inventing new obsessive thougths or stop obsessing on a certain thought?? While I know my thoughts are because of my anxiety, refocusing I find difficult. I really want help with this, because being pray to obsessive thoughts is not so fun. I am seeing a therapist. I am new to all this, it is a little scary at times. Thanks for listening!

[gloria]

Welcome ...
This is a place where you're going to find a lot of supportive people. Thanks for sharing your feelings with us.
I hope and even in a small village in Bolivia you find a professional that can help you.
Aro you there with JobCorps? Are you there temporarily?


gab

[SunshineGold03]

Hello Boliviamegs,
I have OCD and am on Lexapro for it. I also go to therapy. What I find helps me with obsess thoughts is recognizing that they are based in anxiety and are unrealistic. Then I compromise with obessions and tell myself I will only allow myself to obsess on this thought for 10 secs. (or whatever amount of time) and then I will get back to whatever it was doing before the obsession appeared. Then next time I try to shorten the amount of time I spend on whatever obsession appears next and so on so that way allow myself a very short amount of time to obsess and try not to let it consume me. I think if you can get your hands on a book you should try reading "Braink Lock" it is a self help book for people with OCD. Also, you can go to this website below as well which is focused on people with OCD: http://www.healthyplace.com/communit...m_calender.htm

Take Care! And keep us posted!

[lost_lonely]

I suffer from obsessive thoughts, as well. Unlike your's though, most of mine are based on reality, real life events currently going on in MY life. I know how hard it can be, they can eat away at you and destroy you inside. When mine get really bad, I just try to reassure myself that things are going to be okay. Sometimes they cause me to maybe go over the top and freak out a little too much, afterwards I force myself to step back, take a deep breath, and tell myself to relax. We all make mistakes and do the wrong thing sometimes, these obsessive thoughts and feelings quite often the culprit.
Not everyone will understand, but some will I know, the ones who TRULY care, and it's those people you need to turn to. You have my support, and I wish you well in your journey towards healthy, positive thinking.

Good luck.

(((((((((((((boliviamegs)))))))))))

[krzyk101]

Hello, and welcome!

I agree with others as Therapy being a positive outlet. I have issues with this as well, and work with a case worker and a Psychiatrist to balance this with Therapy and Medication. I still have issues with this only with the Therapy and Medication it is not distressing to the degree it once was. I don't know if you are on Medication, though many antidepressants are used in combonation with Therapy for this. I wish you the best.

Best Wishes-
~KRIS~

If you think you have totally gave up, you haven't, because you are here!

[Butterfly_Faerie]

I personally have had the same obsessive thoughts since I can remember. The thoughts of someone hurting me, still get them and I call them "daydreams" other people have different names for them.

The thoughts of my worse fears, and it always involved kidnapping, rapes, abuse... and even thought my worse fears came true, besides kidnapping.... but sometimes I fear that it will happen again.

The "daydreams" use to feel so real that I could invision someone breaking into my home and hurting me, to the point where i'd freeze and become scared.

Since I've dealt with the abuse/rape issues they have become less, and since my symptoms of PTSD have become less as well I notice the "daydreams" going away, still pop up from time to time, but the obsessive thinking is less.

<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>