OCD when sick

@ghost.ghoul Good idea. Thank you!!

@OCDxJosh Yes exactly. Feels like I don’t have the energy to fight back so the thoughts feel true!

@Holl1 Completely get that. Just know that the more you can experience the thoughts and just sit with them, the better off you will be! It’s uncomfortable AF but you’re doing good work! :)

@OCDxJosh Thank you !

@Holl1 oops they removed my comment ahah — but how are you doing today?

@OCDxJosh Thoughts still feel real, I’m resisting compulsions but I feel numb for some reason.

@Holl1 Hey, resisting compulsions is a HUGE win! That’s the hardest thing we can do tbh. It’s re-wiring your brain to take away the power those thoughts hold. — regarding the numb feeling, do you take a medicine or is that just because of this OCD spike?

@OCDxJosh I don’t take any medication, I think it’s just OCD spike, I know that compulsions don’t do anything but just make it worse, but taking them away, I just feel flat. Like I’m getting the thoughts and it feels like I aren’t bothered, I keep saying whateverr. So strange it feels like I’m agreeing with them!

@Holl1 In a way, that’s a good way to cope! For example, it’s kind of like if your thoughts were bullies. Bullies only like when they KNOW they are hurting you. If you roll with it and convince yourself that “okay it’s whatever. actually, I kinda like it! keep it coming!” The “bully” aspect of OCD melts away. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who sees it this way!!

@OCDxJosh I like this!! How do you feel when resisting compulsions?

@Holl1 It’s definitely hard. Some of mine are like compulsions to go home when I’m anxious, wash my hands, ask for reassurance, GOOGLE (my absolute worst enemy)… but I find that after the fact it makes that “itch” a lot less intense. I just have to keep doing and doing. It’s just like anything else you have to work away at really. Wbu?

@OCDxJosh I use to have contamination OCD, was in an episode for nearly 5 years😭 now it’s harm I hate ittt. So mainly just avoiding things, places and ruminating & when I cut back I feel sooo bad

@Holl1 Yeah you probably feel bad because it is giving that thought power. I get that 100%. You should honestly give yourself kudos though, recognizing it is often times the hardest part of all of this. We are so stuck in that “survive” mentality when we gotta break the cycle to get past it

@Holl1 also sorry for my awfully late replies ahah I just got off work

@OCDxJosh Yeah nws & thank you sm , hopefully I should start seeing progress soon!!

@Holl1 are you cool with connecting outside of NOCD? totally understand if not 🙏

@OCDxJosh Yeah sure, on what?

@Holl1 whatever works for you! I am joshofsmith on everything :)

@Holl1 Hey! Just checking in, did you get my last message? Hope all is well:)

@OCDxJosh Hi! Sorry I don’t use socials as much. Hope all is well with you too

@Holl1 I did write a message after that, not sure if you received it?

@Holl1 Hey it’s okay I didn’t haha but no worries! I completely understand. I’m always on here to chat if you want! :-) I have a post on my profile where you can reach me if you ever wanna vent 👍

@OCDxJosh Thank youuu, I normally take forever to reply on socials😂 but when ocd gets bad I usually just come on here and look at everyone else’s posts

@Holl1 No same, you’re good lol the only thing I answer is my phone but I think NOCD might send me to the guillotine for sharing that 🤣

@OCDxJosh Literally hahah, just be using TikTok to distract myself

@Holl1 I swore off that app a long time ago, you’re braver than I am ahaha. That honestly is such a hit or miss. For some people, socials definitely help with their ocd and gives them practice but for me I think it just numbs me and ends up making it worse tbh. Have you ever considered a social media cleanse?

@OCDxJosh Yeah definitely hit or miss depends& I’ve thought about it yeah. I think mostly for me my triggers come from within the house rather than social media though

@Holl1 Oh I got you that makes sense. If you don’t mind me asking, how is your OCD today? What have you been struggling with recently?

@OCDxJosh Not too bad, been able to dismiss thoughts and not pay attention to them, which is good. How are you?

@Holl1 That is awesome!! Good stuff. I’m doing well actually. I have a 4 day weekend, so I am very happy ahah. Get some time to go play golf and relax. Gonna try to work on some of my ERP stuff 🥲

@OCDxJosh Ahh that’s good! Have you tried therapy for your OCD? Some days ok and others are not..

@Holl1 Yeah I’ve been working with my therapist on here, it’s not too bad. I’m currently having some heightened anxiety/rumination because I was outside and got stung like hell by some yellow jackets. I’m so tempted to freak out and google stuff but I’m just sitting with the thought :,-)

@OCDxJosh Isn’t ocd just so fun 🤩

@OCDxJosh That’s really good to hear!! Do you take anything f for your anxiety? & Sorry been super busy

@Holl1 No worries!! And yeah, I take clonazepam for the anxiety piece and fluvoxamine for the ocd piece. It’s been pretty helpful so far! Been on that schedule for about 7 months now :)

@OCDxJosh Yeah I think I need to be on something for my anxiety because it’s just been through the roof lately.

@Holl1 (Not trying to play pharmacist here) but if you want something subtle to start off with, you thing that is over the counter and helpful for anxiety relief is 5-HTP! It’s a supplement that helps you stay calm. Some beginner meds I would ask about would be maybe gabapentin or buspirone! Those are pretty entry level anxiety reliefs without making you a zombie aha

@Holl1 Are you on anything rn?

@OCDxJosh No im not taking anything rn, anxiety usually gets bad when there’s something coming up like social or something im looking forward to, not sure why but it just does

@OCDxJosh I took sertraline about 5 years ago, but made me not care about anything

@Holl1 Oh gosh yeah I hated that one too. I’ve tried it before and it made me feel gross too. The whole anxiety before social things gets me too. Sometimes I feel like I have more anxiety than I do OCD. The OCD is caused by the anxiety, in my opinion… but yeah :) did you have a good and productive week?