One theme worse than others

[Eli_E]

Hi all! I've had multiple ocd themes, but the one that started everything off always feels stronger and harder than the others. Of course my ocd wants me to believe its because that one is real, and I know thats how ocd works, but that one theme always feels stickier. Has anyone else had a similar thing, where themes cycle in and out, but one always is harder? And if so, how did you manage it?

Thanks so much!

[SCC1]

Hi. Yes, I've had different themes, too, and the one I'm going through at that time, is the one that is harder to deal with. The other themes take a backseat, even if there still there. They are faded, but there's always one that's more "real" or especially there.

In time, my themes pass more, but another one comes up. And there have been times when I had lost a whole theme altogether. But...

OCD will always throw something else in the place of what I call a "faded" theme or one that is in the background, with only a little voice. The current one, is the loudest.

[Eli_E in reply to SCC1]

Thank you for sharing!

[TomFed]

The theme of you current obsessions can only be relevant to the ERP treatment and exposure hierarchy. But looking at the big picture, the details you are obsessing about don't matter. It is all the same OCD, with all its irrationality, and the healing can only happen when we stop doing compulsions. Nobody has power over their minds. People without OCD likewise have lots of crazy thoughts automatically popping in their minds, just the way they relate to those thoughts is different and doesn't cause anxiety. All in all, me myself I try to ignore obsessions the best way I can, just tell myself I don't know, I can't know and there is nothing I can do about this obsessive idea. And then stop myself from doing any compulsions (eradicate them one by one, even the tiniest compulsive safety behaviours).

[LyndsyLoo]

you know it! My original theme is still the “boss” theme when it comes to others. It still makes me a little queasy when it revisits but thankfully I don’t let it linger too long these days. I’ve had so many themes and even some funny ones.

[Eli_E]

I like how you call it the "boss" theme. I think I'm going to adopt that. Thank you!

[Mcfly64]

Yes the ‘boss ‘theme is a good way of putting it. I also call mine the ‘ queen mother’ theme like the queen bee. SCC1 also is right on the money. This is exactly what happens to me. Take care everyone 🙏

[Eli_E in reply to Mcfly64]

oh I like that too! I feel like using these labels will help me detach a little more and also insert a little levity which is always helpful

[Mcfly64]

👍