[Ipod1]

So I'm having a problem, I've started doing some rituals again. I've been trying to think of my obsessions as irrational which they completely are. I'm having a tough time accepting my obsessions and they keep popping up in my head all day long. I'm not gonna go into the wild thoughts I have because I've never read anywhere anyone having these kinds of obsessions. But I do know for sure it's ocd. Anyone be so kind to offer some suggestions on how to accept the thoughts as just thoughts and not have to do any stinkin rituals?

[Miswimmy1]

exposure therapy is the best way to treat OCD. i would suggest going and getting the book "talking back to OCD". it is basically a treatment plan that takes you through the motions of exposure therapy and you dont nessisarily have to have a t. it is written for a child audience but the treatment ideas themselves can apply to any age. i personally think that its easier to understand because its written for that age audience.

that being said, if you have been through therapy, ask yourself the questions...
- what is OCD telling me?
- what is OCD telling me will happen? (eg i am going to die, i am going to get contanimated, the world is going to end, im being silly here but in all honesty...)
- so what? what is the liklihood that what OCD is telling me is true?
- If I dont obey OCD, what is going to happen?

keep asking and asking. OCD is a liar. thats what it is. it lies. and the sooner you can rest with that and sit through the anxiety it presents, the smaller it will become. the more you expose yourself and ignore what it is telling you, the easier it will become. until hopefully, it gets to the point where you can shrug it off as "oh this is OCD again." and continue about your life.

i suggest getting a t if you dont already tho, because it will help to just have that moral support.

[Ipod1]

Originally Posted by Miswimmy1

exposure therapy is the best way to treat OCD. i would suggest going and getting the book "talking back to OCD". it is basically a treatment plan that takes you through the motions of exposure therapy and you dont nessisarily have to have a t. it is written for a child audience but the treatment ideas themselves can apply to any age. i personally think that its easier to understand because its written for that age audience.

that being said, if you have been through therapy, ask yourself the questions...
- what is OCD telling me?
- what is OCD telling me will happen? (eg i am going to die, i am going to get contanimated, the world is going to end, im being silly here but in all honesty...)
- so what? what is the liklihood that what OCD is telling me is true?
- If I dont obey OCD, what is going to happen?

keep asking and asking. OCD is a liar. thats what it is. it lies. and the sooner you can rest with that and sit through the anxiety it presents, the smaller it will become. the more you expose yourself and ignore what it is telling you, the easier it will become. until hopefully, it gets to the point where you can shrug it off as "oh this is OCD again." and continue about your life.

i suggest getting a t if you dont already tho, because it will help to just have that moral support.

That's a nice post. I have different bouts of ocd. Changing themes, sometimes it goes away for a little while, then some new theme will pop up. I've had most of the normal themes, contamination, harm, "schiz" ocd, a lot of pure I thoughts and things like that. It it hard to sit through the anxiety the thoughts create and through my experience of about 6-7 years of it that is the best way. I just need to be stronger I guess. Why does ocd come in waves like it does seemingly out of the blue?

[Miswimmy1]

Originally Posted by Ipod1

I just need to be stronger I guess. Why does ocd come in waves like it does seemingly out of the blue?

OCD does come and go in waves. factors are lack of sleep (fatigue), hunger, stress, mood, hormones, etc. those things usually cause OCD to rear its ugly head. when you are most vulnerable is when it attacks.

and you will get stronger. the more you resist, the stronger you will be because you will have shown OCD that it does not rule you. i know its hard. but it does get easier, i promise. what you are doing when you resist is laying new pathways in your brain. so that next time OCD tries to grab you, you will have a new path instead of the path that causes you to compulse. I dont know if I made any sense right there lol, but the bottom line is that OCD is a neurological disorder, a brain fart if you will... but by resisting, you can change the way that the brain is wired and redirect those thoughts. Like anything, it comes with practice...

[Ipod1]

What you are doing when you resist is laying new pathways in your brain. so that next time OCD tries to grab you, you will have a new path instead of the path that causes you to compulse. I dont know if I made any sense right there lol, but the bottom line is that OCD is a neurological disorder, a brain fart if you will... but by resisting, you can change the way that the brain is wired and redirect those thoughts. Like anything, it comes with practice...[/QUOTE]

Yeah it made sense lol.. It's definitely been loads worst in the past. Thanks for the words of advice

[quaker2006]

yeah keep fighting. It will most likely pass with time(as I'm sure you already know)!