Hello OCD community!
I hope this won’t sound as seeking reassurance since I know very well this is a common thing for people with OCD and a big no no.
I wanted to ask if it’s common to doubt yourself and your decision most of the time. I’m very indecisive and sometimes spend days choosing what toys to buy for my baby for instance.
I think this is very common for people with OCD and certainly has been for myself. I often doubt some of my decisons and will over annalyse them until I/the OCD are satisfied with the decison.....this can take some time to be honest
thank you for taking time to reply to me
That's certainly the case with me! It can be a matter of letting OCD do the choosing! But I've got better, touch wood, at letting my wishes prevail over the OCD.
I think it's important to make your choice, and not to ruminate over whether it's the 'right' choice. The more you toss it over and over in your mind, the more doubts you have.
And generally practising CBT to get control over OCD - making CBT a part of your day-to-day life - can help make the OCD recede into the background and help you to make your choices based on your preferences, not on the OCD.
thank you for your reply! You know I’ve been to therapy years ago when I first started having OCD episodes but back then CBT didn’t exist. After that, I’ve been relying only on medication. I’ve been putting the therapy off because I don’t experience OCD all the time. It gets worst if my thyroid hormones are off
It's only recently that CBT has become the standard treatment for OCD. Don't put it off - it really helps!
It's a fluctuating condition so many people have periods when they're OCD-free or nearly so, and then it rears its ugly head again. Learning CBT can really help when you start getting symptoms again. It's like a toolkit that you equip yourself with and learn to use so it's there when you need it.
How is the treatment for the thyroid? Hormones can make OCD fluctuate, as many women know from their monthly cycle etc.
My brain does go haywire when I have OCD flare ups! Sometimes it feels like a tangled ball of string. I lose concentration and stop thinking creatively and flexibly - it often feels like I'm in a room with lots of door leading out, but each one I try slams shut and won't open.
I've found that it helps to let the OCD episode run its course - it really does, and then I can start thinking rationally again!
Thank you. My husband and I run a business and when I have an OCD flare up, I stop being productive. And then the guilt comes in that I’m useless, not good enough and so on. You are right. I have to start therapy asap.
My thyroid journey has not been fun but I noticed that when my hormones are stable so is my OCD.
All the more reason to take good care of your thyroid! I know how difficult it can be to work when in the grip of OCD. Running a business can be hard work and small business owners often work long hours - but make sure you don't overdo things, give yourself time off for leisure and fun or just for resting. Overdoing things can make OCD flare up, as can doing too little!
It's easy to fall into negative attitudes about yourself. Try to remind yourself that you're good at stuff - make a list if it helps!
CBT isn't particularly easy, but it does get easier the more you do it. And although it involves resisting and challenging OCD thoughts and actions, there are going to be lots of occasions where you give into the OCD. Don't think of them as 'failures' - they're just attempts and you can always try again.
thank you
do you experience brain fog sometimes when you have ocd flare ups?
Well, there is a reason why OCD is called a doubting disorder 
I'd say try to be more spontaneous and playful with your decisions, life is not such a serious matter. And if it is not a life changing situation that you have to make decision about, which 99% of them aren't, just go with ease (I know it's often hard with OCD, but that's why we are here learning new healthy behaviors).
I have trouble making decisions, too. It can be the smallest thing. I've heard that if you are stuck on something, go with your first choice. It is probably what you would have chosen anyway. The other choices that we get stuck on that makes us doubt our decisions, are just added, unnecessary "things" we are playing with in our minds.
Question: If you were only allowed one choice to make, would you be satisfied/happy with that choice? If yes, you are probably making a good decision.
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