OCD Action

slogsweep
Member

Hi everyone, sorry I've not been around as much I've had a hectic few days and am trying to limit my internet use as I end up seeking reassurance off of it.

Anyway I had my usual CBT session today, my third, and this is resonating in my mind, something that was said about checking compulsions in general.

"If you were to not check something, what is the worst realistic thing that could happen."

"For example if you were to not check your laptop, what's the real worst case scenario? That you've left it downstairs or in the library where, it's more than likely someone would have handed it in."

I then wrote down a portion of my checking compulsions and the corresponding realistic worst case scenario.

Suddenly, I saw that my checking was excessive and how it was linked to the core behind how I think, this automatic "worst case scenario" and seeking out the worst thing possible automatically all of the time.

To quote Neil Buchanan off Art Attack, "try it yourself".

Slog

Thu Feb 2 2012 20:12:54 #
Mike
Member

Do you feel that you already knew this, or did you used to think that the feared consequences of not checking were much worse?

Thu Feb 2 2012 21:51:32 #
slogsweep
Member

Sort of, but because a remote possiblity was there I'd always check anyway. I've also been using the visual picture technique successfully too. When I lock a door, I try the handle and make a mental note that I've done that. This really works. I'm getting into bed in 5 rather than 25 minutes!

Cheers for the feedback,

Slog

Thu Feb 2 2012 23:23:17 #
Twitchy
Member

Nice one Slogsweep, i will try that too. There's nothing more terrifying than not been able to remember whether you've checked something or not. How are things going with you?

Fri Feb 3 2012 9:00:44 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hi Slogsweep -

that's good news. Fear and anxiety often cloud our rationality, and our memory also. So, the impulse to check again and again wins. It is nice to read that you are able to use the 'visual picture technique' in such a profitable way; and also benefit from the 'worst case scenario' thought experiment.

It's progress. I'd say that if a worst case assessment, when finalised, doesn't lead to new fears that might be the potential result of linking that scenario to other, new, and highly improbable event, than one is really able to do a very good reality check.

So: thanks for your remarks, and hopefully others get something useful out of these.

Cheers, Cuthbert.

Fri Feb 3 2012 10:12:27 #
Citaloman
Member

[quote] Fear and anxiety often cloud our rationality, and our memory also

I agree with this , i think our brains are to quick for us.

Fri Feb 3 2012 17:33:42 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hi Citaloman -

good to hear from you, how are you doing at the moment?

I find your last remark as intriguing as it is true... indeed, I did and do have the same impression, after I came/come out of a confusing situation. One had running thoughts, going very quickly, almost stumbling over one another. I guess they are somehow, and in part, the result of over-analysing ourselves, a bit of 'meta-thinking', if you will. Suppose we feel guilty about some minor issue... we spend quite some time in assessing if our guilt is realistic, if we deserve it at all, how small/big that burden of guilt actually is, and how we can reduce it. And, for instance, how others would have reacted, had they been in our shoes. And so on, and so forth.

In that way, cool rational thinking, and going calmly through memories of recent events can, indeed, get overruled by that mist caused by that speedy processing of thoughts of our quick and overactive brains.

Good call of yours!

Fri Feb 3 2012 17:51:57 #
Citaloman
Member

Im on week 5 of flu starting tomorrow and as a whole package i can see i am a human with OCD but this one thing still bothers me. Although im starting to feel a little better. Still have criying episodes but i said to my GP today that i remember stealing sweets from a shop when i was little but i had to think twice over something that supposedly happened 18 months ago. Hopefully the next few weeks will get even better and i will be able to move on with my life.

Maybe

Fri Feb 3 2012 19:31:12 #
Mike
Member

Slog - do you feel that the remote possibility doesn't exist anymore, now that you've discussed it with your therapist? Or is it that you think the possibility exists, but you accept that possibility?

Fri Feb 3 2012 20:15:54 #
slogsweep
Member

I haven't really thought until now about that Mike. I guess I still know there is a really remote possibility with a probability so small it isn't worth thinking about at length.

I'm ill in other ways though at the moment, food poisoning. It's quite a test for my OCD.

Thanks Cuthbert for that , and I hope you're feeling better Citaloman,

Slog

Fri Feb 3 2012 22:00:27 #
Wings
Member

That sounds really really good, I wish that would work for me, unfortunately I have a checking that cant go away at the moment, even though I am trying my best, as the threat of what I could lose feels so awful, and it gives me so much piece of mind to do this. sound weak I know, sorry guys.

Wx

Sat Feb 4 2012 16:16:28 #