Hi, I'm gonna get straight to the point. I was wondering if these compulsions/ rituals are common for someone with OCD.
• googling for reassurance
• prayer
• holding my breath when getting an intrusive thought
• checking
• scratching head/arm/ leg etc. when having an intrusive thought, fearing something will happen if I don't.
• mentally shouting "STOP!!" when the thoughts and images become too overwhelming.
• avoiding anything that I would fear of getting triggered by.
•changing clothes
• If I scratch one arm or any one side of my body, I'll have to scratch the other side too to make it "even".
•when walking on the sidewalk, I'll count how many steps are in a square before reaching the next crack in the pavement.
• If I get an intrusive thought while eating or drinking, I'll have to stop until the thought passes.
• chanting repeatedly in my head "These thoughts aren't real." (Usually all day).
A lot of these probably sound really bizarre, but if anyone has anything similar or can confirm that these are legitimate compulsions, please let me know. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
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Aromley_
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I have similar thoughts too ,. Thought it was just me x have to eat things in threes if something bad happens when I wear something , I won't wear it again , my brain tells me I Silly but my voice goes on x some days are worse than others and the list of things I do goes on and on , but I am Lucky my husband understands and lets me get in with it or sometimes helps me to see they are just thoughts and they cannot influence my life only I can do that x I hope my reply helps keep inTouch and keep positive x
Thanks for the reply, it makes me feel better knowing that I'm not the only one who has these compulsions, ever since I was a kid I thought I was crazy. But thank you.
No I have had them since I was young too . But only really talked about them over the last 5 years since I met my now husband , it helps me to breathe that some one else knows and cares, -
Also to know I am not alone, some days it is harder than others but I think that is because of anxiety and stress , have you been to you gp ?
Not yet, this year is when it really started getting bad after losing my job and getting depressed, and started getting worse around April, but I haven't gone yet because i kept thinking "what if they tell me that I really don't have OCD?"
These are all typical of OCD. I have had some, though not all of them myself. The cracks in the pavement, and the demand for symmetry, touching one side and then having to touch the other, are all things I've experienced. They are perfectly 'normal' as far as OCD is concerned! OCD does take many forms, but they all cause distress. Do go to your doctor. Medication can help, but it is best if you have CBT as well. Don't be afraid of being told that you don't have OCD. If that happens, and it is not likely to, then get a better doctor who knows what they're talking about! But I'm sure you'll get understanding and relief.
It involves things like postponing your OCD action, in your case things like scratching, counting steps or checking, letting the anxiety reach a peak and then subside, and thus proving that OCD has got it wrong. It isn't always easy to do, so don't be discouraged if you don't get it right straightaway, but it is very effective. In the meanwhile, why not try a self-help book. There are quite a few out there and they explain the techniques and help you to formulate your own CBT exercises. I have found Overcoming OCD particularly helpful, but there are several good ones.
Ok awesome, thank you and I'll definitely check out some books on the subject, i was also thinking of picking up the book by Chrissie Hodges telling her story with OCD.
That’s exactly how I feel, it’s like a year ago things were going okay (not perfect but better than it is now), now I’m just wishing I could go back to the way I was before
Atleast we are not alone 😕every second of my day is torture, i question everything. The memories that do flash through my head. I hear people or imagine people talking about me, my mind will say you only look for help because you are a monster and i just cant embrace anything, im lucky to have a family but i feel like im barely here and the sheer shock sometimes of it all, i just cant concentrate on anything and im about to run out of anxiety meds, docs here are jerks. Thanks for being my friend
No you’re definitely not a monster, I feel the same way every day like I’m an alien from another planet and I don’t belong or fit in with anyone. I always ruminate on the past and beat myself up for every mistake I’ve made from my childhood up to now. But I’m starting to realize that I’m not that same person from 5+ years ago, so I can’t keep torturing myself with living in the past. But I’m glad I can help you, feel free to talk to me anytime. And yeah I agree some doctors can be jerks.
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