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working to conquer OCD
It’s my OCD has not let me enjoy heavy music as much. I just get this anxiety listening to it. Ether if I’m being a poser. It did not used be like this it started three years ago. It constantly been happening everyday. I sometimes I feel I have to get rid all my band tee, so people won’t think I’m a poser. I worry if I grow out of it or don’t like it as much. It also been not wanting play my bass/ guitar. I been getting bad depression where I don’t wanna do stuff. I have force myself to it. Sometimes when band practice get canceled I feel a little fun. It sucks, because I used to love playing heavy music and just playing in general. But now I feel this constantly pressure of not being a poser or not being a shitty musican. I just don’t even enjoy music anymore. Sometime I wish I was not on my stupid meds. It feel like they had made things worst. Or I should just give up on therapy. It feel my ocd is winning and I can’t stop it.
Does anyone ever struggle with urges to confess things they've done. Things that are nobody's business but your own. Does amyone ever feel guilty like they need to confess?
I’ve been researching a lot, and have been thinking. At the moment I can’t afford therapy (plus my country doesn’t really have the best support for mental health at the moment) and I feel like I need to find a way to at least get used to these thoughts. But I’m still wondering if it would be good or not, I have some worries. If I shouldn’t do ERP what can I do instead?
I remember being deep in an OCD spiral a couple of weeks back- I felt deeply hopeless and guilty, contaminated and unable to move forward as real event OCD had made me feel completely horrible. In searching for ERP therapy, I had a consultation with an OCD therapist- I remember saying that this current theme was by far the worst one I had ever experienced, and that I wished I could suffer from a different subtype instead. She replied 'The one you're currently in always feels like the worst', and that really resonated with me- because yeah, I suppose she is right. But when you're in the thick of it, its hard to believe this. I wanted to ask the community- what are your worst experiences/ current themes which you recovered from but at the time felt like you never would? I feel like I never see stuff about real event OCD recovery- so for those of you who genuinely did something wrong, and suffer real event- how did you recover, how do you feel now, does it get better?
Housing vs Room Renting The most persistent, harmful, class based myths in U.S. housing culture. Let’s break it down in a way that fits casework, social work, recovery planning, and SDOH frameworks. Why People Equate “Rooming” With Something Being Wrong With You This stigma comes from history, class bias, mental health stereotypes, and outdated housing norms, not from anything about the person choosing shared housing. Below is the real explanation, written in the tone of a CW/SW/Recovery Planning professional. 1. Historical Bias: Rooming Houses Were Once “Poor People Housing” In the early 1900s–1970s, rooming houses were: • Used by low income workers • Used by people with disabilities • Used by people exiting institutions • Used by people without family support Because of this, society built a classist association: “People who rent rooms must be struggling.” This stigma stuck — even though the economy of 2026 makes rooming a normal, rational choice. 2. Mental Health Stigma Got Attached to Rooming Houses When states closed psychiatric hospitals (1960s–1990s), many people with mental illness were discharged into: • Rooming houses • Boarding homes • Shared living • Adult care homes This created a false stereotype: “Rooming houses = mental health or behavioral issues.” In reality, most people in shared housing today are working adults, students, or people priced out of the rental market. 3. Boarding Houses Used to Be Poorly Regulated Some older boarding homes were: • Overcrowded • Unsafe • Run by slumlords • Used as last resort housing This created a public perception that “rooming = unsafe or unstable.” Modern shared housing (PadSplit, Bungalow, SpareRoom, etc.) is nothing like that, but the stigma lingers. 4. Classism: Americans Equate “Success” With Living Alone There is a deeply American cultural belief: “If you’re doing well, you live alone in your own apartment.” This is not global, and it’s not realistic in 2026. Shared housing is normal in: • Europe • Asia • Latin America • Australia • Canada But in the U.S., people still cling to the idea that “independence = solo living,” even though: • Rent is at historic highs • Wages have not kept up • Inflation is real • Housing supply is limited So when someone chooses shared housing, people assume: “They must be struggling.” When in reality, they’re being financially smart. 5. People Don’t Understand Functional Independence For SSI/SSDI/DDI individuals, the public often assumes: • “If you don’t live alone, you must need supervision.” • “If you rent a room, you must have limitations.” This is incorrect. Many people with disabilities: • Prefer community • Prefer not to live alone • Prefer affordability • Prefer safety • Prefer predictable costs • Prefer companionship Shared housing is independent living, not “supervised living.” 6. People Forget That Humans Are Social Creatures Some people choose shared housing because: • They don’t want to be isolated • They want community • They want safety • They want companionship • They want to avoid loneliness • They want to share responsibilities But society frames it as: “You can’t live alone.” Instead of: “You prefer not to live alone.” 7. The 2026 Economic Crisis Changed Housing; But Culture Hasn’t Caught Up In 2026: • Rent is up 30–60% in many regions • Utilities are expensive • Groceries are expensive • Wages are stagnant • Affordable housing is scarce • Developers build luxury units, not workforce housing Shared housing is now: • Normal • Practical • Financially wise • Emotionally healthier for many people But people still judge based on old norms. 8. Stigma = Projection, Not Reality When someone says: • “Why are you renting a room?” • “What’s wrong?” • “Is it a boarding house?” • “Is it for mental health people?” They are revealing: • Their class bias • Their outdated worldview • Their lack of understanding of modern housing • Their discomfort with economic reality It has nothing to do with the person renting the room. 9. The Social Work / Casework Reframe Here’s how we frame it professionally: Rooming = Independent living with shared resources. Boarding = Structured living with meals or services. Group Home = Staffed, regulated care environment. Shared Housing = Community based, cost effective, independent living. None of these imply: • Mental illness • Behavioral issues • Instability • Inability to live alone They simply reflect different housing models. 10. The Recovery Planning Reframe Shared housing can actually support recovery because it provides: • Community • Accountability • Reduced isolation • Predictable costs • Safety • Stability • Social connection Isolation is a risk factor for: • Depression • Relapse • Anxiety • Functional decline Shared housing can be a protective factor. Bottom Line People equate rooming with “something wrong” because of: • Outdated stereotypes • Classism • Mental health stigma • Historical misuse of boarding houses • Cultural pressure to live alone • Ignorance of 2026 economic reality But the truth is: Shared housing is normal, smart, safe, and often healthier — especially in today’s economy. It is NOT a sign of dysfunction. It is a sign of adaptation.
Hi everyone, I'm struggling and would greatly appreciate some advice/support. My most current theme with OCD is real event/false memory OCD regarding cheating and that I've cheated on my partner. I've had this obsession for one year now. For most of the year it was fixed on this one event. I now have clarity that nothing likely happened. After that it moved on to this feeling I've cheated but no memory fixed to the feeling. After that it would latch on to things I've done in the past and convince me I've cheated or done something wrong e.g. finding someone attractive etc... Yesterday it latched on to a new event that happened almost one year ago. This is the first time in the whole year it has latched on this event and I've discussed this event throughout the year (one funny moment specifically)/looked at photos . In summary, for a few hours I was at a bar and then I went to the club. I remember arriving at the bar, going to the club and leaving the club. The details not really because again its been a year and I haven't revisited the night in detail. I can't really recall who I talked to and what I talked about. Yesterday, for the first time, I got the vivid image/recollection that I sitting on bar stools and leaning on top of guys inappropriately. It was so scary because it felt like when you remember something for the first time in a while. But had that happened I would have immediately confessed that to my boyfriend the next day or surely it would have come up in the past year. I would definitely remember something like the next day because I've confessed and felt guilty about less. But since this "memory" has popped up yesterday I'm so convinced it happened to the point I want to confess it my boyfriend. My friend was there but I know if I ask her my mind will jump to thoughts like well she wasn't with you the whole night. The reason this is concerning because the event my brain was first obsessed with I remember the beginning middle and end of talking to the guy. So when I had thoughts like I kissed him or slept with him it didn't make sense (even if it felt scary in the moment). I also fixed on to the night 5 months after so the memory was more fresh in my mind. But with this memory my mind isn't fixed on one guy or one moment but just this image that I was sitting at a table and leaning on guys inappropriately. And it hard to tell if real or not because I just don't remember the night well because again I haven't thought about the details at all in a year.
Hey, just wanted to make this post with the hope of maybe of finding anyone who could give any advice or tips. I am a college student who has been dealing with ocd for several years now, and it’s kinda felt like it has been worsening as the years went by. As of right now it completely controls my life and it has pretty much ruined it. I avoid any social events or gatherings, I avoid driving, it even affects me during work (I work at a cafe and I always get worried about serving any food or drinks that could potentially harm a customer, so I wash my hands a million times and I sometimes even do an order all over again) I have been going to therapy for some months now, it has helped a bit but not entirely. I also don’t think my therapist specializes in ocd. And I am on my 2nd week of taking zoloft now. Sorry if this was a lot of writing, if anyone has any sort of advice please feel free to leave a message.
Hello fellow ocd sufferers, years later i'm here to once again tell you that i'm ocd free and that you will eventually be too. I haven't suffered due to this disorder for around 3 years to be exact. Erp saved my life. The moments of anguish during therapy were so worth it, that i've been completely stable. I have my moments of anxiety like every other person, however ocd is so weakened it is simply unable to take hold of me. It no longer controls and shapes me in accordance to its needs. It's just backround noise with zero impact on my mental health. Your healing journey isn't going to be linear and yes, ocd may keep on appearing as you heal, but every time it does, it'll be getting weaker and weaker until it eventually turns into an impactless little nothing. It's like folding paper. The more you fold it, the smaller it'll get. And eventually all that folding will make youb throw it in the trash all together and be done with it. You will beat it. And i'm saying this as someone who can confidently say isfree from it. Even at my most anxious moments, it can no longer turn into anything worse than a momentary intrusive thought. It's uprooted, it's freaking over. You will get the stable life you deserve so never, ever give up.

I have OCD as well as GAD both mainly presenting as somatic symptoms such as dizziness and nausea. I got prescribed lexapro, but of course i’m terrified to take it because i think it will make my symptoms worse/do something “bad” to me. I just wanted to see if anyone else has felt like this, and what did they do in this situation? I’ve gotten advice from many people but none of them actually have OCD, so I thought i’d post on here for advice.
ive made quite sum mistakes in my past that i am ashamed and guilty of, i was exposed to alot of things as a kid way to young id say around 7 years old. about 2 weeks ago my mental episode started, it has been a rollercoaster of emotions. Alot of ups and downs. anyways, as of recently because of those past mistakes, i have fully convinced myself that i am a horrible person. i have a constant feeling of not being able to deserve anything good in my life, i sit with my parents and talk and start to think that i dont deserve them. i talk to my friends online and i feel like i dont deserve them, i keep reassuring myself but it only ends up making it worse. i truly believe i dont deserve anything even after acknowledging my mistakes i feel nothing but guilt and shame. i deserve all the bad.
I think and feel I have commited the unpardonable sin of blasphemy and I am going to hell because I have constant intrusive thoughts that I don’t like having including Jesus is the antichrist and Jesus is the devil and pray to the devil and serve satan and constant what if thoughts about almost everything,I have chronic anxiety paired with severe adhd and it feels like ocd in my head,it is literal hell,every time I do exposure response prevention my mind jumps topics it will go from what if I didn’t commit the unpardonable sin to what if I did and then it will jump to whys and hows and the doubt,confusion,uncertainty,anxiety and torture from it is so unbearable,and when I do expose myself to the fears sometimes it doesn’t even do anything and I don’t feel as fearful but then sometimes I do feel just as fearful as I did before,any help would be greatly appreciated,I am a true Christian and I love the Lord Jesus Christ but I would love to know how I can get through this endless torture of doubt fear confusion and uncertainty so I can get my faith back because this junk is really putting a whipping on my faith and I hate it so bad because I’m trying my best to have faith in Christ but the doubt fear confusion and uncertainty are louder than my faith.
For all the faithful Your ocd fears are like a cross our lord Jesus carried. The more you run from it the heavier it gets. Turn to your cross (ocd) embrace it, pick it up and follow him. Face the fear like lord felt at Calvary and conquered it. Do the same with your ocd.
This might trigger you if you have an ED Hey people:) I've had a rough week but I'm feeling much better today. It all started when I met my friend last Sunday and we talked about big brands and then Nestle came up. We had a conversation about it, the next day I watched a documentary on how bad Nestle actually is. Then the next day which was like Tuesday I was hungry but whenever I looked at food I felt a little nauseous thinking it was made by child slaves or by illegal water pumping or other shady things and only had 1 meal :(. Then on Wednesday I felt hungrier but still only ate once. Yesterday I ate twice and had grapes and 2 carrots for dinner which is pretty good, today I ate soup and 1 hr after that I had a fulfilling portion so I'm not hungry rn (3 am). My friends all have messed up eating habits so I don't know if this is okay or a problem? I'm worried that if this "theme" Comes back I will lose weight and not eat again, anyone had a similar theme and how do I cope/eat even if my OCD tells me not to? And if I push through I get a little nauseous
Hi everybody, I’m 33 and I recently got diagnosed, quite literally today and I’m part relieved to know I wasn’t tripping and knew something was off, but it’s still weird to have this diagnosis now. What was everybody’s experience when they first got diagnosed?
are there any christians here that have any kind of prayer topics or things that you do in relation to your christianity that helps with the ocd? i have been praying just based off of what i feel and talking with god but if there was any further guided ways to go about it i would love to hear from fellow people that struggle with OCD. i would also like to acknowledge those who feel as though prayer and such doesn’t work, i am in no way insinuating that this be the only form of help i seek. this is what helps me and i understand the sentiment of those who have not found themselves aligning with a religion of feeling frustrated when prayer alone is offered as a means to eradicate your mental illness. id just like to make this note because i understand how frustrating that can be.
Hi guys! I was doing so much better I feel like to the point where I thought the ocd completely went away and then my anxiety came back a bit and then I got my first period coming off birth control which REALLY messed my head up. I am someone whose always felt a little rigid in sexuality (I believe sexuality is a spectrum for most people and not uncommon in women it’s ok if you disagree) but I’m someone who developed a fear over the fact that I can sometimes have attraction to women or think they’re hot or whatever. For me it’s always just been sexual and I’ve never done anything in real life, I don’t love labels but I’d say I’m bi-curious maybe bisexual maybe just somewhere on the spectrum or straight i don’t know and I don’t care! I started having a fear that because I can get aroused by women sometimes it cancels out all my feelings or sexual,romantic or any feelings I’ve had for men my entire life. I was even trying to think about how I started liking these men, and I was like does it really matter how you started or just the fact that you did like these men, it doesn’t matter how it started or how you met. I just struggle with intrusive thoughts sometimes of “you’re lying to yourself” when deep down I know I’m not, I’ve always been aware my arousal can be flexible, which is not uncommon and if you’re also going through something similar just know that it’s truly not uncommon and normal in human sexuality. I guess sometimes I just need to remind myself things can coexist? I don’t have bi-phobia, I definitely did earlier in life when I realized I sometimes have attraction to women physically. I became perfectly ok with myself feeling rigid and then a fear came on that I was lying to myself completely, when in reality things can coexist and u can experience different forms of arousal and it doesn’t have to change how you identify. You could call me bi, bi-curious, straight mostly, or even heteroflexible, and I’m fine with all of those. I had a fear that since I find women attractive from time to time or whatever, it cancels out my feelings for men, which is NOT true! I guess this isn’t really asking for advice, just sharing my thoughts and story. Maybe this will help someone else out. It helped me even just to type it, because sometimes my ocd makes me feel crazy! I wish you all well
my ocd latched onto my kid and I fear I’m gonna go crazy and hurt them or go into physcosis and just me typing that makes me sick to my stomach. It started around the time of my miscarriage so idk if the hormones or what caused this flare up but it’s bad. he’s the most important thing in my life. I guess I just want to know I’m not alone. not necessarily looking for reassurance or maybe this is me mentally compulsing right now…
hey everyone! i was wondering if anyone else has intrusive thoughts that are really gross and make you uncomfortable but you don’t notice any compulsions. i tried to talk to my therapist about it and they said they don’t think it’s ocd related but idk. whenever i have a thought like this i say in my head “ew ew” a couple times until it goes away or i feel better. sometimes the thoughts distract me because they’re really gross. can anyone relate?
I was absolute fine until I got in bed but before I got in bed, I was tired and ready to sleep. It was approximately 10pm when I laid down. My sleep was brief and now I'm up analyzing things that has already happened. I don't know if these are intrusive thoughts or are they a symptom of ptsd, anxiety or OCD! Either way, everyone time I receive these things i get extremely nervous and get the most unsettling feelings. I honestly don't feel safe in my home, especially with my mom & son living here with me. I feel the unsettling nausea and anxiety taking over while I'm typing this in the bathroom. I just want to get my life back together, so I can continue helping people and finally get back to work! I haven't been successful at finding a new job but that didn't stop me before and I dont plan to change that outcome. And yesterday morning I had 2 occasions of weakness and spent time on my phone looking at porn before I got out of bed Thursday morning. I even tried again after being up for a couple hours and stopped before I took it further. I'm genuinely trying and want to change parts about me. It's not easy to deal with all this stuff and make changes that I once relied on for comfort and relief. I'm trying to adapt to another way of coping with the stress and anxiety life keeps presenting into my life! I'm running out of rational thoughts to label certain intrusive thoughts and it's not working at the moment. I really keep having these thoughts that someone is trying to unalive me with poison or something to disguise my exit as a health issue or something like that. If I'm to be honest with myself, I remember everything said to me and around me. The feelings in my stomach are making this feel real uneasy and hard to ignore. I feel as if I'm being attacked and it was said to me 1 afternoon randomly that " Me & my grand babii was going to be grounded " now I don't know the context in which this was ment to be taken. But it definitely didn't feel like it came from a good place. God why does it feel like my life is under attack? God why would someone want to harm a 9 month old baby? God why does everything good in my life end up harming me in some way? God why is it the more I help people around me, the more problems present themselves? God whatever it is I've done to deserve this, I am sorry ×💯. And God why did you wait until I worked so hard to overcome my mental blocks just to send me back to where I started? The things these intrusive thoughts make me feel are absolutely insane but not impossible because you never know what someone will do for $. Yeah, so right now I genuinely feel as if my mom is causing me all this pain. She's the only person that's new in this situation, she moved in with me and not too long after that I became extremely sick! Stomach issues, severe anxiety, depression, mood swings just to name a few. God whatever this is I don't deserve it at all and I don't know why my mom would want to hurt me besides money! My intrusive thoughts tell me she's poisoned me for money and to claim false power of attorney over me to gain access to said money. Also that it's from an inheritance that I'm not aware of and is being hidden away from me for whatever reason, well I hope this finds the right person and sparks a thorough investigation into my life. In the mean time, God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the thing I can and the wisdom to know the difference! 🧎🏾♂️🙌🏾 Amen
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OCD doesn't have to
rule your life