OCD ? 🙄

[BlueberryMuffinsAndCream]

I’ve never been diagnosed but I’ve always had OCD-like habits and tendencies.

My most recent thing is that I feel like my shoulders are misaligned. I started nudging my left shoulder forward as it feels like it makes them aligned but obviously it goes back to where it was. But then I nudge it again. And again. And again. And again.

Its become a compulsion now and I’m doing it without even thinking. My arm, chest, rib cage and back are all exhausted and achey from me constantly pushing my shoulder forward.

Today I did it over 1000 times (that I counted) before I had even had lunch.

Does anyone know how to stop compulsions like this? It’s so annoying and started randomly! I’m not afraid of anything bad happening if I don’t do it, but it feels like my shoulders are completely misaligned and squint (they’re not, they’re completely straight!) and it feels like I just HAVE to keep pushing my shoulder forward to straighten it. 😭

Gosh op that’s sounds really painful. I used to do the same with my neck, turning it to the right and it clicked back into place. The pain was excruciating. I did it constantly, all day long. I can’t specifically remember what stopped me doing it, I just began limiting it each day until I just stopped. I remember thinking if I keep doing this I’m going to end up with a serious debilitating condition with my neck. I still sometimes have the urge to do it but I just don’t allow myself, I can’t go back to that pain.

My son has OCD and it is horrific, his main rituals are toilet and germaphobia based although he has had/still has several coughing/counting/stepping/repeating words and phrases rituals. He attends weekly cbt and uses distraction techniques and exposure therapy (for the toilet/germ based rituals) he is also quite heavily medicated for someone his age but it was either medication or, well I don’t even want to think about the alternative. He was very unwell during 2020. Covid was like all his worst fears come to reality.

I recommend doing some research on cbt coping and distraction techniques whilst being careful not to replace one compulsion with another which happens very often in our house. Good luck.

I hate my OCD, worst thing is most people are so dismissive of it. I wish I could rid myself of the feeling of dread, I know I look crazy when I'm doing my rituals but I can't stop it.

Go speak to your GP

@BlueberryMuffinsAndCream

I’m currently nearing the end of a CBT course for ocd. From what I’ve learnt, the advice would be to completely go against the feeling of “HAVE”, resist the compulsion and go with the uncomfortable feeling/urge. The cycle needs breaking to teach the brain something new.

Hope that makes sense!

Hi, just wondering if you still have this problem as I have exactly the same 😞

Medication and therapy really helps.