OCD Action

Unregistered

Hi

Does anyone on the forum have trouble with getting stuck - ie being rooted to the spot by fear and unable to move for a few minutes. This is one of my major problems at the moment. I get stuck in doorways and on the stairs and cannot move until I get the thoughts sorted out in my head. Any tips on how to resolve this would be good.

Best wishes to you all and many many thanks for you help, support and kindness over the last few weeks since I joined
Best
Glad

Tue Dec 8 2009 11:01:32 #
Parvez Choudhry
Member

Hi Glad

I used to get stuck sometimes when I was walking along the pavement and I saw dog excrement on the ground. Although I wasn't standing on it, I felt anxious that I really was standing on it. I could see a clear gap between me and it, but I still wasn't convinced. This caused me much embarrassment because passers-by saw me standing there and thought I looked suspicious! Well, at least you can deal with this problem in the privacy of your own home.

A tentative suggestion is that you remain standing there for however long it takes to bring your anxiety level back to normal. During that time refuse to sort out the thoughts in your head. Just leave them alone and don't think about them. Instead focus your attention on bringing your anxiety down by means of slow deep breathing, relaxing your muscles, imagining yourself in a beautiful floral garden or sunbathing on a Mediterranean beach, telling yourself a few jokes, humming soothing music, or whatever. When you finally feel calm enough to move on, don't be afraid of your anxiety returning. As you step away from your fixed position, the more you are afraid of a resurgence of anxiety, the more likely it will resurge with a vengeance. But if you defy its threats and boldly step forward with gung-ho confidence, I think it is more likely you will be able to shake off the anxiety and it won't cling to you.

Good luck!
Parvez

Tue Dec 8 2009 12:51:28 #
Unregistered

Hi Parvez

Thanks that is a wonderful suggestion I will try it.

I sometimes do have problems in the street. But after I was stopped by a policewoman a few years ago, on the grounds that I looked like a shop lifter who had just lifted a large electrical item from a store, I try not to be stuck for too long. I am not sure where I was supposed to have put the item as I only had a small handbag. But I had to wait in the High street with the policewoman until the shopkeeper confirmed that it was not me. In the meantime several people in the high street thought I was a criminal. So I may as well have had a wanted poster pinned to a bus stop. I had to ring the police station to make sure the incident report was erased and got an apology from the Chief Inspector. The irony is that, although the woman did look like me, she was noted as being twenty years younger. So I guess there was some sort of silver lining there.

Best
Gladxx

Tue Dec 8 2009 13:20:07 #
Unregistered

Parvez
Just an afterthought, I think the incident would make a good poem. That's a challenge for you when you have a spare mo.

Glad xx

Tue Dec 8 2009 13:23:46 #
Unregistered

Hi Parvez

I tried out your idea last night with grat success. My worst time is when I am getting ready for bed. I relaxed and suddenly a tune from my childhood came into my head which was perfect: 'Just Whistle a happy tune' from 'The King and I' - 'and no-one will know I'm afraid.'
thanks again
Glad

Wed Dec 9 2009 11:45:37 #
nettlenoo
Member

hi glad i was told when you have a panic attack focus on something happy or distract yourself somehow. i think of my kitties or a lovely happy time. anything that will make you feel warm and fuzzy can lower those dreaded feelings. i glad they are working some how. have you thought about an mp3 player load it with all your fav songs from childhood and on, and carry it around whilst your busy in the house im sure your be so busy singing and dancing you will get past the anxiety spikes that stop you. best wish annette

Sun Dec 13 2009 10:42:41 #
Unregistered

Hi Netti

That is a good idea. But I will need help in downloading when I get one. I picked up using my computer quickly but do not know anything about downloading music. I will get back to you when I get one.

Love
Anne

Sun Dec 13 2009 12:17:24 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Glad,
I mastered copying music from my CDs onto the computer and then onto MP3.
So good luck.
Truddles

Sun Dec 13 2009 12:31:28 #
Parvez Choudhry
Member

Glad wrote:

I was stopped by a policewoman a few years ago, on the grounds that I looked like a shoplifter who had just lifted a large electrical item from a store... I had to wait in the high street with the policewoman until the shopkeeper confirmed that it was not me. In the meantime several people in the high street thought I was a criminal. So I may as well have had a wanted poster pinned to a bus stop.
That must have been a hair-raising experience, Glad, though I expect you look back now and laugh about it! Many years ago I had a fear of manhandling items of food in case I somehow damaged the nutrients they contained. When I was in Sainsburys I would pick up tins & packets extremely slowly and gingerly, trying hard not to knock them or jolt them. I would often carefully bend down and stretch my hand to the back of a shelf searching for a tin with no dents or scratches. It seems the store detective mistakenly (though understandably) thought I was a shoplifter because for several weeks the detective followed me round the store the whole time I was in there, standing just a few feet away from at all times, but pretending to be looking at something else!

Thu Dec 17 2009 12:07:32 #
Unregistered

I get this sometimes, often when I'm going to use the loo and I get anxious and end up just standing in the doorway for ages. In the end I have to try and suck it up as it were and go for it, hehe. I'll try and think about nice things if it happens again. Singing a happy song would help a lot I think. I hope the ideas people have mentioned work for you, Glad.

Thu Dec 17 2009 14:02:49 #
Unregistered

Hi
Yes they have helped a lot thanks. I am getting stuck far less often now.

Love
Glad

Thu Dec 17 2009 16:56:48 #
Unregistered

That's good.

Fri Dec 18 2009 14:34:55 #