OCD Support Thread

[Helplessandheartbroke]

A friendly thread for support for fellow ocd sufferers. No judgement here.

Only just discovered this thread this evening. May I please join? Diagnosed about 10 years ago. Habitual cleaning to reduce stress paired with generalised anxiety disorder led to diagnosis of OCD (alongside GAD and bipolar). Interested to hear from people struggling with similar.

Aww, thank you so much @Slowdives .
I feel very touched by your post. I also haven't encountered anyone who's expressed having the same OCD symptoms as me. I know there are many types and varying symptoms, so I've often wondered if other people have similar symptoms, or if mine is a unique case.
I've often felt my OCD has stolen so much from me, and given nothing back; so the thought my expressing some of my struggles on here could help someone else is very emotional for me.
I'm so sorry you've also experienced such exhausting, time-consuming symptoms. It is indeed hell on earth. I agree it's very isolating, and both OCD itself, and OCD sufferers are widely misunderstood.
I started an OCD thread lamenting my lost potential, in March. I keep meaning to update it, then get distracted. Lots of very helpful posts on there from so many kind people. I think it might help you to read some of them. I'll try and find it...
I was struggling particularly badly then, it really was horrific. Though still not at my worst. At my worst, I wouldn't be able to post online. I find it varies in severity.
I'm so grateful for this thread...
You take care x

I very much relate to your need to be offline. I go through phases where I can't cope at all with being online.
I hope you're OK and reassured about the cat?
I'm very up and down. It's always there, but sometimes far worse than others. It's so good this thread exists for those down days, and generally. Thank you x

Please can I join? My OCD is the fear of harming people. It's awful and stops me doing so many things.

I can no longer drive as I fear I have caused an accident. The intrusive thoughts and visualisations in my head are awful. I know they are not real and I haven't done anything but once that thought creeps in....

I want to be able.to get on the bus by myself and to shopping alone but it's too hard, the anxiety it would cause is too much.

I must look a very odd sight when I am out as my head is constantly on a swivel making sure I haven't knocked into anyone or tripped them up by accident and left them.

It's exhausting and people who don't suffer don't understand how debilitating it can be.

Over the years, I have tried hypnotherapy with 4 different people, meds, CBT, nothing has worked so I guess this is me

Hi all, and welcome our newcomers im glad you found us. I hope everyone's well. Im having a really bad time atm. Beer fear along with my ocd is making me feel like the worst mum in the world and convinced something bad might of happened to ds because I was drunk and not watching him properly. Torturing myself and not sure how to switch it off.

Sorry you’re struggling. Does anything like mindfulness help to calm you?

Hope you’re feeling better now x

Sending love @Helplessandheartbroke you poor soul. It's just awful when OCD flares especially badly.
It'll ease again, hang on to that knowledge. If I'm going through an exceptionally hellish flare up, I say to myself 'this too shall pass'.
You're a wonderful mother, as evidenced by how consciousness you're being.
You take lots and lots of care x

If I'm going through an exceptionally hellish flare up, I say to myself 'this too shall pass'.

I do the same. Minute by minute - it's the only way sometimes when it's really bad. And think of it like a flare up of any other chronic condition - we should admire our strength in continually surviving this battle.