OCD Action

aishah
Member

Hi everyone, how are you all doing?
I had CBT session yesterday to help with the intrusive thoughts that ive been bombarded with. The session went well and I came away feeling more able to cope with it but still feel frightened. Ive been told to not try and block the thoughts and let them come, i find this scary. How do you all cope?

Best wishes
Bridget

Tue Jan 5 2010 9:25:49 #
Unregistered

Hi Bridget,

I started by postponing the thoughts - but as you say -the next (and final step) is to let them float around and ignore them. This is what my brilliant therapist (Morgan) told me last time I saw her. I can do this sometimes when I am really brave.

For instance, when I was standing on my drain a couple of weeks ago, I saw what I thought was a crack and the drain was wet. To my surpise, I told myself: 'well yes it could sewage you are standing on: SO WHAT.' I walked into my house with my shoes on and have been wearing them since.

So I think the answer is to say to your thoughts SO WHAT. After all, whatever the thoughts, deep down, we know perfectly well that they are untrue and it is just our OCD talking. I must try this more often as the voice of 'sad glad' is interfering far too much lately. Once we ignore the thoughts we get back our control and our OCD voice will slip into the background in favour of our strong sensible voice. Let's try together, Bridget.

Hope this helps

Best
Anne.

Tue Jan 5 2010 9:50:54 #
aishah
Member

Hi Anne, I,m really pleased that you are conquering your contamination fears. I dont spend most of my time cleaning and ordering anymore, Im really pleased about that.
The thoughts are the worst part for me and I am really struggling. Like you said we need to ignore them in order to get some control back. I cant beleive that these thoughts have come from my head because they are so disturbing but hey, I will try my best to ignore them and move forward.
I have signed up for some voluntary work today so have that to look forward to.
I hope "sad glad" stays away and lets you continue the good work, you deserve a break!

Regards
Bridget

Tue Jan 5 2010 14:38:04 #
Unregistered

Hi Bridget

I agree with you, the thoughts seem so real to us OCDers that we can become convinced that they are facts. But thoughts are not facts. If you keep ignoring them you will realize this and slowly get back control.I have done this before and intend to get there again - I have still some way to go before 'sad glad' goes on permanent holiday.

I hope you enjoy the vountary work. I worked in a charity shop for several months before I went to uni and absolutley loved it. The two managers knew all about my illness and were wonderfully kind to me. One day, after I had been there a few weeks, they had me sorting out knickers and socks (shock horror). They must have known I was ready as I managed to cope - to my extreme surprise.

Keep on fighting and keep on posting
Annexx

and you and I really know that the thoughts are not reayit may

Tue Jan 5 2010 14:57:42 #
aishah
Member

Hi Anne, thanks for your reply. I know these thoughts are not what I really think. I have got through a worse episode than this so you,d think I wouldnt be scared. I am looking forward to the voluntary work, it will be in a care home for the elderly. Up until my breakdown in 2002, I worked but havnt managed since, so im hoping the work will boost my confidence and take my mind off intrusive thoughts! It sounds like you had fun in the charity shop.

I hope "sad glad" leaves you alone tonight and you are able to go to bed quite easily. I used to play relaxing music which used to help me go to sleep.

I wish you a peaceful night

Bridget xx

Tue Jan 5 2010 19:47:40 #
nettlenoo
Member

hi
i feel for you here hun ive tried to write a pm to you but i couldnt send it. i know the scared feelings that over come you i suffer anxiety really bad. the thoughts have gone now but anxieties havent yet packed up and left one day maybe. i hope you are well hun ive tried to add you as a friend also
annette

Tue Jan 5 2010 22:41:03 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Bridget,

I hope that you're feeling a little better today and that the thoughts aren't being too intrusive.

That's the thing about OCD it makes you throw logic out of the window. Sometimes you can cope with a serious episode and at other times the slightest thing sends you into a complete panic. There is no logic to OCD, which is what makes it so difficult to control as there are no hard and fast rules.

I hope that you enjoy the voluntary work and that it helps to boost your confidence, a thing that we OCDers lack. But it's still lurking and it's just a question of finding the lost confidence and then not letting it go.

Best wishes
Truddles

Wed Jan 6 2010 15:30:26 #
aishah
Member

Hi Truddles, Thanks, I do feel a bit better, not so anxious when I wake up.
I still feel nauseous most of the time and everything is muddled up in my head now, the intrusive thoughts have calmed down a bit thank goodness.

How about you, are you ok today?
Regards Bridget

Wed Jan 6 2010 16:20:57 #
aishah
Member

Hi Annette, thanks for your reply. The anxiety is a hard thing to cope with as it has a whole load of horrible symptoms on top of OCD! Im so pleased that the intrusive thoughts have gone for you now, they have lessened a little for me today but I feel anxious about it getting out of control again.

It is really helping by coming onto the forum every day, it is nice to hear when things improve for peole. Thanks to everyone.

Regards
Bridget

Wed Jan 6 2010 16:29:10 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Bridget,

It's probably the anxiety that's making you feel nauseous, try eating some ginger even if it's only in the form of ginger biscuits.
Try not to feel anxious about the thoughts coming back, try to make the most of this quieter period. Worrying about if they come back will just make you more anxious. Make the most of the calm days and gradually they will predominate over the bad days.

I hope you feel better soon.

Best wishes
Truddles

Wed Jan 6 2010 16:35:58 #
aishah
Member

Thanks, Im surprised you have time to post on the forum. I was just reading your other posts today and it sounds like you've been rushed off your feet.

I must say I feel better when I know i've acheived something. I will go and get some ginger biscuits before the weather gets too bad.

I know with us OCDers, we worry about worry don't we!

Take Care of yourself
Bridget

Wed Jan 6 2010 16:44:00 #
Truddles
Member

Well that's Terrific Truddles for you

Wed Jan 6 2010 16:45:59 #
Unregistered

Hi Bridget

I know it is always on our minds that we will lose control again. I get particularly anxious when I am bored. It, in turn, makes me over indulge and hence feel sick and lethargic. A vicious cycle. And the weather does not help.
A bit of sun would be nice.

I hope things go on improving for you. It is nice to have you on the forum every day.
Best
Annex

Wed Jan 6 2010 16:48:06 #
aishah
Member

Long Live Terrific Truddles!

Wed Jan 6 2010 16:48:51 #
Unregistered

I second that.

Wed Jan 6 2010 16:52:22 #
aishah
Member

Hi Anne, I know all about over indulging sometimes. I have recently eaten a tin of quality street in two days.
Now that the holidays are over I will go back to yoga once a week, its very good for anxiety as the breathing excersises make you calm. Have you ever tried it?

Regards
Bridget

Wed Jan 6 2010 16:57:19 #
Truddles
Member

No I've not tried yoga but I've tried the Quality Street challenge (though I used Roses) and have succeeded in demolishing a tin in record time other years. I must say I haven't dared to undo the tin this year or I'll finish it in a day
If I put on weight my consultant will go spare and I'll end up with nothing to wear. And that would frighten even the hardiest of individuals seeing me in the all together

Truddles

Wed Jan 6 2010 17:05:56 #
aishah
Member

I'm glad i'm not the only one that likes chocolate. I justify it with the fact that i couldn't eat much for a couple of weeks and i lost a stone in weight.

Bridget

Wed Jan 6 2010 17:10:16 #
aishah
Member

It's been lovely talking altogether on the forum but I have to go for now

Regards

Bridget

Wed Jan 6 2010 17:13:08 #
Unregistered

Hi Bridget

I did try Yoga. In fact a spent a week at a Buddhist retreat. But, alas, I could not get the hang of it. Yet I must find ways of relaxing to calm down my overactive brain.

Back tomorrow
Annex

Wed Jan 6 2010 18:57:13 #
aishah
Member

Hi Anne, I can't do all of the moves but I find the breathing excersises really help. Have you tried doing jigsaws, I found them helpful a couple of years ago as I always struggle to relax, especially in the evenings. In fact, since joining the forum again, this is the longest time I have sat down in ages.

Bridget x

Thu Jan 7 2010 20:20:23 #
Unregistered

Hi Bridget

I could give that a try- thanks.

Annex

Thu Jan 7 2010 21:04:06 #
vmb
Member

Hi Aishah I think I can empathise with where ur coming from I get intrusive thoughts that scare me also. For ages I thought was going crazy with thoughts that disturb the hell out of me.

Keep going to CBT it should hopefully help with irrational thoughts, I started a home course in CBT. That is helpful to learn stuff.

Its cool you starting voluntary work it can help focus your thoughts towards something more positive.

I put a forum on here for people who get intrusive thoughts but little to know rituals. I hope people put messages on to help others in dispair
keep me posted

Sun Jan 10 2010 22:31:35 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Bridget,

How are you today? Are the intrusive thoughts any better today?

Sorry brief but brain on a go slow )or rather go slower) today.

Love
Trudy

Fri Jan 15 2010 15:20:47 #
aishah
Member

Hi Trudy,the thoughts are still very much around but not quite as distressing. I feel quite down today and lost with no sense of direction. Hopefully will get better tomorrow.

How are you?

Bridget
x

Fri Jan 15 2010 19:23:00 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Bridget,

I too feel quite low today with no sense of direction because of the OCD. Perhaps we should both invest in a good compass

Hopefully things will improve for both of us tomorrow.

Trudyxx

Fri Jan 15 2010 23:22:18 #