Taboo Tuesday (TRIGGER WARNING)- 2-14-23

[Anxiouslybalanced]

Its time for Taboo Tuesday! I am Krista Reed OCD specialist in Wichita, KS and IOCDF advocate here to give you 90 seconds of taboo only topics!

Let’s continue with this month’s theme: Fear of suicide and/or harm to self. Last week I discussed obsessions, which are ego dystonic, curious about what that means- read last weeks’ post to learn more.

Today, I will be sharing some compulsions individuals might experience. Compulsions are behavioral or mental acts done over and over, out of urgency, specifically related to the obsession.  Perhaps the compulsion will bring the distress down or perhaps it is certainty that the individual is after.  

Reassurance- asking someone “do you think it is normal to think about jumping off a bridge?”- ensuring that they really are not suicidal.  Mental reviewing- thinking about a past experience or thought and whether or not they would actually attempt suicide.  This could possibly even create someone to google endlessly online for answers to whether or not they would attempt suicide. Avoidance- avoid places or things that might trigger a thought- guns, medications, bridges, tall building;  

The fact is that compulsions only provide temporary relief and your obsessions will continue.   Check out next week’s Taboo Tuesday and learn about In vivo (real life) exposures!

Remember- Stigma and shame die where communication and validation live ❤️