- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 36w
OCD and Work
OCD doesn't take a break just because you have work to do. What are some ways that OCD has popped up for you at your work?
bollybeeeebollybeeee
- Date posted
- 34w
My perfectionism made it impossible to manage my emotions while I was teaching. I had to switch careers altogether. Now my perfectionism is still problematic at work, but at least I don't feel like it's having a negative impact on kids.
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 34w
That sounds like a lot of pressure you were trying to cope with as a teacher! How do you feel about feeling like you had to change careers completely due to these thoughts?
smileycat7 smileycat7
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 34w
It has knocked my confidence and held me back in my career a lot
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 34w
I see that so often with some of my members. I am so sorry to hear about the impact that OCD has had on you in your professional life. I see your conqueror status (congrats!) How do you feel like you are coping with it now?
smileycat7 smileycat7
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 34w
@Deborah Ward It’s definitely tough! I’m doing quite well, I’d been dealing with a flare up for the past few months but I’m finding my way out of it now
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 34w
@smileycat7 - I am glad to hear that! OCD can definitely keep trying to strike and tear us back down, but I am glad you are finding your way through it.
anjgallopinianjgallopini
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 34w
I was symptom free for 3 years and all of a sudden I am completely taken over by thoughts 24/7. I graduated therapy and honestly was in the best place in my life and I feel now like I can barely get through the day especially at work. I just hope and pray this gets better. I’m restarting therapy tomorrow 💙
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 34w
@anjgallopini I’m glad you are finding your way back into it. I’m sorry to hear about the symptoms spiking for you (especially at work), but we know that our treatment journey may have a couple setbacks at times. I wish you all the best and please reach out in the community if you need any support 🙂
smileycat7 smileycat7
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 34w
@anjgallopini Well done for restarting therapy, and don’t beat yourself up, relapses happen to all of us. I had a flare up after 1.5 years of minimal symptoms. I recently realised I had forgotten how to really embrace anxiety, pain and uncertainty and was running in circles trying to avoid it. So my advice would be to accept that it’s here for now and try to face the anxiety head on as much as possible. Do what YOU want to do, not what anxiety wants you to do.
DreamydreamDreamydream
- Date posted
- 34w
@anjgallopini Same thing happened to me /: which theme do u struggle w the most
ro5es1006ro5es1006
- Date posted
- 36w
touching the trash can or taking the trash out
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 34w
I can imagine that is extremely difficult. How do you feel like you've been able to cope with that part of your work?
lala623lala623
- Date posted
- 34w
When people come to work sick, uncovered sneezing/coughs, seeing people leave the restroom without washing their hands, and watching people lick their finger to gain grip on the money they’re counting.
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 34w
I could definitely see all those things piling on and being huge triggers for you. How do you manage all that exposure at work?
lala623lala623
- Date posted
- 34w
@Deborah Ward I would either wear a mask depending on how far away they are and grab the bathroom doors with a paper towel to exit. When I would see people licking their fingers to count money, I would just think to myself “must be nice to be that careless”.
bollybeeeebollybeeee
- Date posted
- 34w
I am in a workplace which is much less sensory-stimulating, and I have more control over my environment. I don't feel the same pressure to rush, rush, rush, so I feel more freedom to take a moment to breathe, take a walk, or whatever else I need to do. The pay isn't as good, but it's been worth the stability.
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 34w
I am glad you were able to find a new environment that is less stressful for you. Has your perfectionism come up in other ways at your new job now?
allykayyallykayy
- Date posted
- 34w
Intrusive thoughts about getting fired because toxic management groups together people who are doing well with people who are doing bad. Makes me overthink and overanalyze and OCD convinces me I will be fired the next day. I hate it 🥺😭
italianjew82italianjew82
- Date posted
- 35w
I have issue with authority. I’ve always had ocd but wasn’t diagnosed. Now that I’ve been diagnosed and am on a medicine regime, my OCD feels very out of control. I know understand why I’ve struggled in work. I just don’t know how to work through it.
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 34w
I am so sorry to hear about your struggles! I am happy that you've been able to have an evaluation and be diagnosed. I see that you are on a medication regime, but have you participated in any type of therapy for you OCD?
italianjew82italianjew82
- Date posted
- 34w
@Deborah Ward I have not had specific to my OCD therapy and that’s what I do believe I need at this point.
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 34w
@italianjew82 - ERP therapy can be extremely helpful in managing OCD thoughts! If you would like, NOCD is able to offer a free 15 minute phone call with our care team to see if we would be a good treatment option for you!
AileeAilee
- Date posted
- 34w
Memories of when I had done wrong to others - popped up recently and it's making me horribly guilty and ashamed. I have been trying to figure out how I can ammend for this wrongdoing. Also I am not in good terms with that person right now. Hence it's nightmare when I think about how they would react if I confess my bad deeds to them.
kalanicarzkalanicarz
- Date posted
- 31w
i work in a space with lots of kids, and have to wash my hands or use hand sanitizer every time i touch things, because im very paranoid about getting sick or pink eye or anything else under the sun. i touch things kids touch all day. so i developed dishidrotic eczema on my hands as a result of the chemicals i was using to clean my hands many times a day, including lysol or clorox wipes. ive since been in therapy and try to use gloves instead of constantly using hand sanitizer and wipes to let my skin heal.
ashleighdsouthashleighdsouth
- Date posted
- 35w
Unfortunately my ocd triggers center around the work I do currently. It’s been hard to manage.
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 34w
That must be extremely difficult to have your work be a trigger for you. What types of things have you been doing to manage these symptoms?
ashleighdsouthashleighdsouth
- Date posted
- 34w
@Deborah Ward I try to just do my work. I have bad anxiety before I go to certain places/interact with certain individuals. But honestly I just try to be courageous and keep in mind that I can do hard things. It’s slowly gotten better, but I still carry a lot of anxiety and ruminate a lot before I have to go to do certain things. Before I used to journal a lot and google search worst possible outcomes, now I just try to be mindful and breathe before interacting/doing
KaileymaekKaileymaek
- Date posted
- 33w
I have gotten irrationally mad over things not being done the right way many times in the work place. Normally have to physically shake my body before I can calm down
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- Date posted
- 24w
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mcocd
- Date posted
- 21w
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- Date posted
- 17w
OCD and Executive Functioning. Any Tips?
Hi Everyone - has anyone else had problems with executive functioning - forgetting things, multitasking, attention, not following directions closely, etc. ? If so, what do you do to help? I brought this up to my therapist and she mentioned that I wouldn’t need a therapist Or specialist/coach to work on it - as it would be skills we know to do (take notes, put on reminders, etc). However, I’ve been struggling with OCD for years and none of these “tips” have helped enough. I have had trouble multitasking/ remembering details/forgetting things with jobs and had to quit. It even applies when I am at home - one thing goes in one ear and out the other. I also do not have or been diagnosed with ADHD or any other disorders (just depression from OCD). Does anybody have suggestions? Is it just to manage my OCD better and these things will get better with that? I don’t recall how I was when my OCD was “good” or in better shape (Up until age 18) to gauge this as I didn’t have a job or other life responsibilities. Only thing I can think of is maybe I am so caught up in my head that is causing these issues, aka the severe OCD. Thanks!
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