If you suffer with OCD & Anxiety

[anitagreen]

What works for you? I've recently discovered I have OCD mainly pure O. So intrusive thoughts and fears about dying etc. Awful things it is triggered by my anxiety and then I go round in circles. I'm looking mainly for positive story's as I don't think I can handle reading anything that says it never goes atm. I'm due to start cbt soon feels like I've waited forever, however it's starting soon so I'm hoping this will get rid of it for good. Or at least stop the intrusive thoughts. How do you relieve it? Did it go away for you? Was there any let up? Thank You

Anyone?x

Have you tried the five list thing OP?
Count five things you can see.
Five things you can hear.
Five things you can touch.
And repeat.
This worked for me for a while when I had severe panic attacks.
I also used to try to sing a song (in my head) backwards over and over.
Visualisation too- think of something you find calming, breathe and focus on it (easier said than done I know)
Of course it can get better. A year ago I couldn't get on a bus, lie down in my bed, hear the word "heart" or "lungs" or "dead" and I was full blown panic attack. Now I can control them so so much easier and block 90% of intrusive thoughts, but it takes practise and time.
Cool air also helps me, but not always possible and standing outside if you feel faint isn't always great.x

@agirlhasnonameX thank you so much for that you have really put a smile on my face. It's just very annoying as I have had so many fears and I've got over them, I've always had OCD traits but now I have a phobia/fear of killing myself even though I am not suicidal and it sounds so bizarre when I say it out loud because I know nothing will happen to me, but it's the fear classic OCD of the what if? What if that does happen? But I know it won't! And because I fear it it's constantly on my mind.
But it's so good to know that intrusive thoughts can go they've never bothered me in the last few years as such but I think it's because I'm so aware now it's OCD and because the thoughts are quite severe. It really bothers me now. But I'm glad it can and will go hopefully x

Sorry to ramble on just such a relief to know it can go. I know I'll never end my life it's just scary having the thoughts but I've read up what you fear is usually the opposite etc so I fear dying and it's because I'm apparantly obsessed with saving myself x

I have ocd and anxiety, and cbt has completely changed my life. With my intrusive thoughts I acknowledge them as thoughts now, unpleasant yes, but don’t think on them any further other than that’s a weird intrusive thought.

I’ll always have ocd. My therapist explained it as the pathways in my brain see my checking I’ve locked the door 20 times even though I know I have (for example) as the motorway, so quick, fast and easy to travel on, and the ‘normal’ check door’s locked and move on as an overgrown dirt track, so difficult to travel on. With cbt, they’ve switched, so checking the door is locked and moving on is the motorway now. There may be stressful points in my life where I take the dirt track, but I know how to get back on the motorway, so can manage my ocd myself and if I can’t I know I can seek help again. Blimey, I hope this makes sense!

Good luck with your cbt, I hope it goes well for you.

@Iwantaunicorn that sounds really good to know too. That's my worry if that cbt doesn't work and the thoughts are always there, but if I can get rid of the what if thoughts etc it'll do me the world of good I hope x

You will get rid of them OP you have to believe that. With the right help and looking after yourself these are all things that can be managed and it does feel so frustrating and never ending and sometimes as though nothing works, but eventually it will and when you find good strategies you will feel enormous relief.
And yes it sounds bizarre but that's what it does, they are totally illogical thoughts but somehow your brain always finds ways of making them seem perfectly logical and when you start to see things more clearly you'll get a better grasp on that.
I had severe intrusive thoughts about DD1 dying, to the extent that I started to plan her funeral and it was tormenting, esp because I was young and too scared to tell anyone. I have health related anxiety now and only very occasionally do these type of thoughts enter my head. When they do I swiftly tell them to fuck off and distract myself.
All the best OP you WILL get there in the end x

I @agirlhasnonameX that sounds so awful for you, I don't think a lot of mine is helped by the constant stress I have either. My therapist phoned last night to say there's a 10 week wait and I will be getting all the help I need so I was really happy, but still today I have the constant thinking, over thinking, and the anxiety and feeling crappy. I just can't wait for one day to say I'm glad it's gone and have a new lease of life x

Was not sure if to post here or the baby names discussion ( but had bad experience on there)
I suffer with anxiety and intrusive thoughts which change from week to week or month to month.
My new thought sounds ridiculous but cannot get rid of it.
I am so scared my daughter is going to hate me for changing her name. I feel like I am a terrible mum as the first thing I had to do was name her and I messed up. My daughter is now 18 months old. I changed her name after 3 months then finally got birth certificate done 5 months.
The name We choose was Senna but for obvious reasons ( well obvious after ) changed to Siena.
The original name was chosen for the arabic meaning. But I could not risk her being bullied here in the u.k over her name.
I really cannot stop beating myself up for messing her birth certificate up.

Sorry was not meant to add post hete