archived.

This blog is dedicated to people with OCD and on the OCspectrum, as well as OCD & OCspec pride. Askbox is closed.

[livingwithocd-archive]

officially archiving this blog as it is not something i can maintain. i will not delete it so those who find the posts helpful can keep them. ive added -archive to the url in case anyone wants it. best wishes!

[left4ted2-deactivated20240420]

working on new shit

[borderlinereminders]

Let’s stop beating ourselves up for the things we did in the past or how we were back then and instead we celebrate and give ourselves credit for knowing better now.

[livingwithocd-archive]

Hi. Is there any way to tell if a distressing physical sensation is a real physical issue or a sensorimotor OCD theme? I am being really messed up by this constant unpleasant sensation that I can't get rid of and I don't know if something's really wrong or if it's all in my head... feels like I can't tell the difference fully between what's real and what's not and it's really scary/hopeless feeling because nobody takes me fully seriously and they might be right not too.

I can't really give you any way to differeniate these for certain so I will do my best to offer some advice. Even if it is OCD related, it would not make that physical feeling "all in your head" since - as you said, it is constant and unpleasant. There is a chance it is being implified by your OCD's concerns - ie having a headache and suspecting a tumor, you still have a headache - so at the end of the day, addressing that sensation is better than trying to ignore it. Sorry to hear your not being taken seriously, its an unfortunately common issue and its incredible ableist. Just know your OCD is expecting the worst out of a situation, but that does not mean its nothing at all.

[snorlax-and-co]

[positivelyadhd]

[ID// screenshot of a tweet by Adam Grant (@.AdamMGrant) which reads: Beating yourself up doesn't make you stronger. It leaves you bruised. Being kind to yourself isn't about ignoring your weaknesses. It's about giving yourself permission to learn from your mistakes. We grow by embracing shortcomings, not punishing them." // END ID]

[livingwithocd-archive]

hello, im the broken English anon (now unmasked lol)

please, explain more.

i have been suffering since i was like ,,, 15??? and when i searched about ocd it was like an autobiography it makes completely sense now

Hello! We are in a similar situation, suddenly having an explaination can be very refreshing.

NOCD has an article on the topic which you can read about here. I'll add some quotes from it below:

It seems that OCD latches onto the very things that are important to a person and that they value the most. It stands to reason then that these topics would change from time to time. As we grow and develop, our belief systems are challenged, and we evolve ... As we change and shift, so does OCD. The way in which it once was able to torment and debilitate you, no longer works, so to speak. This is why I often say that OCD is cunning and creative. This disorder targets what you find important.  At the root of OCD are doubt and uncertainty-OCD causes you to question the very things that bother you the most …

There is also Chrissie Hodge's video, which addresses this topic from 8:50 to 10:50 here.

Hope these help! Let me know if you'd like any more resources on this or another topic.



At the root of OCD are doubt and uncertainty-OCD causes you to question the very things that bother you the most …

[miseducatedmelanicmuse]

[livingwithocd-archive]

[Text ID: A tweet that reads “Let go of the idea that you know the intentions behind what people do. Ask them clear questions instead. Then place boundaries as you go if needed.” End ID.]

[livingwithocd-archive]

hello, i have a question (sorry for the broken English)

i remember having ruminating and obsesive thoughts about religion and hell that maked me to google everything about it and even needed hospitalization

but now, i feel the same (but less intense) about moral, specially class moral and racism.

is this normal?

No need to say sorry for broken English, learning another language or attempting to at all is great and often really difficult :)

For your question, yes it is normal or not unseen for those with OCD/on the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum. I've found with myself and others I know that ruminations will often change topics when the original topic doesn't "work"/upset the brain anymore.

[livingwithocd-archive]

Been learning a lot about harm reduction and thinking about how it can apply to the OCspec community / compulsions. Don’t have the spoons for a larger post at the moment but its on its way eventually.

[freja-with-a-j]

Hey now-

[flowercrowncrip]

We are allowed to hate the side-effects of our meds

We are allowed to find our carers irritating to be around

We are allowed to find assistive technology awkward

We are allowed to find and mobility aids annoying and uncomfortable

Performing gratitude all of the time is exhausting, disabled people are allowed to be human

[livingwithocd-archive]

Hello! I am very confused about how an OCD diagnosis works. I started talking about my complulsions and intrusive thoughts with my psychologist a while ago. At first I did not have it in my mind that these are symptoms, I just started mentioning my experiences to her. Recently, she sent me to a psychiatrist to get medication that could help me with my compulsions and thoughts. And the psychiatrist I talked to did perscribe me thd meds. But I don't know if it means that I'm diagnosed or not because none of them said something like "You have obsessive compulsive disorder", we were just talking about my experiences. Of course, it would be easier to just ask one of them, but for some reason, I'm anxious about it. I know that you can't tell me if I actually have OCD or not, but my question is that is it possible for people to get ocd medication without a diagnosis legally? Was this a diagnosis? I'm so confused. (It's okay if you don't answer this, no pressure)

Well, there isn't really "OCD medicine" in the sense you're thinking - at least as far as I am aware. You are probably on a type of SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) - often used for depressive and anxiety disorders, as well as OCD! We got our diagnosis after we had been on Sertraline (for OCD) for a few months.

Basically, the best way to know this for sure would be to ask your psychologist and/or psychiatrist!

[livingwithocd-archive]

How to manage pocd without ERP?

My future seems bleak and i hope i never do any harm. But idk and how can I make it go away? I've stopped feeling disgust or strong repulsion. As if it's a part of me I've accepted. I want to reject that kind of thoughts so as to never do such a thing.

Any suggestions or videos on YouTube to look out for? As i fear my urge to check it gets stronger...how to be firm in my values? I also have moral OCD.

Not sure if you saw this post but it provides some resources! NOCD on YouTube also has some videos on POCD (1 and 2). You have to try and remember that thoughts do not equal action and that you are not your thoughts. Period.

[em3rg3ncy-backup-deactivated202]

"being distressed about an evil thought is what shows you're a good person" = bad, unhelpful, is not at all conducive to OCD recovery

"there's no such thing as a good or bad thought", "your thoughts do not define your morality", etc = good, helpful, acknowledges the fact that thoughtcrime isn't real

remember kids, implying that distress is what makes you a good person is NOT a good way to encourage people to build a life where they are able to learn to live alongside intrusive thoughts

[em3rg3ncy-backup-deactivated202]

people on tumblr be like “I’m going to create an environment that is so bad for people with OCD”

[em3rg3ncy-backup-deactivated202]

I’ve talked about this before, but some of the hot takes on this website sound identical to the intrusive thoughts I have at 4 in the fucking morning, so do with that information what you will

[em3rg3ncy-backup-deactivated202]

“you are a bad person if you don’t have this exact opinion about this minute detail”. maybe you should shut the hell up

[em3rg3ncy-backup-deactivated202]

“you’re a bad person if…”

“you’re not evil if you do x, it’s actually y that makes you a bad person!”

“if you don’t do x, something horrible will happen!”

stop it. you do not need to make arguments in this way, you really don’t. my OCD ass is struggling here

[livingwithocd-archive]

It’s okay to buy something if it will be useful for you. It can be hard or overwhelming to consider all of the environmental outcomes of a purchase but often they will be unavoidable for most. If it will help you, buy it.

[livingwithocd-archive]

Thank you for responding, i have been doing very well.

I'm the person to which you replied about overlap of OCD and ICD. I feel anxiety about it. Or just think with an anxious mind if i don't feel it.

Sometimes when I'm frustrated or angry i really need to get the energy out but i don't wish to harm children.

I feel ashamed of that question, i know how wrong it's. I just remain quiet, look away and have decided to never have children because i truly don't wish to harm them and am afraid that what if in a certain possibility i do it. Though i can play with children and maybe thinking of a career which involves working for, with children

I never had such thoughts as a child, teenager, only since last year or two it manifested.

I know you'd to give a neutral reply and also be cautious.

My main concern is offering too much reassurance as unfortunately for those of us with OCD, it’s often not helpful in the long run. So, I want to provide you some resources.

POCD article from the OCD Newsletter

POCD: It Doesn’t Have to be a Life Sentence from Manhattan CBT

Highly recommend this article as it explains POCD very well, along with harmful and helpful strategies and advice!

POCD Arousal from Manhattan CBT