I tried this method after suffering with OCD for 2+ years, within only a couple days of trying this method, my whole perspective changed and I’m already breaking the cycle, thanks a ton man, I owe you one
This video is so great! I’ve been compulsive check free for over three days, I feel the urge to check but I keep on going until the rubber band snaps. Everybody reading this there is hope! You will get through this and you will beat it!!
I needed this video today. I literally feel like I’m about to explode. I’ve been getting the urge to check for something on Facebook that I’ve checked a million times before. I had an anxiety attack in the car, and threw up my lunch. This is so hard. I would not wish this feeling on anyone.
my biggest compulsion is looking at ocd recovery videos or looking at ocd related content so that it gives me the reassurance that its just ocd and its not real, I get it now
❤❤❤ It‘s so hard to have only mental compulsions because they can be so hard to detect. The other day I began ruminating without realizing it, I was convinced I was actively trying to avoid the compulsion and I ended up having an OCD attack. Bad days are unavoidable and relapsing is nothing to be ashamed of. When it feels like you are back to square 1, just remember that everything you’ve learned will help you get back up faster than before
@@ocdandanxiety when I was in year 1, it felt like a string was attached to my back and if I walked around the tables one way, I had to go back round the same way or I felt a sort of tangling feeling but I can't remember how I stopped because it was so long ago
@@ocdandanxiety after 13 years you ve opened my eyes the way i should accept thoughts and to don t care about them. Agoraphobia stalked me for 13 years, and even with therapy it always came back because i always was learned to ignore the thoughts. Now i accept them even talk to them and say i don t care, no real danger is here, maybe yes but maybe not, you stay to the party or you can leave😁 And i m still working but i can see huge differences 😊 Thanks. I would love to see another video on the way you re showing to the thoughts we re the boss on Agoraphobia.
These videos literally make me breathe a sigh of relief even those the events sometimes did happen it’s the NEED TO CONFESS that is not true and I really just have to commit to not giving in it’s so hard and unbearable at times but I’m hoping with practice it’ll get better I was doing so well then just out of nowhere the compulsion part of it started getting to me again I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone I swear thank you for your videos.
You’re a gem man! Your advice is great for me as someone who gets into rumination due to OCD, finally being open with myself about it and following your advice is giving me the freedom I wanted.
Hey man I just wanted to say I’ve been having harmful intrusive thoughts and I’ve been watching your videos whenever I need reassurance that my mind is lying to me thank you so much
@@ocdandanxiety Hey Nathan i m suffering from ocd since almost 13yrs....Currently i m preparing for medical competative exam and my ocd had become worst since 4yrs... Everytime when i start studying i just keep finding solutions of my intrusive thoughts.. This ocd is killing me alive...I can't do study at home bcoz i don't get peaceful environment... i can't go to library as i am a loud reader and i can't afford rent room at this point....My ocd has worsen my educational status since 2,3 yrs...I can't afford any ocd therapy....Plz help me 🙏🙏
@@gayatrishimpi137 Same with me... Due to OCD I was unable to crack my NEET ...It was so worst that I had to quit my medical dreams... Honestly it got worst... I even tried to kill my self... But RN I learned to control it... And I continued my studies ( MBA). Accept your thaught for once... it will fade away slowly.
i’ve watched these videos every time my urges to give into my compulsions increase. i can’t help but feel ashamed every time it gets bad again, it really does just consume your life. you really are a blessing and i’m very grateful for your channel.
My grandma used to say “put a rubber and around your head and snap out of it” when anyone was overly upset about something 😂😂 She would definitely tell me that right now in response to my OCD. Thanks for reminding me!
I have multiple compulsions, locking doors at night or I think someone will break in a hurt my family, rubbing and picking at the skin on my face and scalp, I used to bite my nails, i clear my throat, I even subconsciously hit myself hard in the hip until it bruises. I knew I had ocd but i thought compulsions were just my permanent quirk. I tried this excersize tonight of pushing back against the urges and wow. The peace that came over me after I fought through the immense discomfort. Haven't felt that in many years. Thank you!!
I have OCD at 16, and I am generally a happy successful guy but this year I've been through stress like my best friends move out of school and at home issues, and it's triggered my OCD even more. I've always had it, but it's been worse. I think about what my life would be like if I looked like a certain person, what others think, suicide, unwanted thoughts, and much more. Thank you for your tips!
I've been struggling my whole life with OCD attacks but never like the last several months. My brain has as a result of continued OCD induced upon itself brain fog and often times stops functioning and this method I am going to use to help myself.
Thank you for this video!! I've battled intrusive thoughts for nearly a year now and they've really gotten in the way of me being able to be happy and fully enjoy life. My compulsiom is to ruminate and I've previously spent over an hour every day trying to "figure out" my thoughts and no matter how much rumination I do, my brain keeps wanting more. Resisting the urge to spend hours trying to "solve" my intrusive thoughts is really hard, but I'm willing to experience short-term distress in exchange for long-term freedom. Wish me luck!!
@@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780 Aww thank you so much for commenting, I really appreciate it!! And thank you for the advice I appreciate that as well!! :)
I just want to say that from the first minute or two of the video this person expressed exactly what is going on in my brain much of the time. I have been trying to commit due to the help of my wife to not giving into the compulsions, but somehow acknowledging the kinds of thought processes that I go through on a daily basis has offered me additional strength. My wife has been my rock, but it’s very hard to lean on her all the time. I know she gets tired, so thank you so much for providing this additional help. I really needed this.
Great video. Also, man you told sold me on watching that other video at the end (even though I already watched it). You were extremely persuasive. I'm gonna use that same technique.
I can avoid checking any other time of the day except before I go to sleep at night. Because if I don't check the door/ other stuff, the thought doesn't let me sleep😅 It IS easier than it was in the past, though. Not gone but easier. Your UA-cam channel has helped me a lot!
I don't pull away from the compulsion until it breaks. I gestalt my brain. I kind of interrupt myself. And I say something along the lines of, "It's okay, it's gone already. It's already over with." And I kind of relax, like I feel a moment of relief, and the rubberband kind of dissipates or disappears, and I forget about the compulsion, or whatever it is that's stressing me. Basically I kinda take a deep breath, or a sharp inhale, and that's when I find the gestalt point in my mind. It's like a quiet center. Then when I exhale is when I feel the relief.
You have no idea how much the rubber band idea helped me. I have not been diagnosed, but have had debilitating, mind numbing anxiety related to doubt and ruminating thoughts for more than a month now that has literally made me lose 10 pounds from not eating because I'm sick. Its extremely scary, I don't know if I have it or not but this will help with the thoughts either way. Thank you so much.
This video helped, thanks. I have a music OCD. When I listen to a metal song, I feel the compulsion to note every riff, melody and chord. Only when I fully "get" the song in terms of which riff occurs where, do I move on. And after a few hours, I get an urge to again play the song to see if I remember where it's characteristic riffs occur. And I need to revisit albums I am tired of after many years to reassure myself I still like them. The rubber band analogy helped me. I will stop giving into these compulsions.
my compulsion is as simple as wanting to go back to a word i just wrote and make it look better or neater. this video along with the analogy(ies) really helped me look at my situation from a brand new perspective. thank you so much for this! ❤
Thank you so much for everything you're doing. Can you make a video about self confidence while struggling with ocd? I've recently started medical school and need to learn how to trust myself and my abilities while battling ocd
You’ve already proven yourself very confident and intelligent by being able to get into MEDICAL SCHOOL, especially if you struggle with ocd! I think you’re fabulous!
@@marjoriejoytoquero4783 i know, just remember you're beautiful. The efforts nurses put in saving people is amazing. Thank you for being who you are. let's fight ocd and help people at the same time 🌱
Hey brotha! Idk who you are but I just wanted to say that I am very happy that your taking the step to seek help and do what you can to alleviate your anxiety! I believe in you to overcome it and you WILL.. I find what helped me overcome my anxiety was hitting the root cause of it and changing my perspective on how I saw the issue. I prioritize sleep, how I eat and getting sunlight everyday. Sunlight increases your serotonin levels and helps fight off Seasonal Affective Disorder. Be sure to meditate on things that bring peace to your mind for example it could be just meditating on the empty sky, the beach and the sound of the waves. All these things paired with lexapro will definitely help you overcome and treat/cure your anxiety 😊
Thank you so much, this helps a ton! I definitely have been trying “not to” do my compulsions but have that reservation in the back of my head. I need to fully commit. I just get so so so uncomfortable, I’ve lived with my OCD untreated until 2 years ago, about 20 years 😭 when I feel this way I’m so overwhelmed I get stuck. And it seems like the rubber band won’t ever snap 😢
I feel the same 😭 lived with it for about 18 years. Just so so difficult to walk away when you’re convinced something is unlocked/switched on. Hoping it will get easier over time🙏🏼
I literally have this urge to do something that will hurt someone emotionally and I’m trying my hardest to just never do it at all. While watching this video, I even forgot about it then of course it comes back but I try to ignore those compulsions and it sometimes work. I’m trying to force myself to ignore and resist compulsions so my life gets easier and I’ll actually be able to resist and ignore with ease.
Thank you SO MUCH ! this is so well explained , easy to understand and it helps me so much to see the rubber band snap 😅😢 thank you !!! Greetings from a Mexico !
This video has helped me a couple of times now with ocd, it helps in the way of remembering things to think of in a certain way to get me stronger and more motivated to not do ocd stuff.
Really struggling. I have a theme around confronting people. If someone does something that is disrespectful to me, it makes me feel unsafe, and if I don't defend myself in the moment, my nervous system goes haywire. I had an interaction with the neighbor and with the landlord that are causing me agony. My brain is hammering me for weeks saying I need to confront them. The pressure in my nervous system and the anxiety is overwhelming and the intrusive thoughts just keep going and going. Other themes usually subside after a few hours. This is weeks. It makes me worried that I am misinterpreting this as OCD and it is actually my own inner intelligence that I need to stand up for myself and it is causing me harm by not listening to that.
This is true, some compulsions kept trying to come back and get me to feel bad and want to confess but letting it go and ignoring them took months, however those compulsions now aren’t as strong when I think back to what they are from time to time. I learnt to put off compulsions and learnt that from Ali Greymonds youtube video about putting off your compulsions for minutes, hours, days, and months, it works, keep at it everyone.
I (HELPS HERE) never knew what it was when mine started so I thought I was crazy at first. I've had it SO long (started the final time February 1987) when it was only checking windows, doors and car locks. Because I was so intelligent I tried to outwit it but now it's every waking moment.. literally. I wake up and before I can open my eyes I think.. oh great this again (another full day of crap) then fall back to sleep over and over to avoid it. At least it's not while I'm sleeping anymore. I couldn't turn to my side at night without counting left to right and in the middle again. My entire family has abandoned me over it although they don't know what it is. I try to hide it but they knew something was wrong. My lovely daughter told me I'm crazy 3 months ago and shouldn't be able to live. Yep she said that. I have NO 1 single friend, no family and even though I'm not ugly I can't ever date while it's this bad. No one can move an inch or speak when I'm getting dressed or doing anything so I wouldn't want anyone I care about to have to live that way anyway. I just wish someone cared. It's OCDummyD crap just to go to the bathroom. It takes all day just to get dressed and eat once a day so I don't get much done. I haven't cooked in almost 2 years because it takes too much outta me. If I want to go in the front room for example I take 24 steps until I get to the doorway (threshold) swallow and say my name and another word then mine again while looking at my finger, shirt, name on the paper that's been in my hand since 1995, finger, wall straight ahead.. wall to the right the wall straight ahead. Then finger, shirt, word on paper, finger. Now I step in 4 steps (right left right left SWALLOW and say my name.. another name, my name while I look at my finger, shirt, name on the paper in my hand, finger, wall straight ahead.. wall to the right the wall straight ahead. Then finger, shirt, word on paper, finger. Then I am allowed to take 24 steps (repeat everything above yet again including swallowing.. take 4 steps and sit. At that point I have to swallow again, always saying my name, looking at everything in the same order then walls then me again. I run out of spit often so I stand in a doorway or wherever often getting mad as heck especially when I'm in a rush because I'm stuck and can't continue until I get some more saliva. Heaven forbid I have to pee. I have to reverse all those steps just to get to the bathroom and do it all to get back again. It takes at least 15 minutes when I'm doing good to go to the bathroom and return. It's very time consuming. Yesterday I kept messing up so I had to get redressed 4 times and it took an hour. It would've never gotten this bad had 1 person told me what it was when it first started. Once a doctor asked me if I'd seen a psychiatrist and I thought how rude and went home. I told him I'm not making it up and he let it go at that.. never elaborating. Had he bothered for a moment to tell me it's a thing.. I could've seeked out help and more than likely it would've never gotten this bad. But this fool kept it to himself (so helpful). He sure didn't care. It started when I was 23 and now I'm 59. An entire lifetime wasted and gone and I haven't even begun to live. I now believe that my purpose is to write a book about this. As bad as it is.. it's my hope to get better and help others. I would do anything to save someone from what I've gone through and still going through. I know people don't like talking about it but God says certain things like ask, believe receive and I've found the same words popping up in the world too. I don't care if they say there's no cure. I didn't always have ocd and I don't have it in my dreams. When I've prayed about this AND when I researched many things the same things pop up so I'll add them here. At first I thought they wouldn't be the answer but now I feel differently. FIRSTLY mindfulness meditation DOES get your mind off ocd and other issues. Next look up yoga nidra. It's like meditation but in a somewhat half asleep state and I almost fell out with disbelief that I was awake and realized last week that it was the first time in 20 years or more that I was awake but not thinking about OCDummyD for the entire yoga nidra session. Me.. not having any ocd or thoughts of any kind.. WHAT. Look up neuropathways. It explains how what we do and feel over and over is etched in our mind. The path of least resistance is where the mind goes. We have to make NEW habits and that means NOT doing the compulsions. My daughter being her usual know it all self once said "mom stop.. it's just a habit". I thought about that for a while and yes to a great degree it's a habit. I habitually do all my rituals all the time out of habit. So we need to do new things until they become new habits.. new neuropathways. When you think or do anything because you feel that it's a danger then your mind will keep it as It's trying to protect you. When you DO the rituals or compulsions you're telling your brain there's danger because you feel danger and it will not let go. If you fight them they will stay. Oddly you kind've have to not fight. You don't have to love them but don't fight. Just allow them.. for now to coexist in your mind. As nate says.. not doing it or holding off shows your brain it isn't something you need to fear. You're safe. Also your brain doesn't know the difference between real danger or perceived danger (what you're dwelling on). if you really want to help yourself.. me too then we need to STOP ruminating about what's wrong. Stop worrying what could be wrong. Stop worrying about the past or future. The brain doesn't differentiate between real danger or a thought of it. Every time you notice yourself thinking bad thoughts.. change it immediately and think about a good memory. If you don't have one like I really don't.. because behind every good memory immediately comes a negative thought like I love my Daugher (but she hates me now). We must change the way we think. That's key and try to relax. Reinvent yourself. You got this. Me too. I started doing it and yes I've messed up this week but I'm done with this shit (sorry Nate). Instead of negative thoughts and if you can't think of a good memory start resighting things you're grateful for. Keep thinking about anything but ruminating about problems or ocd because continuously doing that will keep it. As long as you're alive There's hope. You have to just keep doing these steps until they are a new habit. It is my deepest desire that someone gets helped. It took me hours to write this. Eat healthy and exercise helps. I care.
I have severe OCD and health anxiety. My compulsion is to constantly want to go to the doctor or the ER. I went to Med Express yesterday to get my ears checked, 3 days after I saw an ENT and they said I was fine! I should have been reassured by the ENT but I 'needed' to get looked at again. Med express then said I was fine but I still feel like there is something wrong with my ears and I want to get them checked again so badly. I won't give in to my compulsion at this time. I am committed and will challenge my constant self doubt. The anxiety is awful but I will journal and not give into the compulsion of reassurance. Thanks!
@@ocdandanxiety sure thing! I've also published some mental health videos on my channel using physical activities to illustrate concepts, and this is inspiring me to continue putting helpful messages out there to help others. I'm super new to this, and so I'm very open to feedback if you are interested in checking it out!
During lockdown #1 (UK), I was all alone and developed what felt like OCD, but was likely “temporary” similar symptoms, but it caused compulsions of repeatedly checking my oven was off and my doors were locked at night. One day I had a brainwave - I got my iPhone *and recorded myself locking the doors and turning off the oven at the wall* - I made this into a habit, and I continued it just to SHUT MY MIND UP, because subconsciously I KNEW my compulsions were defeated, because if I’d had any doubt (and I did a few times), I could say to myself _“LOOK, you have recorded it AND YOU KNOW you have as you always do - chill out”_ Well, in my specific situation IT WORKED. Maybe that could help someone. God bless you ☦️ ❤
How can I stop a compulsion that has become pretty much an instinct of mine? I have HOCD, and I constantly keep checking for attraction. It's not even that I have the urge to check, just looking at someone already makes me check. Like, if somebody asks me something, and I turn around to answer them, I subconsciously check.
This video helped me a lot. I started watching it when I had a great need to check and self-examine my testicles, this is my ocd, I know everything is ok because I did, it two days ago, but I wanted to do it again, I prepared myself for it, but I watched this video and I understood. I am in therapy, but psychodynamic, I understand where it comes from, but here I saw a real guide what to do. thank you, you helped me
I have just right OCD. I used to cross my eyes as a compulsion. I did it so much at one point that I got severe eye strain. I conquered it by doing it one last time in a controlled environment. I didn't get an urge to do it for 9 months. However, crossing my eyes became an instant NO territory. I would have some discomfort seeing others cross their eyes, for fear it'd make me do it, and I told myself I'd never cross my eyes again, not even for a funny photo. This Monday, I might've crossed my eyes a little bit on accident and this brought back the urge to cross them fully. I ended up giving in after my brain convinced me that I was now afraid to cross my eyes, and that I should conquer this fear by crossing my eyes once. I was so confused on what to do. Do I ignore it because it's a compulsion and if I do it once I'll do it many more times, or is the compulsion rather that I'm scared to cross my eyes and should conquer that? I went for it, aiming for just one crossing of the eyes, I really wanted to know the truth. Sadly, like I had predicted one crossing wasn't enough so I ended up doing 12, cutting it short. What would the ERP be for this case? I do it once and ignore every other urge, or do I not cross my eyes at all? Thank you so so much to anyone who has an answer to my question. 💙
I don't know if you are still reading this. But the ERP could. Look something like this: Cross your eyes. But prevent any compulsion. No ruminating, no distraction. Nothing. Do it and get used to the feeling that comes with it.
Hi Nat, how do I stop falling into the trap thinking my OCD is gone for good? When this happens I think it's cured and I stop ERP. Then it comes back worse than ever. It just really felt like it was GONE for good.
Can you please do a video on phobias and hiw to overcome them?I have this strong fear of paranormal stuff at night time and have been getting anxiety attacks for months on it its also mixed with religious ocd i guess.Anyways i enjoy your channel and videos and hope u talk about this.
Hey Nathan i m suffering from ocd since almost 13yrs....Currently i m preparing for medical competative exam and my ocd had become worst since 4yrs... Everytime when i start studying i just keep finding solutions of my intrusive thoughts.. This ocd is killing me alive...I can't do study at home bcoz i don't get peaceful environment... i can't go to library as i am a loud reader and i can't afford rent room at this point....My ocd has worsen my educational status since 2,3 yrs...I can't afford any ocd therapy....Plz help me 🙏🙏
I think I have real event OCD. Just watched your video because I searched on why I still feel so guilty with what I did years ago. I was an officer in an organization and I disciplined them one time. One person cried because she thought I embarassed her in front of the people, I also cried and said sorry that day. That happened last 2018 I think. I saw her tiktok earlier and had the urge to message her saying sorry and she forgot about it and don't remember me at all. I still doubt if her replies were sincere and I still feel guilty about it. Now I'm worrying of her thinking I'm so weird and will tell her friends🙃
Ruminating, asking forums; mentally just trying to figure my sexuality out. I’m at wits end. I try to commit I try to not engage but then my head says I’m going to miss the truth if I don’t engage!
I never knew what it was READ ON when mine started so I thought I was crazy at first. I've had it SO long (started the final time February 1987) when it was only checking windows, doors and car locks. Because I was so intelligent I tried to outwit it but now it's every waking moment.. literally. I wake up and before I can open my eyes I think.. oh great this again (another full day of crap) then fall back to sleep over and over to avoid it. At least it's not while I'm sleeping anymore. I couldn't turn to my side at night without counting left to right and in the middle again. My entire family has abandoned me over it although they don't know what it is. I try to hide it but they knew something was wrong. My lovely daughter told me I'm crazy 3 months ago and shouldn't be able to live. Yep she said that. I have NO 1 single friend, no family and even though I'm not ugly I can't ever date while it's this bad. No one can move an inch or speak when I'm getting dressed or doing anything so I wouldn't want anyone I care about to have to live that way anyway. I just wish someone cared. It's OCDummyD crap just to go to the bathroom. It takes all day just to get dressed, eat once a day so I don't get much done. I haven't cooked in almost 2 years because it takes too much outta me. If I want to go in the front room for example I take 24 steps until I get to the doorway (threshold) swallow and say my name and another word then mine again while looking at my finger, shirt, name on the paper that's been in my hand since 1995, finger, wall straight ahead.. wall to the right the wall straight ahead. Then finger, shirt, word on paper, finger. Now I step in 4 steps (right left right left SWALLOW and say my name.. another name, my name while I look at my finger, shirt, name on the paper in my hand , finger, wall straight ahead.. wall to the right the wall straight ahead. Then finger, shirt, word on paper, finger. Then I am allowed to take 24 steps (repeat everything above yet again including swallowing.. take 4 steps and sit. At that point I have to swallow again, always saying my name, looking at everything in the same order then walls then me again. I run out of spit often so I stand in a doorway of wherever often getting mad as heck especially when I'm in a rush because I'm stuck and can't continue until I get some more saliva. Heaven forbid I have to pee. I have to reverse all those steps just to get to the bathroom and do it all to get back again. It takes at least 15 minutes when I'm doing good to go to the bathroom and return. It's very time consuming. Yesterday I kept messing up so I had to get redressed 4 times and it took an hour. It would've never gotten this bad had 1 person told me what it was when it first started. Once a doctor asked me if I'd seen a psychiatrist and I thought how rude and went home. I told him I'm not making it up and he let it go at that.. never elaborating. Had he bothered for a moment to tell me it's a thing.. I couldn't seeked out help and more than likely it would've never gotten this bad. But this fool kept it to himself (so helpful). He sure didn't care. It started when I was 23 and now I'm 59. An entire lifetime wasted and gone and I haven't even begun to live. I'm emotionally younger than my age because I haven't had the chance to be very social. I now believe that my purpose is to write a book about this. As bad as it is.. it's my hope to get better and help others. I would do anything to save someone from what I've gone through and still going through. I know people don't like talking about it but God says certain things like ask, believe receive and I've found the same words popping up in the world too. I don't care if they say there's no cure. I didn't always have ocd and I don't have it in my dreams. When I've prayed about this AND when I researched many things the same things pop up so I'll add them here. At first I thought they wouldn't be the answer but now I feel differently. FIRSTLY mindfulness meditation DOES get your mind off ocd and other issues. Next look up yoga nidra. It's like meditation but in a somewhat half asleep state and I almost fell out with disbelief that I was awake and realized last week that it was the first time in 20 years or more that I was awake but not thinking about OCDummyD for the entire yoga nidra session. Me.. not having any ocd or thoughts of any kind.. WHAT. Look up neuropathways. It explains how what we do and feel over and over is etched in our mind. The path of least resistance is where the mind goes. We have to make NEW habits and that means NOT doing the compulsions. My daughter being her usual know it all self once said "mom stop.. it's just a habit". I thought about that for a while and yes it is alot a habit. I habitually do all my rituals all the time out of habit. So we need to do new things until they become new habits.. new neuropathways. When you think or do anything because you feel that it's a danger then your mind will keep it. It's trying to protect you. When you DO the rituals or compulsions you're telling your brain there's danger because you feel danger and it will not let go. If you fight them they will stay. Oddly you kind've have to not fight. You don't have to love them but don't fight. Just allow them.. for now to coexist in your mind. As nate says.. not doing it or holding off shows you're brain it isn't something you need to fear. You're safe. Also your brain doesn't know the difference between real danger or perceived danger (what you're dwelling on) so if you really want to help yourself.. for me too then we need to STOP ruminating about what's wrong, what could be wrong or about the past or future. The brain doesn't differentiate between real danger or a thought of it. Every time you notice yourself thinking bad thoughts.. change it immediately and think about a good memory. If you don't have one like I really don't.. because behind every good memory immediately comes a negative thought like I love me Daugher (but she hates me now). We must change the way we think. That's key and try to relax. Reinvent yourself. You got this. Me too. I started doing it and yes I've messed up this week but I'm done with this shit (sorry Nate). Instead of negative thoughts and if you can't think of a good memory start resighting things you're grateful for. Keep thinking about anything but ruminating about problems or ocd because continuously doing that will keep it. As long as you're alive There's hope. You have to just keep doing these steps until the are a new habit. It is my deepest desire that someone gets helped. It took me hours to write this. Eat healthy and exercise. I care.
Nathan is an AMAZING gift to the OCD community!
Yes we are BLESSED for having him doing these videos!
Couldn't be more true!😄
Fr
1000%
@@valerie963yes he is
I tried this method after suffering with OCD for 2+ years, within only a couple days of trying this method, my whole perspective changed and I’m already breaking the cycle, thanks a ton man, I owe you one
More power to you brother.....we will win one day
I hope you're still doing better...keep up the good work and never give up to any compulsions 💪🏻
This video is so great! I’ve been compulsive check free for over three days, I feel the urge to check but I keep on going until the rubber band snaps. Everybody reading this there is hope! You will get through this and you will beat it!!
3 DAYS! Way to go! You're so awesome!
Same here. 4 days already. Let's wait and see what will happen. I don't even ruminate to be honest. Never been this succesful lol
@@ocdandanxiety I relapsed almost one day free at this point tho
You guys make me think of leaving ocd like nofap. Thank you that’s actually a cool way of thinking of it.
I hope so I feel so helpless and out of control😢
I needed this video today. I literally feel like I’m about to explode. I’ve been getting the urge to check for something on Facebook that I’ve checked a million times before. I had an anxiety attack in the car, and threw up my lunch. This is so hard. I would not wish this feeling on anyone.
You've got this. I'm dealing with rocd. We'll be good.
@@MyNameIsZwei ❤️ sending you well wishes
You are not alone , we will win this battle .
You’ll be through it, I can relate but following his advice is really helpful and will be key to freedom
Me too .. for 11 years i check the same thing daily on facebook .. im tired
my biggest compulsion is looking at ocd recovery videos or looking at ocd related content so that it gives me the reassurance that its just ocd and its not real, I get it now
❤❤❤ It‘s so hard to have only mental compulsions because they can be so hard to detect. The other day I began ruminating without realizing it, I was convinced I was actively trying to avoid the compulsion and I ended up having an OCD attack. Bad days are unavoidable and relapsing is nothing to be ashamed of. When it feels like you are back to square 1, just remember that everything you’ve learned will help you get back up faster than before
So basically, almost all of the "treatment" I had for OCD in the early 2000s was just reinforcing it. Great job, doctors!
This is actually a really accurate description of how it feels
Thanks for sharing what you experience! Let's break the rubber band!
@@ocdandanxiety when I was in year 1, it felt like a string was attached to my back and if I walked around the tables one way, I had to go back round the same way or I felt a sort of tangling feeling but I can't remember how I stopped because it was so long ago
@@ocdandanxiety after 13 years you ve opened my eyes the way i should accept thoughts and to don t care about them. Agoraphobia stalked me for 13 years, and even with therapy it always came back because i always was learned to ignore the thoughts. Now i accept them even talk to them and say i don t care, no real danger is here, maybe yes but maybe not, you stay to the party or you can leave😁 And i m still working but i can see huge differences 😊 Thanks. I would love to see another video on the way you re showing to the thoughts we re the boss on Agoraphobia.
These videos literally make me breathe a sigh of relief even those the events sometimes did happen it’s the NEED TO CONFESS that is not true and I really just have to commit to not giving in it’s so hard and unbearable at times but I’m hoping with practice it’ll get better I was doing so well then just out of nowhere the compulsion part of it started getting to me again I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone I swear thank you for your videos.
How is it going?
You’re a gem man! Your advice is great for me as someone who gets into rumination due to OCD, finally being open with myself about it and following your advice is giving me the freedom I wanted.
Hey man I just wanted to say I’ve been having harmful intrusive thoughts and I’ve been watching your videos whenever I need reassurance that my mind is lying to me thank you so much
i always come back at this video when i am anxious! thanks so much for this video!!! it helps me a lot :)
i love your videos. i'm not where i want to be, but every time i watch one i'm reenergized to keep trying to get better.
Life is such a journey! I'm so glad you keep coming back to better yourself!
@@ocdandanxiety Hey Nathan i m suffering from ocd since almost 13yrs....Currently i m preparing for medical competative exam and my ocd had become worst since 4yrs... Everytime when i start studying i just keep finding solutions of my intrusive thoughts.. This ocd is killing me alive...I can't do study at home bcoz i don't get peaceful environment... i can't go to library as i am a loud reader and i can't afford rent room at this point....My ocd has worsen my educational status since 2,3 yrs...I can't afford any ocd therapy....Plz help me 🙏🙏
@@gayatrishimpi137 Same with me... Due to OCD I was unable to crack my NEET ...It was so worst that I had to quit my medical dreams... Honestly it got worst... I even tried to kill my self... But RN I learned to control it... And I continued my studies ( MBA).
Accept your thaught for once... it will fade away slowly.
i’ve watched these videos every time my urges to give into my compulsions increase. i can’t help but feel ashamed every time it gets bad again, it really does just consume your life. you really are a blessing and i’m very grateful for your channel.
Love this! We have so much more power than we may realize! Great analogy!
Thanks so much Chloe! 💜
I thought no one can understand me but here you're describing myself so clearly that even I can understand better😢
You are very helpful to those struggling every second 😊
Just saw this video for the first time
I'm gonna give it a try! I've been dealing with it for years and now its time to push myself.
Thank you
My grandma used to say “put a rubber and around your head and snap out of it” when anyone was overly upset about something 😂😂 She would definitely tell me that right now in response to my OCD. Thanks for reminding me!
I have multiple compulsions, locking doors at night or I think someone will break in a hurt my family, rubbing and picking at the skin on my face and scalp, I used to bite my nails, i clear my throat, I even subconsciously hit myself
hard in the hip until it bruises. I knew I had ocd but i thought compulsions were just my permanent quirk. I tried this excersize tonight of pushing back against the urges and wow. The peace that came over me after I fought through the immense discomfort. Haven't felt that in many years. Thank you!!
Awesome! I love it. I'll remember the rubber band each time I feel I have to do a compulsion. Thanks for this
I have OCD at 16, and I am generally a happy successful guy but this year I've been through stress like my best friends move out of school and at home issues, and it's triggered my OCD even more. I've always had it, but it's been worse. I think about what my life would be like if I looked like a certain person, what others think, suicide, unwanted thoughts, and much more. Thank you for your tips!
Thank you for always supporting us and cheering me up
I've been struggling my whole life with OCD attacks but never like the last several months. My brain has as a result of continued OCD induced upon itself brain fog and often times stops functioning and this method I am going to use to help myself.
Thank you for this video!! I've battled intrusive thoughts for nearly a year now and they've really gotten in the way of me being able to be happy and fully enjoy life. My compulsiom is to ruminate and I've previously spent over an hour every day trying to "figure out" my thoughts and no matter how much rumination I do, my brain keeps wanting more. Resisting the urge to spend hours trying to "solve" my intrusive thoughts is really hard, but I'm willing to experience short-term distress in exchange for long-term freedom. Wish me luck!!
@@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780 Aww thank you so much for commenting, I really appreciate it!! And thank you for the advice I appreciate that as well!! :)
I just want to say that from the first minute or two of the video this person expressed exactly what is going on in my brain much of the time. I have been trying to commit due to the help of my wife to not giving into the compulsions, but somehow acknowledging the kinds of thought processes that I go through on a daily basis has offered me additional strength. My wife has been my rock, but it’s very hard to lean on her all the time. I know she gets tired, so thank you so much for providing this additional help. I really needed this.
Great video. Also, man you told sold me on watching that other video at the end (even though I already watched it). You were extremely persuasive. I'm gonna use that same technique.
I had ocd but you helped Me to recover but the damage of ocd and wasted time is still there I wish nobody experience ocd
Thanks for sharing. I'm glad you're doing better. When we focus on today and what we're going to do to better our life, things get better.
So over this OCD shit. Just wanna go back to my normal self 😭🥺
I feel ya 😭😭
Best motivational video on youtube
I can avoid checking any other time of the day except before I go to sleep at night. Because if I don't check the door/ other stuff, the thought doesn't let me sleep😅
It IS easier than it was in the past, though. Not gone but easier. Your UA-cam channel has helped me a lot!
I don't pull away from the compulsion until it breaks. I gestalt my brain. I kind of interrupt myself. And I say something along the lines of, "It's okay, it's gone already. It's already over with." And I kind of relax, like I feel a moment of relief, and the rubberband kind of dissipates or disappears, and I forget about the compulsion, or whatever it is that's stressing me.
Basically I kinda take a deep breath, or a sharp inhale, and that's when I find the gestalt point in my mind. It's like a quiet center. Then when I exhale is when I feel the relief.
best explanation with what the ocd make you feel like
You have no idea how much the rubber band idea helped me. I have not been diagnosed, but have had debilitating, mind numbing anxiety related to doubt and ruminating thoughts for more than a month now that has literally made me lose 10 pounds from not eating because I'm sick. Its extremely scary, I don't know if I have it or not but this will help with the thoughts either way. Thank you so much.
This video helped, thanks. I have a music OCD. When I listen to a metal song, I feel the compulsion to note every riff, melody and chord. Only when I fully "get" the song in terms of which riff occurs where, do I move on. And after a few hours, I get an urge to again play the song to see if I remember where it's characteristic riffs occur. And I need to revisit albums I am tired of after many years to reassure myself I still like them.
The rubber band analogy helped me. I will stop giving into these compulsions.
This video gave me so much confidence today! God bless this man❤ hopefully I can overcome this one day
The rubber band analogy is AMAZING! Thank you!!! ❤
Thank you! 💜
Thank you so much for your support my friend. I hope you're doing well!
my compulsion is as simple as wanting to go back to a word i just wrote and make it look better or neater. this video along with the analogy(ies) really helped me look at my situation from a brand new perspective. thank you so much for this! ❤
I pray about being healed.. but that’s part of my daily devotion and discipline.
Thank you so much for everything you're doing. Can you make a video about self confidence while struggling with ocd? I've recently started medical school and need to learn how to trust myself and my abilities while battling ocd
You’ve already proven yourself very confident and intelligent by being able to get into MEDICAL SCHOOL, especially if you struggle with ocd! I think you’re fabulous!
Ive got the same situation, it’s an everyday struggle 😢💔
Im a nursing student and I have an Ocd.
@@user-hx7mi7ml8u thank you so much for saying this, i wish you the best ✨
@@marjoriejoytoquero4783 i know, just remember you're beautiful. The efforts nurses put in saving people is amazing. Thank you for being who you are. let's fight ocd and help people at the same time 🌱
Thank you for helping me. I'm suffering a lot!
Watching this right now to emotionally motivate me to not give in to my OCD. Thank you for this, it comforts me 💕
most amazing ocd perspective thank you
I love this analogy!!! Thank You so much. Your videos always help me out BH
This rubber band is so real,will think about it every Time for compulsion
Random comment, but I was watching this and my three month old was loving this video. She was laughing and trying to stand up, it was super cute.
Nathan could you do a full video on sleep anxiety, where you get anxiety about not falling asleep?
Check into the sleep coach school with Daniel Erichson. Super helpful with this. It’s hard I get it too but it’s getting better.
Hi, Nate. Started Lexapro today. I've been greatly struggling. I am hoping this is a new start. I hope it will bring my anxiety into a better range.
You got this ! It will get easier
Hey brotha! Idk who you are but I just wanted to say that I am very happy that your taking the step to seek help and do what you can to alleviate your anxiety! I believe in you to overcome it and you WILL.. I find what helped me overcome my anxiety was hitting the root cause of it and changing my perspective on how I saw the issue. I prioritize sleep, how I eat and getting sunlight everyday. Sunlight increases your serotonin levels and helps fight off Seasonal Affective Disorder. Be sure to meditate on things that bring peace to your mind for example it could be just meditating on the empty sky, the beach and the sound of the waves. All these things paired with lexapro will definitely help you overcome and treat/cure your anxiety 😊
you have helped me a lot , i love your energy
Thank you so much, this helps a ton! I definitely have been trying “not to” do my compulsions but have that reservation in the back of my head. I need to fully commit. I just get so so so uncomfortable, I’ve lived with my OCD untreated until 2 years ago, about 20 years 😭 when I feel this way I’m so overwhelmed I get stuck. And it seems like the rubber band won’t ever snap 😢
Am also suffering for 10 year
I feel the same 😭 lived with it for about 18 years. Just so so difficult to walk away when you’re convinced something is unlocked/switched on. Hoping it will get easier over time🙏🏼
I literally have this urge to do something that will hurt someone emotionally and I’m trying my hardest to just never do it at all. While watching this video, I even forgot about it then of course it comes back but I try to ignore those compulsions and it sometimes work. I’m trying to force myself to ignore and resist compulsions so my life gets easier and I’ll actually be able to resist and ignore with ease.
That's a cool analogy to think about. It's got me googling about material properties in a fun way.
Thank you SO MUCH ! this is so well explained , easy to understand and it helps me so much to see the rubber band snap 😅😢 thank you !!! Greetings from a Mexico !
two of my many therapists I've tried have told me to do this.
and if you're wondering, no, the search for a good therapist is still not going well
This was really helpful, thank you very much man
This video has helped me a couple of times now with ocd, it helps in the way of remembering things to think of in a certain way to get me stronger and more motivated to not do ocd stuff.
Video made me tear up, thank you so much for making me feel better
Really struggling. I have a theme around confronting people. If someone does something that is disrespectful to me, it makes me feel unsafe, and if I don't defend myself in the moment, my nervous system goes haywire. I had an interaction with the neighbor and with the landlord that are causing me agony. My brain is hammering me for weeks saying I need to confront them. The pressure in my nervous system and the anxiety is overwhelming and the intrusive thoughts just keep going and going. Other themes usually subside after a few hours. This is weeks. It makes me worried that I am misinterpreting this as OCD and it is actually my own inner intelligence that I need to stand up for myself and it is causing me harm by not listening to that.
Thank you for this video!
You’re the best sir thank you!!!!! Would love to make appointments with you if you offer any online !!!
Love this analogy, its easy to remember.
What about in Tourettic OCD being that the feeling is physical? PS: thanks for all you do!
You are great man thanks a lot for that.Really needed that
Amazing analogy 👏 👌... great work
Thanks so much! I appreciate your support!
So grateful for this🙌🏾
This is true, some compulsions kept trying to come back and get me to feel bad and want to confess but letting it go and ignoring them took months, however those compulsions now aren’t as strong when I think back to what they are from time to time. I learnt to put off compulsions and learnt that from Ali Greymonds youtube video about putting off your compulsions for minutes, hours, days, and months, it works, keep at it everyone.
I (HELPS HERE) never knew what it was when mine started so I thought I was crazy at first. I've had it SO long (started the final time February 1987) when it was only checking windows, doors and car locks. Because I was so intelligent I tried to outwit it but now it's every waking moment.. literally. I wake up and before I can open my eyes I think.. oh great this again (another full day of crap) then fall back to sleep over and over to avoid it. At least it's not while I'm sleeping anymore. I couldn't turn to my side at night without counting left to right and in the middle again. My entire family has abandoned me over it although they don't know what it is. I try to hide it but they knew something was wrong. My lovely daughter told me I'm crazy 3 months ago and shouldn't be able to live. Yep she said that. I have NO 1 single friend, no family and even though I'm not ugly I can't ever date while it's this bad. No one can move an inch or speak when I'm getting dressed or doing anything so I wouldn't want anyone I care about to have to live that way anyway. I just wish someone cared. It's OCDummyD crap just to go to the bathroom. It takes all day just to get dressed and eat once a day so I don't get much done. I haven't cooked in almost 2 years because it takes too much outta me. If I want to go in the front room for example I take 24 steps until I get to the doorway (threshold) swallow and say my name and another word then mine again while looking at my finger, shirt, name on the paper that's been in my hand since 1995, finger, wall straight ahead.. wall to the right the wall straight ahead. Then finger, shirt, word on paper, finger. Now I step in 4 steps (right left right left SWALLOW and say my name.. another name, my name while I look at my finger, shirt, name on the paper in my hand, finger, wall straight ahead.. wall to the right the wall straight ahead. Then finger, shirt, word on paper, finger. Then I am allowed to take 24 steps (repeat everything above yet again including swallowing.. take 4 steps and sit. At that point I have to swallow again, always saying my name, looking at everything in the same order then walls then me again. I run out of spit often so I stand in a doorway or wherever often getting mad as heck especially when I'm in a rush because I'm stuck and can't continue until I get some more saliva. Heaven forbid I have to pee. I have to reverse all those steps just to get to the bathroom and do it all to get back again. It takes at least 15 minutes when I'm doing good to go to the bathroom and return. It's very time consuming. Yesterday I kept messing up so I had to get redressed 4 times and it took an hour. It would've never gotten this bad had 1 person told me what it was when it first started. Once a doctor asked me if I'd seen a psychiatrist and I thought how rude and went home. I told him I'm not making it up and he let it go at that.. never elaborating. Had he bothered for a moment to tell me it's a thing.. I could've seeked out help and more than likely it would've never gotten this bad. But this fool kept it to himself (so helpful). He sure didn't care. It started when I was 23 and now I'm 59. An entire lifetime wasted and gone and I haven't even begun to live. I now believe that my purpose is to write a book about this. As bad as it is.. it's my hope to get better and help others. I would do anything to save someone from what I've gone through and still going through. I know people don't like talking about it but God says certain things like ask, believe receive and I've found the same words popping up in the world too. I don't care if they say there's no cure. I didn't always have ocd and I don't have it in my dreams. When I've prayed about this AND when I researched many things the same things pop up so I'll add them here. At first I thought they wouldn't be the answer but now I feel differently. FIRSTLY mindfulness meditation DOES get your mind off ocd and other issues. Next look up yoga nidra. It's like meditation but in a somewhat half asleep state and I almost fell out with disbelief that I was awake and realized last week that it was the first time in 20 years or more that I was awake but not thinking about OCDummyD for the entire yoga nidra session. Me.. not having any ocd or thoughts of any kind.. WHAT. Look up neuropathways. It explains how what we do and feel over and over is etched in our mind. The path of least resistance is where the mind goes. We have to make NEW habits and that means NOT doing the compulsions. My daughter being her usual know it all self once said "mom stop.. it's just a habit". I thought about that for a while and yes to a great degree it's a habit. I habitually do all my rituals all the time out of habit. So we need to do new things until they become new habits.. new neuropathways. When you think or do anything because you feel that it's a danger then your mind will keep it as It's trying to protect you. When you DO the rituals or compulsions you're telling your brain there's danger because you feel danger and it will not let go. If you fight them they will stay. Oddly you kind've have to not fight. You don't have to love them but don't fight. Just allow them.. for now to coexist in your mind. As nate says.. not doing it or holding off shows your brain it isn't something you need to fear. You're safe. Also your brain doesn't know the difference between real danger or perceived danger (what you're dwelling on). if you really want to help yourself.. me too then we need to STOP ruminating about what's wrong. Stop worrying what could be wrong. Stop worrying about the past or future. The brain doesn't differentiate between real danger or a thought of it. Every time you notice yourself thinking bad thoughts.. change it immediately and think about a good memory. If you don't have one like I really don't.. because behind every good memory immediately comes a negative thought like I love my Daugher (but she hates me now). We must change the way we think. That's key and try to relax. Reinvent yourself. You got this. Me too. I started doing it and yes I've messed up this week but I'm done with this shit (sorry Nate). Instead of negative thoughts and if you can't think of a good memory start resighting things you're grateful for. Keep thinking about anything but ruminating about problems or ocd because continuously doing that will keep it. As long as you're alive There's hope. You have to just keep doing these steps until they are a new habit. It is my deepest desire that someone gets helped. It took me hours to write this. Eat healthy and exercise helps. I care.
Thank you so much, your videos are really helpful 🧡🧡
Bless you i really hope your videos will help me to finally recover
Thankyou i love this, describing mi where i am💚🍊🌳
Thank you so much for this one
I have severe OCD and health anxiety. My compulsion is to constantly want to go to the doctor or the ER. I went to Med Express yesterday to get my ears checked, 3 days after I saw an ENT and they said I was fine! I should have been reassured by the ENT but I 'needed' to get looked at again. Med express then said I was fine but I still feel like there is something wrong with my ears and I want to get them checked again so badly. I won't give in to my compulsion at this time. I am committed and will challenge my constant self doubt. The anxiety is awful but I will journal and not give into the compulsion of reassurance. Thanks!
really good perspective ❤️
Thank you for putting these excellent videos together. I am an LCSW as well, and I'm excited to share these clips with my clients.
So awesome! Thanks for sharing!
@@ocdandanxiety sure thing! I've also published some mental health videos on my channel using physical activities to illustrate concepts, and this is inspiring me to continue putting helpful messages out there to help others. I'm super new to this, and so I'm very open to feedback if you are interested in checking it out!
During lockdown #1 (UK), I was all alone and developed what felt like OCD, but was likely “temporary” similar symptoms, but it caused compulsions of repeatedly checking my oven was off and my doors were locked at night.
One day I had a brainwave - I got my iPhone *and recorded myself locking the doors and turning off the oven at the wall* - I made this into a habit, and I continued it just to SHUT MY MIND UP, because subconsciously I KNEW my compulsions were defeated, because if I’d had any doubt (and I did a few times), I could say to myself _“LOOK, you have recorded it AND YOU KNOW you have as you always do - chill out”_
Well, in my specific situation IT WORKED. Maybe that could help someone. God bless you ☦️ ❤
I’ve read that lessening the amount of times you do a compulsion also helps. You don’t necessarily need to stop all at once. Do you agree?
Nathan and Ali greymond saved me!
God bless you Nathan!😭❤️🙏🏻You are The BEST.
I needed this💪
Thank you very much, could feel this video!😊
this is such a good analogy
Fantastic analogy 😀💪
THANK YOU! so important
Great video!!
How can I stop a compulsion that has become pretty much an instinct of mine? I have HOCD, and I constantly keep checking for attraction. It's not even that I have the urge to check, just looking at someone already makes me check. Like, if somebody asks me something, and I turn around to answer them, I subconsciously check.
This video helped me a lot. I started watching it when I had a great need to check and self-examine my testicles, this is my ocd, I know everything is ok because I did, it two days ago, but I wanted to do it again, I prepared myself for it, but I watched this video and I understood. I am in therapy, but psychodynamic, I understand where it comes from, but here I saw a real guide what to do. thank you, you helped me
Thank god for you 🙏❤
How to tell the difference between a real danger and an OCD thought? Having contamination OCD I don't want to expose myself to the harmful thing
I have just right OCD. I used to cross my eyes as a compulsion. I did it so much at one point that I got severe eye strain. I conquered it by doing it one last time in a controlled environment. I didn't get an urge to do it for 9 months.
However, crossing my eyes became an instant NO territory. I would have some discomfort seeing others cross their eyes, for fear it'd make me do it, and I told myself I'd never cross my eyes again, not even for a funny photo.
This Monday, I might've crossed my eyes a little bit on accident and this brought back the urge to cross them fully. I ended up giving in after my brain convinced me that I was now afraid to cross my eyes, and that I should conquer this fear by crossing my eyes once. I was so confused on what to do. Do I ignore it because it's a compulsion and if I do it once I'll do it many more times, or is the compulsion rather that I'm scared to cross my eyes and should conquer that? I went for it, aiming for just one crossing of the eyes, I really wanted to know the truth. Sadly, like I had predicted one crossing wasn't enough so I ended up doing 12, cutting it short.
What would the ERP be for this case?
I do it once and ignore every other urge, or do I not cross my eyes at all?
Thank you so so much to anyone who has an answer to my question. 💙
I don't know if you are still reading this. But the ERP could. Look something like this: Cross your eyes. But prevent any compulsion. No ruminating, no distraction. Nothing. Do it and get used to the feeling that comes with it.
@@Kwioresma Thank you 💙
Pls sir make videos on ocd on daily basis we follow your lectures religiously
Thank you so much for this
He's helping me a lot❤🎉
Thank you so much ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Your amazing, your videos help alot.
Hi Nat, how do I stop falling into the trap thinking my OCD is gone for good? When this happens I think it's cured and I stop ERP. Then it comes back worse than ever. It just really felt like it was GONE for good.
Can you please do a video on phobias and hiw to overcome them?I have this strong fear of paranormal stuff at night time and have been getting anxiety attacks for months on it its also mixed with religious ocd i guess.Anyways i enjoy your channel and videos and hope u talk about this.
Hey Nathan i m suffering from ocd since almost 13yrs....Currently i m preparing for medical competative exam and my ocd had become worst since 4yrs... Everytime when i start studying i just keep finding solutions of my intrusive thoughts.. This ocd is killing me alive...I can't do study at home bcoz i don't get peaceful environment... i can't go to library as i am a loud reader and i can't afford rent room at this point....My ocd has worsen my educational status since 2,3 yrs...I can't afford any ocd therapy....Plz help me 🙏🙏
Check out Ali Greymond on UA-cam. She makes a lot of high quality videos explaining ocd and how to deal with them
What things does your OCD or Anxiety want you to do? 🤔
Ruminating is my worst compulsion, still waiting for that rubber band to break but I’m getting better and better at refusing to ruminate :)
@@yaramoersan8719 @Yara Moersan You're awesome! Thanks for sharing! Rumination is difficult! don't give up!
I think I have real event OCD. Just watched your video because I searched on why I still feel so guilty with what I did years ago. I was an officer in an organization and I disciplined them one time. One person cried because she thought I embarassed her in front of the people, I also cried and said sorry that day. That happened last 2018 I think. I saw her tiktok earlier and had the urge to message her saying sorry and she forgot about it and don't remember me at all. I still doubt if her replies were sincere and I still feel guilty about it. Now I'm worrying of her thinking I'm so weird and will tell her friends🙃
Ruminating, asking forums; mentally just trying to figure my sexuality out. I’m at wits end. I try to commit I try to not engage but then my head says I’m going to miss the truth if I don’t engage!
I never knew what it was READ ON when mine started so I thought I was crazy at first. I've had it SO long (started the final time February 1987) when it was only checking windows, doors and car locks. Because I was so intelligent I tried to outwit it but now it's every waking moment.. literally. I wake up and before I can open my eyes I think.. oh great this again (another full day of crap) then fall back to sleep over and over to avoid it. At least it's not while I'm sleeping anymore. I couldn't turn to my side at night without counting left to right and in the middle again. My entire family has abandoned me over it although they don't know what it is. I try to hide it but they knew something was wrong. My lovely daughter told me I'm crazy 3 months ago and shouldn't be able to live. Yep she said that. I have NO 1 single friend, no family and even though I'm not ugly I can't ever date while it's this bad. No one can move an inch or speak when I'm getting dressed or doing anything so I wouldn't want anyone I care about to have to live that way anyway. I just wish someone cared. It's OCDummyD crap just to go to the bathroom. It takes all day just to get dressed, eat once a day so I don't get much done. I haven't cooked in almost 2 years because it takes too much outta me. If I want to go in the front room for example I take 24 steps until I get to the doorway (threshold) swallow and say my name and another word then mine again while looking at my finger, shirt, name on the paper that's been in my hand since 1995, finger, wall straight ahead.. wall to the right the wall straight ahead. Then finger, shirt, word on paper, finger. Now I step in 4 steps (right left right left SWALLOW and say my name.. another name, my name while I look at my finger, shirt, name on the paper in my hand , finger, wall straight ahead.. wall to the right the wall straight ahead. Then finger, shirt, word on paper, finger. Then I am allowed to take 24 steps (repeat everything above yet again including swallowing.. take 4 steps and sit. At that point I have to swallow again, always saying my name, looking at everything in the same order then walls then me again. I run out of spit often so I stand in a doorway of wherever often getting mad as heck especially when I'm in a rush because I'm stuck and can't continue until I get some more saliva. Heaven forbid I have to pee. I have to reverse all those steps just to get to the bathroom and do it all to get back again. It takes at least 15 minutes when I'm doing good to go to the bathroom and return. It's very time consuming. Yesterday I kept messing up so I had to get redressed 4 times and it took an hour. It would've never gotten this bad had 1 person told me what it was when it first started. Once a doctor asked me if I'd seen a psychiatrist and I thought how rude and went home. I told him I'm not making it up and he let it go at that.. never elaborating. Had he bothered for a moment to tell me it's a thing.. I couldn't seeked out help and more than likely it would've never gotten this bad. But this fool kept it to himself (so helpful). He sure didn't care. It started when I was 23 and now I'm 59. An entire lifetime wasted and gone and I haven't even begun to live. I'm emotionally younger than my age because I haven't had the chance to be very social. I now believe that my purpose is to write a book about this. As bad as it is.. it's my hope to get better and help others. I would do anything to save someone from what I've gone through and still going through. I know people don't like talking about it but God says certain things like ask, believe receive and I've found the same words popping up in the world too. I don't care if they say there's no cure. I didn't always have ocd and I don't have it in my dreams. When I've prayed about this AND when I researched many things the same things pop up so I'll add them here. At first I thought they wouldn't be the answer but now I feel differently. FIRSTLY mindfulness meditation DOES get your mind off ocd and other issues. Next look up yoga nidra. It's like meditation but in a somewhat half asleep state and I almost fell out with disbelief that I was awake and realized last week that it was the first time in 20 years or more that I was awake but not thinking about OCDummyD for the entire yoga nidra session. Me.. not having any ocd or thoughts of any kind.. WHAT. Look up neuropathways. It explains how what we do and feel over and over is etched in our mind. The path of least resistance is where the mind goes. We have to make NEW habits and that means NOT doing the compulsions. My daughter being her usual know it all self once said "mom stop.. it's just a habit". I thought about that for a while and yes it is alot a habit. I habitually do all my rituals all the time out of habit. So we need to do new things until they become new habits.. new neuropathways. When you think or do anything because you feel that it's a danger then your mind will keep it. It's trying to protect you. When you DO the rituals or compulsions you're telling your brain there's danger because you feel danger and it will not let go. If you fight them they will stay. Oddly you kind've have to not fight. You don't have to love them but don't fight. Just allow them.. for now to coexist in your mind. As nate says.. not doing it or holding off shows you're brain it isn't something you need to fear. You're safe. Also your brain doesn't know the difference between real danger or perceived danger (what you're dwelling on) so if you really want to help yourself.. for me too then we need to STOP ruminating about what's wrong, what could be wrong or about the past or future. The brain doesn't differentiate between real danger or a thought of it. Every time you notice yourself thinking bad thoughts.. change it immediately and think about a good memory. If you don't have one like I really don't.. because behind every good memory immediately comes a negative thought like I love me Daugher (but she hates me now). We must change the way we think. That's key and try to relax. Reinvent yourself. You got this. Me too. I started doing it and yes I've messed up this week but I'm done with this shit (sorry Nate). Instead of negative thoughts and if you can't think of a good memory start resighting things you're grateful for. Keep thinking about anything but ruminating about problems or ocd because continuously doing that will keep it. As long as you're alive There's hope. You have to just keep doing these steps until the are a new habit. It is my deepest desire that someone gets helped. It took me hours to write this. Eat healthy and exercise. I care.
Good one. Thanks!