I think this can look different for everyone, but for me it was finding a good psychiatrist, finally getting on the meds that worked for me, and then doing ERP therapy for several months with a PsyD who specialized in OCD treatment (I realize that’s not accessible to everyone, which sucks).
If you aren’t able to see a specialist and want to start somewhere, I honestly recommend the children’s book “What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck” by Dawn Huebner. My specialist gave it to me on the first day because it explains OCD and tactics for managing it in a way that is really easy to understand. I’m in my 30s and still use it.
Try not to focus too much on full “recovery,” but start to practice these skills and celebrate EVERY win even if it seems small or unimportant (like, did you delay doing a compulsion for 30 seconds? 10 seconds? AMAZING!). All you need to do is start chipping away at OCD’s hold on your brain. It will lose its grip on you, and it will get easier and easier to keep working at it. You got this 💚
I had a list making/ letter writing compulsion from 2006-11, started therapy for the first time in spring 2011. The compulsion was in response to a terrible break up I’d gone through in 2004, and I’d suffered in silence for years not knowing what was wrong (or even knowing anything was wrong). After a couple months of exposure therapy my therapist helped me realize on my own that I’d invented this elaborate ritual to throw away my anxiety, but it would always come back (I named the ritual “the letter in the bottle”). I’d say 75% of the compulsion went away almost overnight, and we got rid of the rest in the following months. I’ve basically lived w/ out any major compulsions last 12 years til I developed SH OCD symptoms a year ago, and am in therapy for that now.
Lots of work and lots of time and eventually medication and therapy.
I was diagnosed when I was 12. Through therapy, family support and practice, I would say I got about 80% of a handle on my symptoms (peak OCD was at 0% obviously) . In my 20s, I went under the care of a psychiatrist and got on medication to the point where I would say I was at about 95% in control of things.
Now in my mid 30s, I have started working with a therapist for other issues and we’ve determined that my OCD isn’t as controlled as I thought, it’s simply manifested into my life as an adult. It’s mostly internal, so I don’t have a lot of compulsions that get in the way of my day to day functions (I still have some but have learned to live with them for so long they seem secondary), but it’s going to require a LOT of work on my inner self. So even though it’s been way more present than I would have ever guessed, I’m in a headspace and time of my life when I am looking to tackle it with a lot of enthusiasm as I know how far I’ve come.
I guess to say I’ve never fully recovered but most days, it feels like I have as I’ve gotten to a point where I love my life and what I have worked so hard to cultivate, that even if my OCD is present in some way, I feel equipped to treat it now.
you know that feeling when you're riding your bike down a really big hill and you feel super scared and your body tenses up? then, suddenly, you think to yourself, "wtf, this is supposed to be fun..." and you force yourself to relax your body, and instead of anxiety you feel excitement. that's when you start to enjoy the bike ride. it's so freeing. it's the same feeling when you recover from ocd. unfortunately, relapse is a bitch and a half 🫠
My OCD got so bad at one point that I slept on the floor of an unused corner of my studio apartment for the better part of a year because I got so worn out from the time it took to do a "full clean" every night. Getting "splashback" from going #2 in a public bathroom caused me to take an 8-hour-long shower before I felt clean again. Now, I basically just have to wash my hands real quick after work every night & wear nitrile gloves in certain public situations and I'll be fine. I can still be triggered, though, and it gets pretty rough.
I started a new job recently and I notified everyone of my OCD from the get-go. Don't touch me, I don't eat food that's not sealed or handled exclusively by people with gloves, etc. and so on. Well, we did a big switch-over from one credit card system to another about a month ago, and it *required* other people to touch my workspace because it happened on a day I was off. I came in, was told of this, and then a lot of people saw me spend over an hour deep-cleaning my whole workspace with Lysol wipes. Phone, headset, desk, chair, keyboard, mouse, connecting cables, etc. The IT guy actually came over and apologized to me afterward.
Earlier, I mentioned doing a "full clean". Basically, every time I came home from work, I'd have to deep-clean myself, particularly my whole head (esp. my mouth) & arms/hands/nails. It usually took about 2-3 hrs. on average. Well, eventually, I realized the root issues and attacked them directly. Instead of T-shirts under my work dress shirt, I wore long-sleeved shirts. Suddenly, to feel clean, it was acceptable to only have to wash my hands to the wrist instead of my whole arm from the shoulder down. I also pointed out that my nails don't get dirty because I'm constantly biting them so much that it's damn near impossible for them to ever come into contact with anything. So now I don't really care about scrubbing deep under my nails. Little by little, I chipped it down to a manageable load. Maybe 15 minutes at the sink, add on another 25 in the shower if it's a rough day?
To kinda wrap this up...a big thing that helped me is being surrounded by people who understand what I'm going through and accept my very simple boundaries. My new co-workers are absolutely amazing. We went out to dinner for someone's going-away party the other day and, when the one who was next to me got his entree and I asked him what it was, he told me and then said, "I literally haven't even touched it with a fork yet, if you'd like to grab a bite?" I didn't, but what surprised me is I felt like I *could have* and been okay, and that I was mostly just denying it because I felt it'd be rude, LOL
Years ago, I told a friend that fighting depression requires you to be a drill sergeant, but to fight OCD, you need to be a lawyer. I'm not "recovered" in the sense that my OCD is fully gone, but I would say its impact on my daily life has been lessened *considerably*. The ultimate trick to it was arguing with that voice in my head in a way that both (A) had an internally-consistent logic and (B) really struck at the emotional/figurative core of the issue.
Through twice weekly therapy sessions doing ERP therapy, really working on doing exposures. Took about 7 months. I had "pure O" OCD and would struggle with OCD for about 4 hours a day total.
I still have OCD thoughts, but I'm able to sit with them and let them go.
I wouldn’t say I’m fully recovered (or if that’s possible, it depends on how you define recovered) but some things really helped me (apart from the basics like ERP, time, etc)
1) Realising that ultimately I’m the only one who can change my situation. I’m the who’s responsible for my life and in the end I have to decide if I let OCD determine my life or not.
2) Realising that resentment is more or less a compulsion (resentment towards my anxiety, resentment towards my thoughts). That doesn’t mean I have to enjoy the thoughts or the anxiety, but rather to not deeply resent the experience. For me, changing my resenting attitude was (and still is sometimes) SUPER difficult, but a game changer.
3) Leaning in to uncertainty, letting it engulf me. It’s terrifying, but it’s the only way forward.
4) Some questions remain unanswered, and I have the terrifying, and likewise wonderful, opportunity to keep on going and keep on living.
For me it was ignoring my thoughts and sitting through the anxiety that comes with ignoring them that’s how i got better but im not entirely recovered i still get it sometimes when I’m going through some shit in my life
Hi. I've had Pure OCD since I can remember, but stayed in denial for years before reaching out for help. I tried everything on my own, but always messed up more, and couldn't feel any better.
I'm 22, and I was forced by my mom, not even a year ago, to let someone help me.
I had tried therapy before, but my therapist of that time didn't know how to cope with it and encouraged me to have my compulsions (Imagine how traumatized I was after that experience).
My mother is a doctor and she knew a psychiatrist specialized in OCD. She was and is my angel. Convinced me to go on Zoloft (I used to be ashamed of taking meds), which improved things, and made me understand I'm not the monster I think I am.
There are still rough times, of course, but I can laugh at my intrusive thoughts, I can meet people, study, work out (I am an athlete and this past year I gave up on sport because I was getting triggered), and my real personality, that I had never seen, came out.
I suggest you, If you haven't done it yet, to try a psychiatrist. I may be biased but some therapists out there just haven't studied enough.
I hope you can get better, life goes on, and OCD will become a friend and not an enemy ❤️
I’m not recovered yet, but I’ve made a bit of progress towards it. The best thing that helped me so far is ERP. It’s helped to teach me that my thoughts are only thoughts and have no merit. My struggle is pure O.
But I’ve seen many who have conquered OCD, with the NOCD app. It’s taught me a lot and actually it really helped me when I didn’t really expect it to at all.
You can find peace 🩵
Hey, mostly time, mindset and people, also started seeing a psychologist and attending psychotherapy classes, music also helped.
Journey is long, but it’s really worth it.
Fluvoxamine 150 and always having a source of growth: studies, job, sports...Stop thinking about your OCD to the point you forget you have OCD. This is not possible to do unmedicated, in my experience. By the way, Zoloft didn't work. Luvox did. But it took a complete year to lose all compulsions. They get better gradually after months go by.
May the force be with you.
The severity of my OCD changes over time, so I wouldn't say I've recovered. But in the past I have found the book Brain Lock to be helpful, and currently what has helped me refrain from some compulsions is saying to myself "your OCD is a part of you, but you don't have to let it control you."
A few things. First and foremost it is imperative that you talk to a therapist who at least is partially oriented towards OCD treatment. You have to tell your therapist everything about everything that’s going on with you in order to optimize the efficacy of your treatment, so don’t avoid talking about certain topics that you’re afraid to talk about. You’re only making your suffering last longer if you do that. Second you need to address your other issues that the OCD may be latching on to whether it be trauma, Panic Disorder, ADHD, BPD, Bipolar Disorder, etc. Best to talk to a psychiatrist to either diagnose or make sure you aren’t suffering from any co-morbidities, because OCD latches on to whatever issues or stress you have psychologically so if it doesn’t have anything to latch on to it won’t have any power. You can make really dramatic progress in a short amount of time, but the most important thing is you gotta follow through with your therapy and what your therapist tells you to do. If you try to cut corners, skip out on therapy, or avoid talking about your deeper rooted issues then you’ll really regret how much time you extended your suffering by, trust me. Wish you the best, and I hope everything works out for you
First of all, my understanding is you can’t actually “recover” from OCD. It always comes back, but the idea is when the thoughts get sticky again you know how to get “unstuck” much more quickly. I find that to be the case. Before treatment, I would be terrified of when I thought would stick and I knew it was a matter of time before I started obsessing. Nowadays I can have what used to be a highly triggering thought, and while it temporarily raises my stress, my brain moves on and “unsticks” much more quickly. As far as treatment, ERP was life changing for me. I did it through the company NOCD. I can also highly recommend a very specific anxiety related Instagram account from a therapist who is very good at treating ocd called “theanxietyparadox”. Her posts have really helped me even when I haven’t been keeping up with ERP. The main takeaway is “I can handle uncomfortable feelings. I can keep myself safe. I trust my body to handle the physical anxiety symptoms, my job is to continue on with my day and do what I would do if I wasn’t anxious”. For me it’s been a lot of faking it till I make it. Like almost gaslighting myself into acting like I’m fine even when I’m not.
Next time the anxiety comes up for you, try to continue doing what you were doing before the anxiety wave showed up. Rather than stopping everything to “relax” and “calm down”, I’ve found it much more helpful to dive deep into whatever activity I would normally be doing and stay present there. I trust my body to work through the cortisol and adrenaline, my job is to not let intrusive thoughts and anxiety make decisions for me.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please do not hesitate to talk to someone. The wonderful u/froidinslip has
written an invaluable post to help you navigate this time:
https://www.reddit.com/r/OCD/comments/q4zeo1/please_read_this_before_posting_about_feeling/
You are not alone, and you have options. However, we are not able to help with suicide on an internet forum.
PLEASE USE THE RESOURCES. You matter and deserve help.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/OCD) if you have any questions or concerns.*
My psychiatrist put me on the right (maximum) dosage and it helped FOR REAL. I do not react to my intrusive thoughts the same way I do when I was still undiagnosed. The thoughts are still very much present but I think they have become more manageable because of my meds. I also practiced Maybe, Maybe Not mentality and stopped giving an F about what my thoughts say. I usually shut it up when I say: I don't care. Those words are powerful.
i started sertraline and cbt, can’t lie i ditched cbt because i was too far deep and they stopped reaching out. just exposed myself to shit that triggered my contamination ocd.
for context, i had fears of covid during lockdown, and would scrub my face to the point of it peeling apart and blood pouring out. then, as time went on and i forced myself to go out of the house, to touch everything even if it freaked me out. i kept doing this over a few months, realised it was mostly in my head, and kept taking sertraline until this year.
earlier in the year i ceased to take it (i went cold turkey, something i highly recommend against, but it felt right for me). horrible withdrawal symptoms but now i am fine and obsession free.
good luck OP, you’ve got this❤️❤️
I can’t really say I’ve recovered fully but as someone who hasn’t received therapy in ~6 years and is not on meds I feel like I’ve improved a lot on my own (but, it was very difficult and I honestly recommend finding a therapist that specializes in OCD)
Part of it is minimizing your anxieties and avoiding rumination. Rumination will amplify your fears and ironically make the OCD worse, it’s a terrible positive feedback loop.
Another is convincing your fears aren’t as big deal of a deal as you think they are. When an OCD-related fear enters your mind, tell yourself, so what? So what if that happens? I don’t care. It’s not a big deal…. Obviously this can’t work with all triggers, but mine never revolved around super terrible themes so it worked for me. Or, it could be more along the lines of “this is very unlikely to happen/there is no evidence of this, so there is no point in me focusing on this”, and think about something else, or do the thing you’re afraid to do. Or accepting that some things in life are out of your control and that there is no point in obsessing over it.
Stop ruminating. Don’t ask for reassurance. Don’t participate in compulsions. Stop self doubt - just do the things you need to do without obsessing. Personally, decisions used to be so difficult for me. I would obsess over what was the best option. Just make a choice and live with what comes next. It’s not that serious. It’s basically just adding fuel to the fire. Distract yourself. Over time, you have to train your mind to see that these things you fear aren’t as serious as you think they are, AND/OR you are blowing things way out of proportion and making life harder for yourself. you need to recognize your OCD behaviors and put effort into combatting them rather than feeling like a slave (but I understand the feeling - often I felt like my mind was a wild animal I couldn’t tame). It’s not an easy or quick process. But it’s possible! Again, I would really recommend doing this with a trained professional. On my own, I would do things that would end up making it worse for myself. Sometimes “exposing” yourself to your triggers doesn’t make you get over them, it just distresses you and nothing else. It’s not as simple as it seems.
I think this can look different for everyone, but for me it was finding a good psychiatrist, finally getting on the meds that worked for me, and then doing ERP therapy for several months with a PsyD who specialized in OCD treatment (I realize that’s not accessible to everyone, which sucks). If you aren’t able to see a specialist and want to start somewhere, I honestly recommend the children’s book “What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck” by Dawn Huebner. My specialist gave it to me on the first day because it explains OCD and tactics for managing it in a way that is really easy to understand. I’m in my 30s and still use it. Try not to focus too much on full “recovery,” but start to practice these skills and celebrate EVERY win even if it seems small or unimportant (like, did you delay doing a compulsion for 30 seconds? 10 seconds? AMAZING!). All you need to do is start chipping away at OCD’s hold on your brain. It will lose its grip on you, and it will get easier and easier to keep working at it. You got this 💚
I'm going to look into ERP & the book you talked about. Thank you!!
\*READS COMMENTS INTENSELY\*
*IN SETS OF 3*
LOL
I just came to the conclusion I wasn’t my thoughts
I had a list making/ letter writing compulsion from 2006-11, started therapy for the first time in spring 2011. The compulsion was in response to a terrible break up I’d gone through in 2004, and I’d suffered in silence for years not knowing what was wrong (or even knowing anything was wrong). After a couple months of exposure therapy my therapist helped me realize on my own that I’d invented this elaborate ritual to throw away my anxiety, but it would always come back (I named the ritual “the letter in the bottle”). I’d say 75% of the compulsion went away almost overnight, and we got rid of the rest in the following months. I’ve basically lived w/ out any major compulsions last 12 years til I developed SH OCD symptoms a year ago, and am in therapy for that now.
Lots of work and lots of time and eventually medication and therapy. I was diagnosed when I was 12. Through therapy, family support and practice, I would say I got about 80% of a handle on my symptoms (peak OCD was at 0% obviously) . In my 20s, I went under the care of a psychiatrist and got on medication to the point where I would say I was at about 95% in control of things. Now in my mid 30s, I have started working with a therapist for other issues and we’ve determined that my OCD isn’t as controlled as I thought, it’s simply manifested into my life as an adult. It’s mostly internal, so I don’t have a lot of compulsions that get in the way of my day to day functions (I still have some but have learned to live with them for so long they seem secondary), but it’s going to require a LOT of work on my inner self. So even though it’s been way more present than I would have ever guessed, I’m in a headspace and time of my life when I am looking to tackle it with a lot of enthusiasm as I know how far I’ve come. I guess to say I’ve never fully recovered but most days, it feels like I have as I’ve gotten to a point where I love my life and what I have worked so hard to cultivate, that even if my OCD is present in some way, I feel equipped to treat it now.
you know that feeling when you're riding your bike down a really big hill and you feel super scared and your body tenses up? then, suddenly, you think to yourself, "wtf, this is supposed to be fun..." and you force yourself to relax your body, and instead of anxiety you feel excitement. that's when you start to enjoy the bike ride. it's so freeing. it's the same feeling when you recover from ocd. unfortunately, relapse is a bitch and a half 🫠
9 months of ERP with a trained therapist, then ICBT.
My OCD got so bad at one point that I slept on the floor of an unused corner of my studio apartment for the better part of a year because I got so worn out from the time it took to do a "full clean" every night. Getting "splashback" from going #2 in a public bathroom caused me to take an 8-hour-long shower before I felt clean again. Now, I basically just have to wash my hands real quick after work every night & wear nitrile gloves in certain public situations and I'll be fine. I can still be triggered, though, and it gets pretty rough. I started a new job recently and I notified everyone of my OCD from the get-go. Don't touch me, I don't eat food that's not sealed or handled exclusively by people with gloves, etc. and so on. Well, we did a big switch-over from one credit card system to another about a month ago, and it *required* other people to touch my workspace because it happened on a day I was off. I came in, was told of this, and then a lot of people saw me spend over an hour deep-cleaning my whole workspace with Lysol wipes. Phone, headset, desk, chair, keyboard, mouse, connecting cables, etc. The IT guy actually came over and apologized to me afterward. Earlier, I mentioned doing a "full clean". Basically, every time I came home from work, I'd have to deep-clean myself, particularly my whole head (esp. my mouth) & arms/hands/nails. It usually took about 2-3 hrs. on average. Well, eventually, I realized the root issues and attacked them directly. Instead of T-shirts under my work dress shirt, I wore long-sleeved shirts. Suddenly, to feel clean, it was acceptable to only have to wash my hands to the wrist instead of my whole arm from the shoulder down. I also pointed out that my nails don't get dirty because I'm constantly biting them so much that it's damn near impossible for them to ever come into contact with anything. So now I don't really care about scrubbing deep under my nails. Little by little, I chipped it down to a manageable load. Maybe 15 minutes at the sink, add on another 25 in the shower if it's a rough day? To kinda wrap this up...a big thing that helped me is being surrounded by people who understand what I'm going through and accept my very simple boundaries. My new co-workers are absolutely amazing. We went out to dinner for someone's going-away party the other day and, when the one who was next to me got his entree and I asked him what it was, he told me and then said, "I literally haven't even touched it with a fork yet, if you'd like to grab a bite?" I didn't, but what surprised me is I felt like I *could have* and been okay, and that I was mostly just denying it because I felt it'd be rude, LOL Years ago, I told a friend that fighting depression requires you to be a drill sergeant, but to fight OCD, you need to be a lawyer. I'm not "recovered" in the sense that my OCD is fully gone, but I would say its impact on my daily life has been lessened *considerably*. The ultimate trick to it was arguing with that voice in my head in a way that both (A) had an internally-consistent logic and (B) really struck at the emotional/figurative core of the issue.
[удалено]
If it helps, go for it.
Through twice weekly therapy sessions doing ERP therapy, really working on doing exposures. Took about 7 months. I had "pure O" OCD and would struggle with OCD for about 4 hours a day total. I still have OCD thoughts, but I'm able to sit with them and let them go.
MARK FREEMAN!!! “What if? So what.” just going from point A to point B, despite the discomfort of whatever’s was happening in my head, saved me.
I wouldn’t say I’m fully recovered (or if that’s possible, it depends on how you define recovered) but some things really helped me (apart from the basics like ERP, time, etc) 1) Realising that ultimately I’m the only one who can change my situation. I’m the who’s responsible for my life and in the end I have to decide if I let OCD determine my life or not. 2) Realising that resentment is more or less a compulsion (resentment towards my anxiety, resentment towards my thoughts). That doesn’t mean I have to enjoy the thoughts or the anxiety, but rather to not deeply resent the experience. For me, changing my resenting attitude was (and still is sometimes) SUPER difficult, but a game changer. 3) Leaning in to uncertainty, letting it engulf me. It’s terrifying, but it’s the only way forward. 4) Some questions remain unanswered, and I have the terrifying, and likewise wonderful, opportunity to keep on going and keep on living.
For me it was ignoring my thoughts and sitting through the anxiety that comes with ignoring them that’s how i got better but im not entirely recovered i still get it sometimes when I’m going through some shit in my life
Hi. I've had Pure OCD since I can remember, but stayed in denial for years before reaching out for help. I tried everything on my own, but always messed up more, and couldn't feel any better. I'm 22, and I was forced by my mom, not even a year ago, to let someone help me. I had tried therapy before, but my therapist of that time didn't know how to cope with it and encouraged me to have my compulsions (Imagine how traumatized I was after that experience). My mother is a doctor and she knew a psychiatrist specialized in OCD. She was and is my angel. Convinced me to go on Zoloft (I used to be ashamed of taking meds), which improved things, and made me understand I'm not the monster I think I am. There are still rough times, of course, but I can laugh at my intrusive thoughts, I can meet people, study, work out (I am an athlete and this past year I gave up on sport because I was getting triggered), and my real personality, that I had never seen, came out. I suggest you, If you haven't done it yet, to try a psychiatrist. I may be biased but some therapists out there just haven't studied enough. I hope you can get better, life goes on, and OCD will become a friend and not an enemy ❤️
I’m not recovered yet, but I’ve made a bit of progress towards it. The best thing that helped me so far is ERP. It’s helped to teach me that my thoughts are only thoughts and have no merit. My struggle is pure O. But I’ve seen many who have conquered OCD, with the NOCD app. It’s taught me a lot and actually it really helped me when I didn’t really expect it to at all. You can find peace 🩵
Hey, mostly time, mindset and people, also started seeing a psychologist and attending psychotherapy classes, music also helped. Journey is long, but it’s really worth it.
Fluvoxamine 150 and always having a source of growth: studies, job, sports...Stop thinking about your OCD to the point you forget you have OCD. This is not possible to do unmedicated, in my experience. By the way, Zoloft didn't work. Luvox did. But it took a complete year to lose all compulsions. They get better gradually after months go by. May the force be with you.
Zoloft is total trash. I’m not surprised you didn’t get relief from it.
The severity of my OCD changes over time, so I wouldn't say I've recovered. But in the past I have found the book Brain Lock to be helpful, and currently what has helped me refrain from some compulsions is saying to myself "your OCD is a part of you, but you don't have to let it control you."
A few things. First and foremost it is imperative that you talk to a therapist who at least is partially oriented towards OCD treatment. You have to tell your therapist everything about everything that’s going on with you in order to optimize the efficacy of your treatment, so don’t avoid talking about certain topics that you’re afraid to talk about. You’re only making your suffering last longer if you do that. Second you need to address your other issues that the OCD may be latching on to whether it be trauma, Panic Disorder, ADHD, BPD, Bipolar Disorder, etc. Best to talk to a psychiatrist to either diagnose or make sure you aren’t suffering from any co-morbidities, because OCD latches on to whatever issues or stress you have psychologically so if it doesn’t have anything to latch on to it won’t have any power. You can make really dramatic progress in a short amount of time, but the most important thing is you gotta follow through with your therapy and what your therapist tells you to do. If you try to cut corners, skip out on therapy, or avoid talking about your deeper rooted issues then you’ll really regret how much time you extended your suffering by, trust me. Wish you the best, and I hope everything works out for you
Prozac worked pretty well for me
You can !
First of all, my understanding is you can’t actually “recover” from OCD. It always comes back, but the idea is when the thoughts get sticky again you know how to get “unstuck” much more quickly. I find that to be the case. Before treatment, I would be terrified of when I thought would stick and I knew it was a matter of time before I started obsessing. Nowadays I can have what used to be a highly triggering thought, and while it temporarily raises my stress, my brain moves on and “unsticks” much more quickly. As far as treatment, ERP was life changing for me. I did it through the company NOCD. I can also highly recommend a very specific anxiety related Instagram account from a therapist who is very good at treating ocd called “theanxietyparadox”. Her posts have really helped me even when I haven’t been keeping up with ERP. The main takeaway is “I can handle uncomfortable feelings. I can keep myself safe. I trust my body to handle the physical anxiety symptoms, my job is to continue on with my day and do what I would do if I wasn’t anxious”. For me it’s been a lot of faking it till I make it. Like almost gaslighting myself into acting like I’m fine even when I’m not. Next time the anxiety comes up for you, try to continue doing what you were doing before the anxiety wave showed up. Rather than stopping everything to “relax” and “calm down”, I’ve found it much more helpful to dive deep into whatever activity I would normally be doing and stay present there. I trust my body to work through the cortisol and adrenaline, my job is to not let intrusive thoughts and anxiety make decisions for me.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please do not hesitate to talk to someone. The wonderful u/froidinslip has written an invaluable post to help you navigate this time: https://www.reddit.com/r/OCD/comments/q4zeo1/please_read_this_before_posting_about_feeling/ You are not alone, and you have options. However, we are not able to help with suicide on an internet forum. PLEASE USE THE RESOURCES. You matter and deserve help. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/OCD) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You can recover?
Wait, OCD recovery is possible?
A lot of ERP therapy
ERP therapy, ACT, Zoloft, and Wellbutrin. I also took Abilify for a short time when I was really unwell but went off of it.
If you can
My psychiatrist put me on the right (maximum) dosage and it helped FOR REAL. I do not react to my intrusive thoughts the same way I do when I was still undiagnosed. The thoughts are still very much present but I think they have become more manageable because of my meds. I also practiced Maybe, Maybe Not mentality and stopped giving an F about what my thoughts say. I usually shut it up when I say: I don't care. Those words are powerful.
i started sertraline and cbt, can’t lie i ditched cbt because i was too far deep and they stopped reaching out. just exposed myself to shit that triggered my contamination ocd. for context, i had fears of covid during lockdown, and would scrub my face to the point of it peeling apart and blood pouring out. then, as time went on and i forced myself to go out of the house, to touch everything even if it freaked me out. i kept doing this over a few months, realised it was mostly in my head, and kept taking sertraline until this year. earlier in the year i ceased to take it (i went cold turkey, something i highly recommend against, but it felt right for me). horrible withdrawal symptoms but now i am fine and obsession free. good luck OP, you’ve got this❤️❤️
I can’t really say I’ve recovered fully but as someone who hasn’t received therapy in ~6 years and is not on meds I feel like I’ve improved a lot on my own (but, it was very difficult and I honestly recommend finding a therapist that specializes in OCD) Part of it is minimizing your anxieties and avoiding rumination. Rumination will amplify your fears and ironically make the OCD worse, it’s a terrible positive feedback loop. Another is convincing your fears aren’t as big deal of a deal as you think they are. When an OCD-related fear enters your mind, tell yourself, so what? So what if that happens? I don’t care. It’s not a big deal…. Obviously this can’t work with all triggers, but mine never revolved around super terrible themes so it worked for me. Or, it could be more along the lines of “this is very unlikely to happen/there is no evidence of this, so there is no point in me focusing on this”, and think about something else, or do the thing you’re afraid to do. Or accepting that some things in life are out of your control and that there is no point in obsessing over it. Stop ruminating. Don’t ask for reassurance. Don’t participate in compulsions. Stop self doubt - just do the things you need to do without obsessing. Personally, decisions used to be so difficult for me. I would obsess over what was the best option. Just make a choice and live with what comes next. It’s not that serious. It’s basically just adding fuel to the fire. Distract yourself. Over time, you have to train your mind to see that these things you fear aren’t as serious as you think they are, AND/OR you are blowing things way out of proportion and making life harder for yourself. you need to recognize your OCD behaviors and put effort into combatting them rather than feeling like a slave (but I understand the feeling - often I felt like my mind was a wild animal I couldn’t tame). It’s not an easy or quick process. But it’s possible! Again, I would really recommend doing this with a trained professional. On my own, I would do things that would end up making it worse for myself. Sometimes “exposing” yourself to your triggers doesn’t make you get over them, it just distresses you and nothing else. It’s not as simple as it seems.