Swimming and my OCD journey

[quicklyinsignificant]

Hi all,

I've suffered with OCD most of my adult life but am thankful to have found this social platform. I've never belonged to an online health community before.

Over summer, I rediscovered my love for swimming and it drastically reduces my OCD. My OCD is so bad I usually can't stay at home for an afternoon and have to go out. It always has lessened when I go out. Over Christmas, I went to the movies every day just to grt out of the house and relief was minimal.

Lifting heavy weights has also helped my mood but doesn't reduce the obsessive thinking, like swimming.

I hope someone else suffering reads this and they try swimming and it helps them too. I get more relief than taking lorazapam, which I was prescribed as a young man. I need to weane off it but am nervous. I don't know what an adult life without it looks like. I'm used to regularly taking it even if I don't need it. I'm not addicted though.

I've seen numerous, Doctors and naturopaths all who prescribed supplements or even suggested praying but my own research has led me to supplements like L Theanine which are non drowsy and can have a relaxing effect. I have yet to try L Theanine and have a list of others to try. Unfortunately I OCD about medication and supplements, too which makes it stressful to take new ones. Noone suggested L Theanine. Or numerous others.

I've done CBT and it helped until I OCD'd about OCD. It went meta and it drove me crazy.

I saw one specialist who said I should read Socrates because I thought alot about the universe but I've since learnt OCD about the Universe is common.

What works for you? Do you have a stack of natural supplements you take? Does swimming help you?

I try to be an observer watching and laughing at my OCD but I obsess about the observer, too.

God Bless and thanks for reading.

[Dolphin14]

quicklyinsignificant

I find exercise to be very helpful as well. I think the key is to find something you enjoy that will motivate you to keep doing it.

Good stuff for the body and mind

🐬

[quicklyinsignificant in reply to Dolphin14]

Thanks @Dolphin14. What exercise do you do?

[Dolphin14 in reply to quicklyinsignificant]

I like to walk, I do yoga, this am I did my dumbbells.

Swimming is a great exercise. There is a pool in my new community. I should get in there this summer

[quicklyinsignificant in reply to Dolphin14]

Thanks for sharing.

I do metcon workouts at home, as well as heavy lifing at the gym.

I did ashtanga yoga. It was great.

If you do go swimming, post back to me with how you feel.

Do you take natural supplements?

[Dolphin14 in reply to quicklyinsignificant]

Hi

I'm not big into supplements, just the basics. VitD/calcium/ probiotics/ glucosamine/ Lutein/ cinnamon.

You probably take some good stuff I'm going to guess

[quicklyinsignificant in reply to Dolphin14]

Fair enough. I'm trying L Theanine next.

Yeah, I take a lot of supplements but only ones backed by science. I'm passionate about it and have become more of an advocate for some of my family, including my Mum.

There are a whole suite of stuff that works for anxiety but if you're on meds, you have to be careful what is safe to take.

[Dolphin14 in reply to quicklyinsignificant]

That's a big part of my issue. My psychiatrist doesn't want me taking anything due to possible interactions. I tried valerian root for sleep, so many people here take it. My anxiety went through the roof.

One of my friends takes quite a few things. I'm not even sire what all of it does. He swears by them.

[quicklyinsignificant in reply to Dolphin14]

When I took it, it quietened my mind but I didn't like that feeling as my brain is over-active. I was only young and it was early in the journey, though. I think it's better than any pharmaceutical drug. It's interesting that your anxiety went up.

At least he or she talks to you about natural supplements.

I'm still learning about my anxiety. Talking to you ... it feels therapeutic.

I've had a he'll of a lot or bum steers from praying to breathing in vicks vacorub. Flicking my arm with a lacky band.

You should definitely take B12 and or b vitamin complex. You can get drops that are easy on the tummy if side effects worry you.

[Dolphin14 in reply to quicklyinsignificant]

I used to do b vit for headaches.

I really should do an MVI. Maybe I will put that on today's agenda. Order a multivit

[quicklyinsignificant in reply to Dolphin14]

Go for Life Extension brand.

[Dolphin14 in reply to quicklyinsignificant]

✅ done