superstition or OCD

@cayla.raeanne I want to try this but I’m so scared it’s going to trigger the intrusive/repetitive thoughts again

@Anonymous honestly I’ve never had true OCD therapy so you might be right I feel like I’m 100% giving into the compulsion lol

@Anonymous different strategies work for different people. i like journaling about life in general but i agree that journaling about my OCD doesn’t really work (for me). If you think it’ll make the rumination worse, then there’s no need to do it, don’t worry. as for your original message though, don’t stress yourself out too much. what you’re describing is the exact cycle that OCD feeds on. You’ll get an intensive thought, start partaking in compulsions to mute it, and then that could incidentally create a new intrusive thought like the one you’re describing, something like: this will happen for sure if i don’t keep ruminating on it that’s a perfectly normal experience. OCD makes you believe that anxieties can only be mitigated through the compulsions. So feeling like the compulsion is necessary is a part of the game, but it isn’t an absolute truth you should submit to. Things will absolutely get better, and whatever’s on your mind will not happen just because you stop thinking about it. It’s a completely valid thought to have, but don’t let it overpower you to hard. If you find it coming back, tell yourself you don’t need to focus on it, breathe, meditate, do whatever works for you to get your mind off it for the moment. You’re a lot stronger than you might be giving yourself credit for. Things will get better and you’ve got this 💪

@AuthenticBadger woah this actually made me feel some relief, are you doing OCD therapy?

@Anonymous Glad I could bring you some relief! I’m not currently in OCD-specific therapy, but I am in general therapy and starting to work on parts of my OCD, yes.

@AuthenticBadger in your experience, if the periods of time that I go without ruminating increase, is that a good sign? or is it my ocd trying to get me to relax only to pull me back into the spiral

@Anonymous From my understanding (take what I say lightly, I’m definitely not a professional), OCD is a cycle. Your compulsions are meant to bring you relief, but that relief is unfortunately very often temporary. I wouldn’t say it’s your OCD trying to give you comfort. OCD works by having your brain adjust to compulsions as a coping mechanism. Your brain begins to learn, for example: “rumination calms my discomfort,” and so now any time you begin feeling a discomfort from an obsession, you default to ruminating because it’s helped before. But compulsions are a part of the issue. Exposure and Response Therapy can really help you understand that you don’t have to engage in compulsions like rumination to feel better. It’s your brain convincing you that the action is necessary, even though it truly isn’t. Compulsions only provide temporary relief, but you could break through those compulsions and give yourself longer periods of relief, which for many can be years or even decades of no-stress. But it takes effort of course, and therapy is a huge part of the process that I would absolutely recommend if it’s in any way available to you