Whew... this day has been stressful!! Had a huge ocd attack this morning. At least felt huge, havent had one in a while since my ocd is so much better. So i started a 75 day program 20 days ago. Part of it is sticking to a diet. If you fail on any part of the program you have to start over at day one. And im loving it. It works super well with my very scheduled personality and my mom has even noticed im feeling better on it. But the perfectionist, ocd side of me can become an issue. So this morning i thot i accidentally cheated on my diet. And im freaked out cause ive come so far and dont wanna start over again 🤯 so i was talking to my mom and she was sure what i ate was not cheating. And so i was looking at ingredients and googling and asking mom question after question. Getting totally caught up in an ocd loop. It felt horrible. I knew in the moment i was being waaay over the top, but yeah... Ends up no it was not a cheat. But ocd is still attacking from every angle and i feel uptight still. I feel like giving up on my program because what if i did cheat?? What if im wrong?? What if im just being lazy cause i dont wanna start over?? Ok seriously dont answer those questions, i dont wanna come on here for reassurance, i just wanted to come on here cause i know yall know what im going through and i need a safe understanding place to vent right now. Thanks so much!!
Ocd attack: Whew... this day has been... - My OCD Community
Ocd attack
It sounds like you know what's really going on here 🙂. Stay strong!
Thanks so much! That means a lot!!
I understand...... I'm going through a major change right now and my OCD is reeking havoc!! So much worse during stressful times that I feel like I'm going backwards in my "recovery". So i'll tell you what I tell myself.....One day at a time! Stay strong!
Aw thanks!!
Ocdwarrior! You're a familiar member here. Your posts and contributions to the OCD Community have been very inspiring, kind, and supportive.
Let me remind you the importance of self-compassion. Show yourself the same love you give so generously to others.
Tell us more about this 75 day program, and the successes you've had. Stay positive.
Thanks so much this means the world to me!!
So its a program designed for mental toughness. My older brother did it and ive wanted to do it for a while but wasnt sure it would be good for my obsessive problems. But it really had me interested and i started watching and listening to others stories of ppl who had done it. And i finally just decided to go for it. And its been super awsome. Its called 75 Hard by andy frisella. Ocd is trying to make it even harder. But hey gives me all the more practice at being mentally tough 😛🤨😊
Great! I'll check it out. Mental toughness is a warrior's path.
Best wishes.
It sounds unnaturally tough and unforgiving. And having to start over from scratch if you make a 'mistake' is just the thing that OCD likes. If it suits you, fair enough. But don't feel that you've 'failed' if it's too hard going.
If I'm not mistaken, the program allows Ocdwarrior to choose her own diet plan. It also encourages scheduled exercise, water drinking, and reading (non-fiction).
No one should feel as though they've "failed" after attempting something so strict and disciplined. There's no shame in trying. Instead, take pride in your effort. I understand why Ocdwarior would aspire "mental toughness" considering the many ways that OCD can wrestle and persuade our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. If she can say "no" to a drink of alcohol, or "yes" to jogging in a rainstorm, perhaps she can speak up when OCD speaks out.
I wouldn't place too much importance on the number (75). I think pushing yourself to make "hard" but good decisions is the real point here. The program doesn't teach perfectionism, it teaches self-motivation and willpower.
My advice: have fun with it.
I've just checked it out on the internet, and it doesn't sound too good to me. It's good to eat sensibly and I cook from scratch most days and don't touch alcohol, but I don't do it to cultivate 'mental toughness'. I have started a modest exercise program for health and fitness, and don't beat myself up if I miss a day. As for reading - reading good fiction has benefits, including cultivating empathy and understanding. Jane Austen can teach you more than any self-improvement book. Each to their own, but I can't honestly get the point of what appears to me to be a program of self-punishment - rather like those monks who self-flagellate.
In a world with self-flagellating monks, one can't be too careful.
Like you, I eat sensibly and don't touch alcohol. By choice. I'm physically fit without exercise, but believe a discipline in this area would get me out of the house, into the elements, and above my lousy mood. Not everyday, but more often than never. I also agree any reading has its benefits, even a little television under the right circumstances.
I have some self-improvement of my own to do, but self-punishment won't be part of the program. I respect how "75 Hard" has inspired Ocdwarrior, so long as it continues inspiring. It doesn't suit me, but then again, I'm the one who doesn't know where my running shoes are (or whether they still fit).
You let yourself down when you beat yourself up. If the program encourages this, don't subscribe to it religiously. Warriors lead. They don't follow.
That's very committed of you from how this program's supposed to work so congrats. You're right, I've noticed even when I find out something wasn't the horrible thing I thought it was I still expended lots of energy on worrying-the same if the event did occur which is one thing I'm working on.
Thanks! Yes! You put in words exactly what im dealing with! Its so tough because even tho its not what u thot it was ocd still stirs up every what if and hits from every angle it possibly can. 🧐🤬 And of course since its super important to us ocd is gonna attack for sure.
I'm a bit concerned about the program that you're following. I'm all for cultivating resilience, but it's really important that you don't get yourself trapped in a system that is inflexible. One of the features of OCD is that it tries to force inflexibility on us, trapping us into doing things a particularly way, in a particular order and so on. Mental toughness involves learning how and when to be flexible - not merely sticking to a rigid plan or system.
Breaking the rules of a diet occasionally don't do any harm. Healthy eating generally is what is important - the occasional slip up is all right! Same as with exercise - missing the odd exercise session isn't going to affect your overall fitness.
It's also important to keep up a good standard of healthy eating and exercise after completing a 75 day program.
Reading for fun isn't such a bad thing to do! Good fiction feeds the mind and the emotions, and as I said above, Jane Austen can teach you more than any self-improvement book can!
I must say that this program sounds punitive and rigid, and encourages a rigid and inflexible mind set. Discipline and hard work are good and necessary, but I don't think it's healthy to punish yourself unnecessarily. Try not to beat yourself up! Fun is good.
Oh yes i totally agree with you! I know there are quite a few ppl who are concerned about it. And yes if someone was trying to live their life long term so strictly it would be concerning. Im not planning to stick to it long term. I just wanted to do it and prove to myself i could. 🤪 Thanks so much for sharing your concerns!
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