Does anyone else feel absolutely imprisoned by OCD thoughts and actions??

[MizzyM420]

I feel like I can't get out of my own way and it makes me feel like I'm going crazy!!

Does anyone know any well working coping skills to get out of that rut?

[SuperHigh]

I feel same ㅜㅜ I think there is no treatment for me. Even the things specialist says including cognitive training and the medications I have taken only works for a while

[Rench1928]

Yes, my mind never shuts off. Have you ever heard of ACT therapy? It's worked amazingly. I learned at a psychiatric hospital in Boston. They recommended a great book as well. Read it and do all the work. The Happiness Trap by Russell Harris. The main take away is to never attempt to get rid of your thoughts or suppress them. That only makes them stronger. It's call diffusion and after practice it truly works great but that's for me. Medication and mindfulness added to that had been awesome. It's a lot of hard work in the beginning but then it becomes habit. I still have bad days but doesn't everyone?

Self love and self compassion are key as well so you don't call yourself crazy or think you are. You're not. Another great book is by Brene Brown The Gifts of Imperfection.

I use Thriftbooks.com to get books. Great prices on almost every book. Hope this helps

[God-is-love3]

While you await your therapy date or even while doing therapy alongside it, I recommend asking God to help you through daily prayer and reading some scriptures from the New Testament of the Bible. There is a great app called Jesus Calling that has daily devotionals that are short and encouraging. There are others like it out there too.

Here is a snippet from todays devotion, feb. 27th:

Your gravest danger is worrying about tomorrow. If you try to carry tomorrow’s burdens today, you will stagger under the load and eventually fall flat. You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today. It is in the present moment that I walk close to you, helping you carry your burdens. Keep your focus on My Presence in the present.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. —PSALM 73:23

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. —1 CORINTHIANS 10:13

Keep looking forward and looking to God as He will help his children.

[nkotbjoeymc]

Me.

[Ariadnee]

I feel the same way too... I feel absolutely hopeless. Every week I "find" something new to worry and obsess about.

[Mcfly64]

Hello. Are you on any medication and are you seeing a therapist or psychologist?

[Mywill23]

I feel the same sometimes. The thoughts are so strong that I believe them. It's even harder because they are at the worst when I need the most concentration. I mean, when I am reading, studying, or doing some work. My therapist once told me in the past that they would get stronger every time and that would show up as well when I was about to make an important leap in my life. That's true. I think I've learned to cope with them very well, but suddenly I stand up from my desk, get into the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror with the intention to find an answrr and act upon it. To my surprise, I find a totally different person in my eyes - quiet, serene, hopeful, but maybe a bit sad. I realize then that my thoughts are NOT me, and most importantly, that I still have to work a lot on accepting them and learning to live with them. This is why I am now looking to engage with a support group where I can let these ideas out, hence minimize them, and help my brain get in the OCD is NOT stringer than me mode.

[CalmnessinMind]

I think the first step in changing thoughts is understanding what thoughts actually do to you biologically - that way you can see that the unconscious mind and body are both trick-able if you consciously know what to do - this video explains the basics of this practise - youtu.be/zf1J4Vwjg9Y(Not working as expected?)