I was on the phone with my partner and she said something that triggered me trying to remember a thought or a memory. It beared relatively no significance to the conversation, it was like a trigger word that I can't remember because the intense panic and anxiety I had afterwards overrode it.
It was like the word or sentence she said brought up an image in my head, and as soon as I tried to chase it and figure out what it was, I couldn't. Then massive anxiety and panic set in for about a minute until I sort of gave up trying, then rode out the anxiety and I still am now.
Unsure if this is OCD, as I've suffered with it quite bad in the past. The nearest description I can find for this is memory hoarding but again, I don't know.
Can anyone relate?
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bbanxiety
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I don't know if it's OCD, but if you already have OCD it could well be at least connected. The memory does work a bit like that. Things people say, smells, sounds etc all can conjure up a memory with suddenness and if the memory isn't a pleasant one, panic.
I get panicky if someone comes at me or behind me on a bicycle on the pavement. I feel as though I am about to be knocked down. It's against the law anyway to use the pavement if you're on a bicycle, not to say dangerous.
Recently I had a flashback as someone came towards me on a bike, a memory of being beaten up by a gang of boys each break at school. They charged towards me in a gang and I used to sit down on the ground to prevent them knocking me down and then I would be kicked and punched. I realized that could be the reason I get so panicky when approached by a bicycle.
This particular memory sounds a bit hard to pin down, but it clearly upset you. It's the right thing to do, not chasing it and trying to get past it. Holding it in your mind and not letting it go is not helpful.
This is a horrible experience, but it sounds like you've learned some techniques for dealing with things like that. Try not to ruminate.
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Her world has come crashing down and what am I supposed to do now?
Will only 'thinking positively' help with my anxiety and OCD?
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