Hi everyone! I usually only post on here when I'm having a hard time, so I figured I'd show you guys the other side of it for once. I've been doing really well lately. When I'm being honest with myself and not letting anxiety/OCD win, I can admit that I have good days about 70% or 80% of the time now. It's amazing what learning about OCD and ERP can do for us! My obsessions do not constantly bother me anymore. I have days where they pop into my head, and I don't even feel the need to use any therapy tools to combat them because I'm able to just brush them off easily. Some days are a little harder and I use the tools I've been given, and move on. Other days are just plain hard, and I get stuck in that vicious OCD loop for one (or a few) days. But that's life, right?! I'm so grateful for this community. You've all contributed to the success I've seen in my life with my OCD and general mental health and wellbeing. Your support, kind words, and knowledge that you share are priceless and heart warming.
I anticipate more bad days. I also anticipate more good days. Some day I'll read this post and think, "what were you thinking?!? This isn't true! You're doing awful! You have X, Y, and Z to worry about!". OCD likes to do things like that. But, we always come out on the other side. Therapy is always there. This community is always here. Freedom is always on the other side of this. I hope you all keep fighting the good fight. We are all in this together.
Today, I spent all day in bed because I'm fighting a cold. Not much to do but watch TV and use my phone. This is usually when OCD strikes me the worst. Surprisingly, it hasn't so far! It tried to this morning, but I used my tools and knowledge and didn't let it continue. This was a real win for me.
Right now, my OCD is saying, "you're being super positive in this post and your last post a few days ago was super negative, maybe you're bipolar!!!" (Not that there is anything wrong with being bipolar, or that this is even what being bipolar actually is, just an example of the ridiculous things OCD tries to chime in with). Nice try OCD.
And, a question for those of you who have gone to therapy for OCD: did you see a reduction in symptoms surrounding your other obsessions, before even doing ERP on them specifically? For example, my therapist and I have only started doing ERP on my suicidal OCD (we're moving onto my other themes after), but I've already seen a difference in my reaction to my other themes (such as religious and existential) when they pop up. Perhaps it's teaching us to deal with uncertainty in general and it carries on to other areas? 😊
Monday Recovery Motivation :)
Celebrating your wins on this #WellnessWednesday
how to accept thought is just a thought and live with uncertainty?
