HOCD and Real Event OCD?

[Yani2302]

i feel like i wanted to do the bad stuff, but when i stop myself i feel anxiety, is it normal, because i don't know what is it anymore, because before i was really scared of the thoughts, can OCD change themes when i analyze my full life, because it's gets worst

[Natureloverpeace]

The longer the OCD goes unmanaged the worse it gets. What feels like an imminent threat seems more likely because the obsessive thoughts are getting reinforced through mental and/or physical compulsions. In other words, the more we continue to do compulsions, the stronger the obsessions and anxiety feel. As long as we give intrusive thoughts meaning and do compulsions, OCD can control us. It is common for OCD to change themes. It loves to attack what we value and tries to convince us that we will act against our values. This is called ego dystonic. It’s important to find an OCD specialist who addresses core fears, not just the superficial ones of say causing someone to get sick from touching a doorknob. Without addressing the core fears, the OCD is likely to show up again as a different theme. A person who is afraid of causing harm to another through a contaminated doorknob may feel overly responsible for someone else’s health. They may think that if they don’t prevent harm to someone that they are a bad person and will be rejected and be alone. There are some common core fears but they can vary too.

[BeautifullyiMperfect]

I struggled with this off and on for many years, starting when I was just a little bit younger than you. I didn't know what it was and furthermore a psychiatrist misdiagnosed me with schizophrenia, when I knew in my bones that I was not schizophrenic, but that psychiatrist had no idea what OCD was and I had no idea that that was just another type of OCD. So for many years that I had the hocd thoughts, plus more, I had no idea what to do with myself and was living in a constant state of fear. When I did my research and found out that it was just another type of OCD and that many other people experience the same thing, it changed my life to know that they were not desires - just thoughts. That's all they are are just thoughts! Before I realized this, it felt very real to me too and many times I was convinced that maybe I wanted to do those things because OCD will make it feel very very real. Never had I ever in my life had those thoughts before, among others - so it's important to remember that and it's important to know how real OCD makes you feel it is - but it is actually the complete opposite of what you want or desire. Remember all types of OCD attack and are activated by the fear part of your brain and they do not have permission to consume you if you don't allow the fear to activate. I know it's much easier said than done, but it takes some time and practice. Think of it as an annoying and ridiculous random thought that holds no meaning, that keeps trying to bounce back in, and you just hit it away, while laughing it off - because it's what? Ridiculous! Say it to yourself yeah right - yeah okay sure thing! Then laugh about it and forget about it. And when you catch yourself feeling like it's real, remember that it's just OCD and pull yourself out of that spiral quickly, and say yeah right I know better than that, then redirect your attention to something happy or productive and don't give it a second thought or worry. The more you worry about it the worse the thoughts are going to get. And the fact that you are torn up about it exemplifies that it's not who you are at all! I don't know you but I bet you are a wonderful person and the most harmless person there is a way out - trust me! I did it! I very rarely experience that anymore. Pretty soon you're going to hit that annoying ball out the park and it's going to get lost somewhere out there and stop bouncing back in to bug you all the time.

[SCC1 in reply to BeautifullyiMperfect]

Your explanation is very detailed and worded wonderfully. Thank you!

[FirstResponder23 in reply to BeautifullyiMperfect]

This is such a great explanation. As someone who also is going through a lot of OCD right now this was really nice to hear. Because I have been told many of the things you said before, but with ocd creeping back in, it’s easy to forget. I’ve been through this ocd before and this kind of ocd before as well. I’ve gotten over it. I noticed that I have been slowly doing little mental compulsions every time since, that is kind of what has held it at bay. But now it is attacking. So I’m doing my best to not only get it under control, but also not reinforce it again with mental compulsions and instead challenge it. Hopefully this time around I will have beaten it.

[Vu88]

Wow you wrote that so nice,and it makes me feel better,I struggle with it since months. Did I do it,do I wanna do it,maybe I did and I don't remember ,would I stop myself if I tried to do what my thoughts tell me? It just continues, but if we analyze it,that's also means that's it can't b true,if we did something we sure would have a memory of it,so it actually makes no sense,it's crazy how ocd works,it will throw you into a spin so you have to analize every step of the day in case u did something wrong,and u never find a clue,but it doesn't stop,I can't even enjoy my vacations,I see ppl smiling and being happy and I'm miserable. I wanna laugh and enjoy life ,I hope I come to that place again. I just want that " but what if you really did that?" Thought to go away and that I believe in myself.Ur post makes so much sense and it gives me some peace,I'm glad you are doin better,one day I will too and this comment u wrote sure will be one reason why