OCD Action

tizzkins
Member

Hi all me again. I have been thinking a lot lately and one thing that crops up time and time again with me is a lot of my ocd dilemmas seem to start with "what if" when something ocd'ish comes to mind and i dont know whether or not its ocd or not so many times when i think back on things the original dilemma mainly starts with "what if" my question is if when we get these thoughts starting with "what if" is it possible if we have no concrete evidence to state one way or another can we put things down to ocd. I mean at the end of the day how does anyone make the decision in their mind that something they are thinking is ocd how can they be certain? If i only knew how to catagorise my thoughts into ocd and not ocd then i think things would be easier?

Hope this makes sense.
Any thoughts on this gratefully receieved.

Lizx

Fri Jan 20 2012 22:49:42 #
Truddles
Member

Liz,

You're just tying yourself up in knots thinking this way.

The thoughts are just that - thoughts and if you start to try to categorise them into OCD and non OCD thoughts then you'll not only perpetuate the OCD but drive yourself nuts in the process.

so my question is if when we get these thoughts starting with "what if" is it possible if we have no concrete evidence to state one way or another can we put things down to ocd. I mean at the end of the day how does anyone make the decision in their mind that something they are thinking is ocd how can they be certain?
Simple answer you can't be certain. People with OCD don't like uncertainty and will go to great lengths to find certainty and we're on a hiding to nothing with this as life isn't certain. Just acknowledge that you've had the thought but don't engage with it and don't try to categorise it.
Remember it's not the thought that's the problem is the way that we react to it. We have to change our reactions to our thoughts and we start by not engaging with them.

Sat Jan 21 2012 9:19:03 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hi Liz -

Trudy is right. By making those categories, you are in reality starting a new obsession, perhaps one could call it: 'meta-OCD', i.e. obsessing over OCD itself. You'll paint yourself into a corner, because it's such a terrible task that you burden yourself with, and one that cannot be completed to perfection - so it'd be only a source for new frustrations. Please don't trouble your mind with such an unnecessary and impossible task. And Trudy's last two lines are pretty perfect, I concur wholeheartedly.

Best, Cuthbert.

Sat Jan 21 2012 9:36:52 #
Truddles
Member

As a child I read in a book (don't ask me which as it was too long ago) that 'if only' when combined were two of the saddest words in the English language, 'what if' and 'I'll do it when I get better/over the OCD' can be added to that.

They don't achieve anything other than to prevent you from living and enjoying your life in the here and now. The past has gone and there's nothing you can do to change it, the future is yet to happen and however carefully you plan it circumstances can change it. But the here and now is the only time that counts and if you don't use it it soon becomes the past.

I should know as I've wished my life away

Sat Jan 21 2012 14:48:52 #