To ask for your top 3 tips for anxiety/OCD please?

[mechanicalpencil]

Tips for anxiety or OCD please?
I know there are many aspects of OCD but would like to hear what has worked for you,
especially books/podcasts… anything.

I will start by sharing mine:

1. Reduce exposure to news
2. Go for more walks
3. OCD: saying out loud “OCD I see you”

or “Anxiety I see you”

I have yet to find a really good book or podcast for either .

thanks 🙏

For my anxiety and OCD, sertraline was a lifesaver for many years. I seem to have become immune to it now but I would honestly advise anybody suffering to give it a go. It only worked at a high dose though.

@Scutterbug When you say you've become 'immune' to it, immune to what do you mean? does Sertraline no longer work for you?

1. Recognising that thoughts are not facts
2. Recognising that everyone has intrusive thoughts but it’s whether you believe them and engage with them or not that is the difference between a person struggling with OCD and someone who doesn’t.
3. There IS help, CBT followed by Exposure Response Prevention from a properly qualified and BABCP accredited CBT therapist can really help.

A book I’ve mentioned many times on MN which is CBT based: Break Free From OCD by Prof Salvokis, Drs Oldfield and Bream (have probably missed off an author’s name).

I agree with your points @mechanicalpencil . labelling OCD as a bully is an accurate description and pushing against it is a good thing (though this often needs support). I don’t have OCD myself but I have had many clients who have had OCD and I really feel for anyone grappling such a distressing condition.

There may be some podcast or reading suggestions on the OCD UK website. I avoid TV programmes generally as they often trivialise it but I am sure there have been useful programmes made. If I find anything I’ll share it here.

No it’s not working. I’m battling intrusive thoughts, obsessive behaviours. My anxiety is the worst it’s ever been. I’m hallucinating and hearing things.

Blood test for thyroid and proprananol for me!

@YouOKHun
thank you for our suggestions.
I will be checking out that book for sure.

@Scutterbug
I’m sorry to hear that, I remember you from another thread and what you’re experiencing sounds absolutely awful.
I really hope you can get some relief.

Haven't found any books or podcasts for OCD but for anxiety/panic "the anxious truth" by drew linsalata is the very best, he has a book and a podcast.

Thank you, I will check that book out today!