Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
I'm sure there was a thread along these lines some time ago, but I can't find it so I'm starting a new one.
To start off, here are two things I do that help me get the better of my OCD. Not that I can often do that, but when I do, these often come into it.
First, it helps to remember that the compulsions aren't in fact to avoid germs or whatever. (I don't actually have that particular one, but it's a nice simple example). If I was just aiming to avoid germs, I wouldn't rationally choose to do all those things. They're just to keep the OCD happy. Then it becomes a simple question of what I can get past my OCD. This isn't always as easy as it sounds, of course, and if you can do it it won't automatically solve the problem; but it sometimes helps.
The other thing follows on from that. When possible, I try to replace a compulsion with something else. It doesn't have to make any sense, because I'm not doing the compulsion to avoid, for instance, germs - I'm just doing it because OCD makes me. So, for instance, I might think to myself, "I don't have to flap my clothes about and tap my feet before I get dressed - I'm wearing my ring so I'm allowed to get dressed without doing any of that". (This is a real example, and it worked). Or, "Eek! I've touched so-and-so, now I'll have to do this, that and the other to sort myself out - no, I'll just eat a peanut and then it will be all right". (Another real example, seriously.) Then move on very quickly before your brain has time to answer. If it does, don't listen.
Oh, just a quick gloat. I got rid of two compulsions on Tuesday and two more small ones today. NER NER NER.
- New post in forum
- Topic post
- New post in topic
- Announcement, important
- Support Question
- Resolved Support Question
- Locked topic
- Hot topic
