New on here. not formally diagnosed. ROCD Success?

Hi all, recently became stuck on the idea of my wife and I splitting up, and the impact on our dynamic and our child. We have a very healthy relationship, and have been together over a decade. I love her completely and am typically a golden retriever type partner. She's everything to me and then some, which is why these thoughts are so distressing. I've never done therapy, and recently tried antidepressants which spiked my anxiety through the roof so I stopped. I've been dealing with with this for about 3 months. In my constant googling I came across Pure O and ROCD, and based on all I've read seems to align with my experience. This may be reassurance seeking, but would love to celebrate success stories of others who have been able to overcome the intrusive thoughts and find peace. This feels like such a lonely subtype because I can't fully share with and lean on my best friend who I'm used to telling everything to. I'm also not used to needing support. I'm usually the supporter.

Username: anniebanannieanniebanannie

Date posted: 19w ago

I have struggled with this subtype for awhile. I have not necessarily overcome this challenge. But I think I have gotten better at coping with it. I have become more aware of it and am often able to label the thoughts as ROCD. It comes and goes. When it flares up, it feels like an eternity and it has me questioning how long I have felt like that. But when I am able to come unstuck from the loop, I feel how I felt before the obsessions began and I look back and wonder why I was even so stressed. I hope that makes sense and can provide you with some insight.

Username: Pablo1Pablo1

Date posted: 19w ago

Thank you for sharing, I'm happy for you and your journey! I'm working towards bettering my coping skills and while some days are better than others, I don't feel like I have a good handle on it yet. I want to try self led Exposure therapy but don't know where to start and don't want to make things worse

Username: ROCDmenschROCDmensch

Date posted: 19w ago

I have overcome rocd with my partner but I still struggle with other versions of rocd in friendships right now. What I can tell is that it helps immensely to find out you underlying beliefs of what terrifies you. And, as hard as it sounds, lean into the uncertainty and accept that the worst can happen. And that you will be alright even in you worst case scenario. I know your brain wants to argue that you can't be happy then. But that's OCD again. You need to be active with response prevention. And I think a factor that is often overlooked is unconditional self acceptance. Strengthening you self worth will help a lot with OCD issues, because when you are confident in yourself and when you know you can rely on yourself and your judgement, then you don't really have to fear anything in life.

Username: Pablo1Pablo1

Date posted: 19w ago

So wonderful to hear you've overcome this with your partner. It can definitely be isolating so feeling secure in your closest person is wonderful. I'm sure in time that success will make it to your friends as well. The self-confidence piece is an aspect I never really thought about. I'm usually a pretty self-confident person all things considered but when things feel off or wrong all the self confidence is out the window. Did you do therapy, SSRIs, or a combination of both?

Username: ROCDmenschROCDmensch

Date posted: 18w ago

@Pablo1 Hey sorry I didn't reply right away. So I never took any medication not even during my worst anxiety and depression phases. I do believe that medication can be helpful for some, however I personally wouldn't take it so easily. I did behavioural therapy for a long period of time and during that I also started doing schema therapy which had the biggest impact on me because I learned to get in contact with my inner child and navigate through unhelpful patterns from childhood. When the OCD was really at peak this community helped me a lot and also educating myself a lot about the mechanisms of OCD. I started erp on my own and it worked. I can also recommend a book and YouTube channels if you need further information :)

Username: Pablo1Pablo1

Date posted: 18w ago

@ROCDmensch I've had such trouble finding self led ERP, id definitely be open to resources

Username: ROCDmenschROCDmensch

Date posted: 18w ago

@Pablo1 So a book that is very helpful is called "freedom from obsessive compulsive disorder" by Jonathan Grayson. It is a self recovery program that really gives insight in the condition but also a step by step guide for eep, writing scripts and so on. In general I think using methods like maybe, maybe not, writing scripts, mocking your OCD help a lot. But you have to look at you black and white thinking, your mental distortion. The OCD recovery channel on YouTube have soo many videos on these topics and all kinds of OCD subtypes also for rocd. Hope this helps :)

Username: Pablo1Pablo1

Date posted: 18w ago

@ROCDmensch Thank you!

Username: ROCDmenschROCDmensch

Date posted: 18w ago

This is from another post I've bookmarked: Instead of seeking reassurance, here are some tools and articles to help combat OCD: -ERP scripting: https://www.shalanicely.com/aha-moments/erp-scripting-for-ocd/ -The Hidden Power of Swearing at Your OCD: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/beyond-the-doubt/201711/the-hidden-power-of-swearing-at-your-ocd -Read Taking The Power Away From OCD: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/taking-the-power-away-from-intrusive-thoughts -Worry Script: https://www.anxietycanada.com/sites/default/files/WorryScript.pdf What is ERP therapy: https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ocd-treatment/erp/

Username: Derrick D.

Date posted: 25w ago

First Post

Hey Everyone, I have been recently diagnosed with OCD within the past year. Finding this information out gave me an answer to so many years of struggle and feeling alone. I have had ups and downs and have been successful for a long time along this path of my own. Unfortunately, I experienced a massive panic attack 3 years ago that hospitalized me and has left me feeling at the 'start' again, but this time it feels worse than it ever has before. Anything that puts me potentially by myself or having to do anything by myself I cannot fathom, I can barely make it to the gas station at the corner of my house alone. I have been in therapy, went through EMDR/ACT and CBT. I was doing great for a little bit and even made one appointment about 10 minutes away from my home all alone by myself (also note I am in a new area completely that I just moved too). I was on medication at this time *lexapro 20MG*, I am no longer on it due to my bloodwork being extremely abnormal for my age. Now that I am no longer on it - I have fear creeping in that the lexapro kept me sane and that I cannot cope without it. I understand this is not the case entirely but there is something in me that believes that to be true. Long story short, I am looking for individuals who have had the same experience as me and could give me some hope into getting back to my normal routine (even knowing I have OCD now). I just want to be independent again and not burden my loved ones and learn to be okay with myself. Thanks in advance!

Username: monthofmaiya

Date posted: 20w ago

Rocd even while in a healthy relationship

Hey y’all this is my first post. I’ve known I’ve had ocd for around 6 years now, but haven’t had much specialized help (just a standard therapist, who is great, she suggested this app) I’m mainly just posting to vent and for people to hopefully make me feel a little less alone in my current situation. I’ve developed coping skills for many of my ocd obsessions in the past, but haven’t really made a dent in what I’m realizing is pretty bad ROCD. I was in an abusive relationship for about 4 years, and it was this weird thing where like I would not only be unhappy from the abuse but also have intense ROCD. Which is relevant, because I’m now in a super happy and healthy relationship, but am unfortunately still experiencing ROCD. And of COURSE that makes my brain feel either like love is just never going to work out for me, or that this new relationship is wrong for me, which I know isn’t the case. But it’s just so exhausting feeling like I have this horrible brain fog around my partner half the time. I never felt like this when my partner and I were just best friends for 6 months, and all that’s changed is that she is even sweeter and more attentive to me. This just all sucks so bad, and I think I should talk to a specialist about it.

Username: Misstama65

Date posted: 18w ago

Rocd

Can I please hear some success stories with rocd? I see ones on here where it ends relationships and it's so scary to read. I would love to hear success stories. I have fear of him leaving me or cheating on me when I KNOW It's never happened and most likely won't. The fear is so hard to deal with when this theme spikes

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New on here. not formally diagnosed. ROCD Success?

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