Visual OCD: If you had an intrusive thought... - My OCD Community

My OCD Community

9,692 members3,756 posts

Visual OCD

4 Replies

If you had an intrusive thought about the lips, and then you get bothered every time you look at someone’s lips, which we have to, how do you break that OCD? I’ll go conversations with people, realize I had no thoughts about it, and that only strengthens it. I don’t know if I’m just watching someone talk or mad about OCD now. Intrusive thoughts are easy now, because you know they can’t happen, but this is different.

4 Replies
Selesnya profile image
Selesnya

I don't know that this really addressed your issue directly, but this is what I thought of:

psychcentral.com/lib/sensor...

On The OCD Stories I think that Dr. Steven Phillipson has an episode where he talks about body-focused OCD. This might be the episode that I'm thinking of:

theocdstories.com/podcast/d...

I hope that some of this helps.

My most general (and probably non-helpful) advice is to do the opposite of what your OCD says. Let yourself feel anxious and know that sometimes every choice is the wrong choice (listen to the podcast above for much more detail on this).

cambridgeborn profile image
cambridgeborn in reply toSelesnya

Thank you so much for these helpful links. Resources truly are our lifeline!

in reply toSelesnya

So basically you’re saying I should welcome looking at someone’s lips, and analyze their expression. Eventually I’ll realize nothing happens from it, and move on.

Selesnya profile image
Selesnya in reply to

More or less that is it.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Confession ocd

Has anyone ever suffered with confession OCD. I have horrible sexual intrusive thoughts about a...
Sophie30x profile image

New member: My OCD story

Hello! I'm new here and wanted to share my story. So I’ve labelled myself as “OCD” for a long...
larzche profile image

When OCD gets out of control

Hello everyone. I’ve had OCD all my life and depression with anxiety issues. Lately my OCD has...

OCD Deflated

My name is Harvey and I am new here. But, I am 75 years old and have had OCD since I was 14 years...
HHeerssen profile image

Imaging my OCD

Sometimes I imagine my OCD as an annoying little creature sitting on my shoulder whispering...
Lauragbr profile image

Moderation team

See all
BethIOCDF profile image
BethIOCDFPartner
LizIOCDF profile image
LizIOCDFPartner
StephIOCDF profile image
StephIOCDFPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.