Tips for Compulsions

[Quiddity]

My patience is wearing a bit thin. I’m getting so worked up having to stay in my house; recent snow storms have made it harder to get around. Volunteering with animals was usually my only way to get away, but now I’m left to sit inside. My OCD just eats away at me when I’m sitting quietly, and my obsessions typically surround horrible diseases and terrifying events; my OCD likes to associate these things with my actions, and if I repeat the actions twice then the feared events will supposedly happen. This has effected my hobbies, eating, drinking, clothing, and most everything I touch. I tend to do compulsive avoidance; every action or thing I’m afraid of, I will undoubtly avoid. For me, it’s not a doubt, but a guarantee; it’s like a, “if I do this, I KNOW this will happen.” Deep down, somewhere, I know it’s illogical. But the “better be safe than sorry” is so strong. Are there any tips for someone like me? Compulsive avoidance and “magical thinking” are major issues of mine, and in the past compulsions have been nonnegotiable. I know I need to fight these compulsions, but it’s so incredibly hard. I’m a student, taking medication and seeing a skilled professional. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks~

[bab5]

I reached the same point at which you find yourself right now. I was unable to get off of the couch for multiple months. I couldn’t even muster up the mental ability to go to the bathroom.

My OCD ate away at my brain whenever I was sitting quietly. This continued to happen during the rare occasion that I was not stranded on the couch, but in the form of intense physical compulsions.

My OCD thoughts also surround horrible diseases and terrifying events.

My OCD also likes to associate these with my actions. I also feel like I must count to a certain number no matter what action I may be undertaking. This could be as simple is a mental ritual or as complex as a pattern of feet-stomping.

This, obviously, affected EVERYTHING and I was bed-ridden for months.

I compulsively avoided everything because, once I entered into a compulsion or an obsession, there was no way out other than to finish it off correctly.

I reached the point where it did not feel like a doubt, but rather exactly like a guarantee.

I promise that, with exposure therapy and practice, you will get past the point where it feels as if ignoring the OCD will GUARANTEE the bad disease/horrible thought.

We both know, somewhere in our head, that our thoughts are illogical.

Obviously, that did not help either one of us. OCD is seemingly its own being.

The “better be safe than sorry” is so strong that, at one point, even the offer of a million dollars wouldn’t be able to snap me out of that thought process.

Compulsive avoidance and “magical thinking” were major issues of mine and remain slight issues today.

Compulsions were nonnegotiable for me for YEARS. I promise that, with exposure therapy, a determined mindset, and an intelligent therapist, you will get past this point.

It is extremely f*cking hard. No doubt about that.

I am a student as well. I am taking medication as well. I am seeing a skilled professional as well.

We are in similar boats.

You are on the right track.

OCD will attempt to convince you that you are going downhill, but, as I said previously, OCD is seemingly its own being.

I wish you good luck.

[Quiddity in reply to bab5]

Thank you so much, it means a lot to know that someone not only has the same obsessions as me, but similar compulsions too. Your advice and hope means more to me than I can ever describe. Thank you!

[LuvSun in reply to Quiddity]

I can relate to both of you regarding the magical thinking. The urge is so strong to avoid, do the compulsion, whatever, just to make sure the dreaded outcome does not happen. Your “better be safe than sorry” statement is exactly how I feel most of the time. I have a really hard time taking risks as far as doing the opposite of which the OCD is telling me.

[aadak18]

Just to make sure, is the skilled professional you are seeing someone who is trained in ERP? There are plenty of wonderful therapists out there, but OCD really needs specific therapy - as you probably know.

[cathy1956]

I was wondering the same thing. Is your therapist skilled at treating OCD, especially exposure response prevention? You can ask your therapist about his/her experience. If not, please see the OCD Foundation website for your geographical are for therapists and what to ask. I was just reading the book, When Once Is Not Enough by Steketee and White. The book focuses on ERP therapy. I think you could get a lot out of this book. There is also Brain Lock by Jeffrey Schwartz. The more educated we get, the better. Lots of luck.

[HannahMae]

Wow yes I TOTALLY know what you are saying! I 100% feel like the bad thing will happen and it is so scary! I have Just Right OCD and it has literally affected so much of my life, it's the worst disorder ever. I totally agree with what you're saying. For me, my OCD hits me with food and eating. I have this fear that if I don't be super careful and chew my food for a long time, I will swallow big chunks and it will damage my throat. It is so real and scary to me. I also feel like I can only eat certain amounts of food and only eat so many hours apart and it is so stressful because I am terrified of gaining weight. I always feel fat and it makes me feel very sick. I feel so sure that these things are real and true and it's very frightening to me. So sorry you have to deal with this bully as well! It really is so tough to deal with.