Strugz

[AnxiousAlex]

Howdy. I am very much having a down day. A saw a specialist yesterday and I am feeling a little paranoid. I have been struggling with finding a passion and worry about the future. I hate the uncertainty and If I’m not busy with a task it consumes my mind. Anyone have any good techniques to snap the brain out of the ocd loop. I constantly aware that I’m worrying. I just wish I could be focused on the things that made me happy in the past. Y’all think these feelings will pass?

[jkl5500]

I recommend the book "Brain Lock" by Dr. Jeffery Schwartz. It has a four-step method to deal with obsessive thoughts. It's short, easy to read, and filled with examples of others' OCD(anonymously, of course). You can watch videos of Dr. Schwartz on YouTube.

[AnxiousAlex in reply to jkl5500]

I will make sure to look into this. I could use a method

[Aspergirl47]

Hey...Could have written this myself....I am going through the same for a good while now....I know what its like to constantly worry about the future..Are u diagnosed Ocd? I am sure I have it...every morning the same cycle of intrusive thoughts that are never ending and then bring on panic attacks....all I can do is listen to relaxation cds and try positive mantras...but unfortunately..it does come back...I was told to tell myself..A thought is just a thought....and try to do something that really occupies the mind...I also find it difficult to find something I'm deeply passionate about....I really hope u find something that will help...

[AnxiousAlex in reply to Aspergirl47]

Hi there! Yes I have ocd and a flavor of generalized anxiety. I’ve had ocd my whole life but it has recently been unbearable. I have a hard time snapping my brain out of intrusive thoughts. I also have panic attacks that also sometimes occur in tandems. I’ve tried to meditate but I feel like it just creates a nice large void that gets filled up with more worry haha. They always says things like free your mind of thoughts but I feel like that just makes things worse lol. I just find it so odd that I can be this uncertain about life. Even when happiness right in front of my face. I feel it tugging but my brain won’t just release the burden.

[Aspergirl47]

Hey...Totally understand I didn't know I have Ocd until recently and it feels like hell...as u described...unbearable...I had one panic attack in my sleep one night over 6yrs ago and I became obsessed with having another and its happened every morning since..I also try to meditate lol...I get u...the thoughts just come racing...its almost like we would need to occupy our brains constantly with stuff until we go to sleep lol .. My Dr told me to keep looking and thinking about everything I'm grateful for...I do...but the minute I stop the thoughts overwhelm me again!!!!! No antidepressant has ever really helped either....I wish there was a switch we could just turn off in our overactive minds lol...

[AnxiousAlex in reply to Aspergirl47]

I too wish there was an on and off switch. I would make life a bit easier haha. I like to think of things I’m grateful for as well! I just started Prozac and it’s the most wishy washy drug I’ve taken. However, I have only been on it for a month. I’ve had success with citalopram but the effects seem to wear throughout the day. I have yet to go beyond 20mg of anything though. So maybe it’s just a matter of turning up the volume. Does music help you at all? I’ve tried to zone out but my favorite music style is like early 2000s garage/punk rock— which is pretty depressing already lol. Not gonna lie tho, sometimes I do splurge with some Selena Gomez.

[Aspergirl47]

It sure would make life easier lol....I was on Prozac...I couldn't sit still lol It made me almost manic and I was only on 20mg...I was sleeping only 3 hours a night on it...There is an antidepressant called Fluvoxamine ( Luvox) which is supposed to be used for Ocd I'm thinking of trying it...Ive been on Citalopram 3 times over a number of years but nothing ...I slept a lot on that the first time I took it lol I was on 40mg of that one...Ive always loved music...all sorts of stuff...I love Evanescence which is also quite depressing lol I do try and listen to music a lot ...it blocks out everything for me at that time....when I go for a walk also I put music on...I also have Aspergers so I also use it to block out all the sensory issues when outside...it doesn't help having that on top of Ocd.....HaHa....I was only diagnosed in 2014...didn't know I had Aspergers either....