My OCD centers around false memory OCD from a memory when I was a teenager. Been doing great for the past around eight or nine years and had a recent flareup. With that being said, I used to be a member of another OCD form that is now frozen in time to about seven or eight years ago. Dormant. Nobody’s there. But I remember one fellow OCD suffers post that was very well worded and I wish I could find it. Helped me a ton. Going to sound probably a little “out there” at first and maybe a little bit of a long post and I cannot remember verbatim how she (the OP) explained it but I can try to condense it as best I can but 3 pointers that really help with OCD and intrusive thoughts:
1.) Don’t negotiate with terrorists, 2.) don’t argue with crazy people, and 3.) switch to manual instruments.
1.) DONT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS
It is or at least used to be a policy of the United States government to not negotiate with terrorists when they would promise something savory in return. Example of this would be with hostage situations. The enemy will trick you into giving them what they want and they may even give you a little something in return even what they promised you, but they will still be your enemy and turn on you in a second. A moment of weakness negotiating with them may have embolden them a little further. (I’m just using an example to start off with and not trying to get political by any means) How do you apply that to OCD? OCD may trick you into believing if you do a compulsion or dwell on a thought and try to ruminate on it till you get the reasoning and relief you are seeking. You may temporarily find that relief but very short term and by giving into compulsions, you have emboldened the OCD. DONT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS!!
2.) DONT ARGUE WITH CRAZY PEOPLE
I’m sure we’ve all had the unpleasant experience either on a plane, waiting in line at a store, or at a bar where somebody may have brought up a current event or something political that we didn’t see eye to eye on. What happened if you engaged in an argument with them, did you ever change your mind? No? Usually they just become more angry and agitated and more of a pain in the butt. It’s like throwing gasoline on a fire. By arguing with the OCD and whatever thought, it’s like watching a drunk cat try to untangle a very well tied ball of yarn. It’s like trying to undo a knot in the dark and inadvertently making it tighter.
If you’ve ever dealt with a bully, did the bully ever stop when they knew they were getting to you and saw you were upset? No typically they bully even more. If they bullied you by calling you ugly (just for an example) and you say “you’re right I am ugly don’t forget I’m stupid too and my teeth are as crooked as a vandalized graveyard.“ chances are, over a short time and as uncomfortable as dealing with this way might have been for you, the bullying probably subsided or even stopped. OCD is the bully. Whatever OCD is trying to tell you you have done wrong or that those germs are going to kill you from the door knob if you don’t wash your hands, except that as possibly being the truth and get back in the present moment DON’T ARGUE WITH CRAZY PEOPLE!!
Lastly…
3.) SWITCH TO MANUAL INSTRUMENTS….
If anybody on this thread has ever been in aviation, you know that if your navigation equipment says you’re only 1000 feet above ground but you can look out the window and clearly tell that you’re 30,000 feet in the sky, you’re not gonna pull back on the yoke to gain altitude when you know there’s no need to. I can apply this to mindfulness. And being in the present moment. My OCD tells me that I need to analyze something from the past and dwell on something and try to find a reasoning for it but what I try to do is switch to my manual instruments and stay in the present moment. The instrument may have a faulty reading but my eyesight and knowledge of the present moment tells me all I need to be concerned with. Also apply that if you had just put a full tank of gas in your car and you’re driving down the road in your gas gauge shows on empty. You’re not gonna go back to the gas station to fill up again because you know that you presently have gasoline in it. With OCD, or brain signals are faulty instruments at times and sometimes we just have to SWITCH TO MANUAL INSTRUMENTS….
Anybody have anything to add on or any advice feel free…
Is OCD the Product of a “Faulty System” or Does it Happen by Default when I’m Reticent to Make a Difficult Decision?
Any meds that have helped pure-obsessional OCD?
Fear of being perceived as a “bad person”, cultural appropriation, and Reddit
Wish me luck
