[sophiebunny]

I talked to my psychiatrist today. He increased my Seroquel and recommended I engage in "healthy distractions". So, I went for a walk, Had tea at a kosher Dunkin Donuts. Avoided cracks. Counted parked silver cars. Came home. Watched an hour of MASH. It's now 11 PM and the obsessions are back. It was so much better earlier. I'm thinking about taking more Seroquel so I don't get stuck in that obsession-compulsive loop at bedtime.

I need more distractions. Any ideas?

[Serpentine Leaf]

I haven't been diagnosed with OCD but I really think I have it. These kinds of thought spirals always get worse for me at night too and make it so hard to sleep. Reading usually helps me if it's an engaging enough book to capture my whole mind and redirect the mental traffic. Looking outside, especially if it's a clear enough night to see the stars, also helps get my mind on something else. But a warning, because it can come to a point of contemplating eternity and still leave me wide-eyed for most of the night. Still, it's better than the thought spirals that put me into a black hole of depression.

[Stellata]

How are things looking today?

[sophiebunny]

We have a plan. Increase my Seroquel to 300 mg and as my mind settles then use distraction techniques like music, comedy shows, writing, etc. Then I can use logical self-talk when I have calmed enough to talk back to the obsessions. At least I'm not an obsessive sobbing mess right now. What I obsess about tends to be trauma related so it's a little more complex. I do feel a bit better.

[Stellata]

I understand the complex bit. Glad you're feeling a bit better and have a plan.

[sophiebunny]

I feel like I'm living a game of wack-a-mole. The more I fight back one obsession the sooner a second one pops up. This is war and the moles are winning. I see my psychiatrist on Wednesday. I called him yesterday. He was glad I did. Seroquel, distraction, talking back to the obsessions, stopping the compulsions, I'm worn out.