Existential OCD (“pure O”) - any help/suggestions?

[moviefan223]

Hi,

I’m new to this community so this is my first post. I’ve been dealing with really tricky thoughts around the inevitability of death and how i could die at any second. I literally can’t look at other people without thinking “they’ll die and so will you”. Whenever I try and ignore this, my OCD just tells me I’m burying my head in the sand and ignoring how death will come to us all. Additionally, I keep seeing people and thinking ‘I could kill them’ - obviously I don’t want to but i think about how possible it is and the reverse of that situation. It’s gotten to the point where the only time I’m at peace is when I’m asleep. Does anyone have any ideas/help/similar experiences?

Thanks,

Alessia

[Ben_Khan]

I completely understand what you’re feeling. I think the exact same things. I find so much comfort (which is probably not a good thing) in knowing that this is just OCD twisting things. It’s not normal to always be thinking about death, mortality, existential questions, etc, which makes me feel slightly better.