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forum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Please tell me what you think!!!

(3 posts) (3 voices)
  • Started 1 year ago by Nigel
  • Latest reply from Truddles
  • This topic is Not a support question
  1. Avatar Image

    Nigel
    Member

    Hi all!

    I've just passed a envelope to my brother. It has been sat on the shelf for a few days because I didn't want to feel like I had left something stuck to it when I handed it over. Everyday I kept thinking about it so I gave it to him today but this is how I did it:

    I picked it up with two fingers stood for about 5 minutes looking at it from all angles. I checked I didn't have anything on me prior to this. I turned the light on and put the envelope on the floor and looked around it. Then I shook it and put it on the table downstairs on its side. I walked around it examining both sides without touching it. My brother picked it up. I got him to turn it over a few times and I looked across to chek nothing was there. My sister in law then picked it up. I pretended to want the address off the envelope so I looked at it again whilst she was holding it. She then put it on the table with her other letter and handbag before taking it away with her.

    I did all this and I want to check again. Why do I want to check again. I can't have left something on it still can I? Why do I think I may have? Why is it difficult to think about anything else?

    Thanks

    Nigel

    Tue Aug 10 2010 15:08:54 #
  2. Avatar Image

    Amz
    Member

    Its called obsession the checking is the compulsion hence the disorder!

    :idea:Tips, please note I really know how hard this is:

    1. Do something else to take your mind off it. Dont get me wrong it wont completley but hopefully it will give you some distraction and something to do. Even though your are anxious and worrying, you can be doing something constructive with that time.

    2. If you cant let it go and 100% need to check again, then tell yourself that you will check it in a certain amount of time e.g. 3hrs. This helps you keep slight control of the OCD rather than it completely taking over.

    3.Remember what you are feeling is anxiety and it is a feeling an emotion and it cant hurt you! It is uncomfortable but it isnt life threatening and you can stand it!

    The longer you feel anxious about something the less severe the anxiety will be. My therapist puts me in situation that make me anxious to make me more comfortable being uncomfortable if that makes sense. the more time that passes the less anxious you are.

    For example I get the urge to wash my hands, initially I would just get up and do it, but then I would obsess that I hadnt done it right and did it again and again..... I then started to think right I need to wash my hands but I will do it in half and hour. Anxiety drops slightly during this half and hour. The I extended the period I waited e.g. I will wash in an hour. Before I knew it I couldnt even remember why I needed to wash my hands.

    When you get an urge to check right down on a scale of 1-10 how anxious you feel, then right this again in half an hour then an hour. Just to see if it works even a little. obviously during this test dont carry out your compulsion to check.

    Hope this helps a little.

    Amy

    Tue Aug 10 2010 17:43:06 #
  3. Avatar Image

    Truddles
    Member

    Hi Nigel,

    The more you check the more the OCD will want you to check, the more you seek reassurance the more reassurance the OCD will want.

    Amy's suggestions should help to reduce the anxiety.

    Tue Aug 10 2010 20:35:29 #

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