tips for OCD

[doglover223]

hello I have contamination OCD and am trying to do challenges to not shower whenever I go to the toilet any tips to push through a challenge?

[Carey25]

Hi there, I know it can couse a huge amount of anxiety to challenge such a compulsion. I'd recommend you to go slowly at first maybe try waiting 5 then 10 then even more minutes before the shower so this way you gotta delay the compulsion. Or decide when you feel yourself the most powerful during the day and challenge missing one shower but doing the rest at first, I mean if you're energised and feel motivated in the morning try miss your first shower but do the rest and slowly you could challgenge the rest. At first it is gonna feel terrible and wrong but you gotta push trough, remember it is for your recovery and for you to set yourself free of ocd, you're gonna feel more fear and anxiety in the beggining than "normal" but it's the time to be brave and believe in yourself. Hope I could help XO

[doglover223 in reply to Carey25]

thanks

[LiveOutLove_22]

Hey I struggle with a very similar thing. I agree that there are going to be days where you feel really good and confident. I think you have to take it one day at a time. I think if there are day's your doing good and feel brave enough to resist any compulsions you should. I am working on trying to have a weekly checklist to keep track of things I've done through the week. I'm a visual learner so having a list of daily things to work on through the day and week help keep my mind focus. I also think if you are really struggling don't condemn yourself. This disorder likes to remind you your constantly not good enough. Or your way of thinking is wrong. But allow yourself to feel what your feeling but try not to sit and dwell with it. I have major contamination OCD so I can relate so much what your going through. Just try to resist and delay for as long as you can. Maybe keep a calendar or set a timer to see how long you can go without showering. But I'm rooting for you and I wish you the best of luck.