same problems here. i always feel like im going to miss some important details so i push myself harder to catch them. then i realize i don't even understand the basic storyline. so i always keep re reading. if i don't re-read i feel anxious. and don't know what to do :(
I get this too, but with writing and video games. Ocd made me quit video games and writing for good. I was spending days on end planning stories and detailing character looks and whatever. It made me wanna kill myself with how much it took control. And with games I was modding all day and when I did play, I would be dissatisfied and restart the whole process over again. I haven’t got this with reading as much. My advice is ignore the thoughts and compulsions, just read and enjoy, ignore your brain and finish the chapter and move on. Focus on the current moment and don’t worry about the other stuff. God bless you, sister, I have this issue as well. I know how it can Get. It comforts me to know that I’m not alone
I have had this same exact problem and still have it now. I have always been a big reader since I was about 3 and now my mum is having to tell me to read when she actually used to have to tell me to stop reading for a bit. I was such a big reader that I even need glasses. I have to re-read sentences over and over and even then it still doesn't sink into my brain properly. I am now very slow at reading trying to catch every single detail and if I don't I get anxious and have to re-read. I am now only able to read about half a page before I get so anxious and worked up I need to stop. A few years ago I also had a habit of counting how many lines were in each paragraph and I wouldn't take in what was happening. In school when I have to read for ten minutes I read one page and then stop and stare into space because I virtually can't bring myself to read. It's something I've always loved to do and now I feel I've lost what used to be my own little world because of this stupid OCD.
@@spencerfreebairn9346 It's horrible, isn't it! Thankfully now I can read somewhat normally again, although there will be times when it creeps back just to taunt me. It took a year and a half, but I finally beat it I guess I can say! Sadly i still do have other compulsions that don't involve reading but I'm slowly getting there. I'm sure you will too!
I have this problem. It does suck. I have an English degree, so reading is not something that's been out of the ordinary for me. I have OCD in this and other areas, especially an obsession with keeping things organized (I take after my mother). My reading OCD was been with me for about 3 years. It's exactly as you describe it, text won't register in my mind, I'll read sentences over and over and over again before they stick. I've always read with a voice in my head and I tend to move my lips in order to 'hear' the words, so it gets to a point where the voice is screaming at me! Nowadays I can only read 9-10 pages of a book in an hour and I feel tired afterwards. It's said that computers are changing the way we're seeing and reading words. I work on computers all of the time, so I can see how this might happen. We read computer text differently than printed text because of how it's organized and there are a lot of distractions with links, video, etc. I hope you pull through it. I'm making efforts to get rid of this but I honestly haven't gotten much better. :(
Thanks for your comment. Sorry to hear you're going through it as well. I don't have much to offer in the way of advice, but I hope it gets better for you.
I can't express how emotional I got while watching your video. I have been struggling with reading OCD for years and there was so little information about it on the internet that it took me so long to realize what it was. Thank you so much for shedding light on this! As for me, my reading OCD started around grade 10 when I was trying to read 50 books in a year, and it originated as me feeling like it wouldn't count unless I truly read & understood every single word, so it started with common but abstract words like "was", "is", "the", and "said". I am finishing my third year of undergrad as an English major, and it is hard not to feel like a fraud when I have only fully read (like actually finished) maybe one book in my entire 3 years. I'm doing really well in the program though so tbh fake it 'til you make it I guess! I find reading out loud helps a lot though! I would say I can get through about 15-25 pages before it really slows down my reading and tires me out, but when I read out loud I can get to 40-50 before becoming mentally exhausted!
wow i so relate with the abstract words thing. i get stuck in such unremmarkable words that i just can picture, the more abstract the word is the hardest bc it helps me to stop rereading when i can actually picture and feel what the character feels like but if it's an abstract word then... well good luck
Thank you for posting this video. I have always loved books but it's such a struggle to read lately. I had no idea so many other people struggled with it too.
I can’t believe I found this community. I started therapy today to discuss this issue because I really thought it was so unique and rare that I couldn’t solve it on my own. I understand completely what you’re explaining and it can truly be debilitating when it comes to emails and text messages. My OCD started to manifest into this around 1.5-2 years ago... hoping to get it all straightened out soon. Hang in there!!!!!
I can't even tell how much I hate it. I keep re-readind the same sentence when reading a book for about 3 times, because my brain says so. It's also so hard to concentrate when I hear any kind of noise. Any advice on how to make it easier? :\
Thanks for commenting. I don't really have much to give in the way of advice, but one trick I've heard people mention is covering what you last read with a piece of paper so you can't re-read it.
I have OCD. Yeah it affected my reading, and i know it really hurts. BUT. It's curable! You just have to face your ultimate reading fear: Read and understand every phrase-word of the text! so the solution is: NEVER REREAD. When i say NEVER, i mean NEVER. Not even a phrase, a word. It's FORBIDDEN. Always keep on! your concentration will move from the Ocd Thoughts to the "text and reading flow". And you ll see that when you become concentrated to the plot's flow, you ll be in controll of the thoughts you want or you dont want to listen to. It needs exercise and hard commitment. But at the end you ll be again fine. And always remember: DONT ANSWER TO THE THOUGHTS. P.S. EVERYBODY IN READING (I m not talking about studying a text for school) IS OVERSEEING WORDS, PHRASES et cetera. It's completely natural! I hope it helps. It really helped me.
As I was reading you said not to reread, not even a word and I started reading your whole comment without rereading and i'm literally crying for reading about 10 lines without rereading, it's so much anxiety. but also, i could do it, so that's great :) i've been doing this for about 4 years now and just now i'm thinking i might have ocd. thank u for your comment :) i'll try to do what you advice
@@celiasaiz3786 im so gladd that it helped!! Much love !!! And dont worry , OCD is curable !!!! It might get tough sometimes but dont forget the deepest dark is just before the dawn !! Much love!!
@@TheParisthething thank you so much for you comments!! They're really helpful :) it makes me very happy to know that it's curable and that it can get better. Thank you again 😊 I'll do my best to get through it, lots of love to you too!! 🤗
You have no idea how true this rings for me. Thanks for sharing~~after struggling for so long with re-reading sentences, trying to squeeze every bit of meaning out of them and thinking perhaps there’s something I missed, I decided to search “reading OCD” to see if anybody else has the same type, as I was sure they must. Up popped your video. Many thanks again, nice to know you’re not alone, you know!
I'm speechless that this is a real condition, I used to read a lot back in high school and stopped roughly around A levels. I recently got back into it last year but I noticed I was much slower, constantly rereading sentences, or going back to previous pages. When before I could read a standard 200-300 page book in a few days, now it takes me a month and it's so frustrating because I crave stories, and this problem makes reading such a struggle when it's meant to be a form of relaxation. It's hard when you've made a list of all the books you really want to read, and then realizing you can't properly enjoy them now. It makes me wonder if I didn't stop reading back then, would this issue even crop up. Thank you for sharing your experiences, it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
thank you for your comment! i definitely relate, reading just doesn't come as naturally to me anymore. I try to make the effort to read, but it *is* an effort, you know? i hope reading gets easier for you. :)
@@shaylerish_ thank you for taking the time to reply! I also agree about the feel of trying to memorise the words, maybe it's triggered from reading textbooks/education who knows...thank you, I hope reading becomes easier for you too
I’ve had the same problem since I was a child but it got way worse this year. I’m an executive assistant and I read emails and schedule appointments everyday. It gets really frustrating when I know I have a lot of pending emails to go through and I can’t move on from a single email without rereading it at least 20 times and checking calendars multiple times to make sure I scheduled the appointment correctly. It’s great to know that I’m not the only one going through this. I live in the Philippines and it’s hard to look for a professional who can help me. So thank you for making this video and for everyone in the comments for sharing your experiences!!!
My reading OCD started in high school and I remember crying so badly when I had exams coming up. I didn't understand it and thought I was the only one who had this. For me, I think it stems from anxiety as it usually kicks in when I'm reading important things like for an exam, or at work etc. Sometimes I hold my breath when I'm stuck at a word, and I have to remind myself to breathe. I loved reading when I was young, and I'm starting to try to get over this fear of reading again. When you're stuck, remember to take deep breaths. That helps me.
I've had this condition for 5 years in my life and the only way that I handled it is I did the opposite of what the ocd wants you to do. And remember if you actually have ocd this condition is not curable it and only be contained.
OCD/Autistic re-reading sucks. It turns something that should be fun and relaxing into an exhausting chore. I had to stop reading almost completely for a year because having to slowly read everything out loud and several times over to make sure I fully understand is very stressful and ruined my favourite activity. I'm slowly easing back into it now by only sub-vocalising and forcing myself to only read a sentence once and move on, but I still get caught up in compulsive loops sometimes and it's very stressful and tiring. Just hope I improve before I start studying again...
Ps. Keep making videos, i have a channel under another account with 1,000s of subs and the key is to keep at it when you have something to say, share it. I found this video helpful. I read alot for work and im constantly re reading, worrying if i wont remember something etc, i get anxious and stop breathing whilst reading.. i have bad OCD. So seeing someone else with the same is good
I have the same reading OCD problem (together with other forms of ocd). This illness just seems very dumb but it is quiet frustrating. I love reading and OCD has made it very hard for me to pick up a book. However, I’m not giving up. On the contrary, I push myself to read and I feel I’m getting better. Also, we need to remember that we will have bad days and good days. There are times where I have little urge to re read and days that are tough. I have had all forms of OCD and the fact is that this godforsaken illness changes all the time. But the core problem is the same. It’s all in the biology of our screwed up brain 😞
You're right, pushing ourselves to read anyway is the best thing we can do. I definitely have some days where it's more of a struggle to take in what's happening, but I won't let myself be defeated. :)
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I'm also struggling with reading OCD and this video, plus the comments below, definitely brought some comfort. Best wishes to you and to everyone dealing with this!
For my whole life, I’ve thought that I was the slowest reader (yes I’ve been struggling with this for as long as I can remember but it got even worse in the past 4 years) and I’m desperate trying to overcome this. My mom and my friends won’t take me seriously and would just tell me to “stop rereading” (wow.. I’ve NEVER thought of that 😒) but like no one relates to my condition and I’m so glad I at least found people who also suffer the same things as I do. Like I feel like I belong somewhere and I have somewhere to start but I honestly don’t know how I could start to combat this stupid condition. Like it’s making it rly rly hard to even get thru school reading and I’m having trouble keeping up with my hard coursework. At the moment, I’m also doing my drivers ed, and it’s so difficult to get through one single paragraph coz I keep rereading so If anyone see this, please, I need every and all advice I can get.
Hi i absolutely relate to this. a 100%. i don't know if i might have ocd but it seems like i might with this. what i've read is that the most common therapy for ocd in general is about not giving in to your compulssions (rereading) but also not cutting that out of your life ( don't stop reading for good). it feels super scary for me to try and not reread and face all the anxiety it creates but i think we have to face that (i'm not saying its easy at all, i'm not sure if i'm even ready for it) some people say you can cover what you've read with a paper for example, or i also want to try audiobooks. I hope this helps in some way but i can't really for good recommendo you anything bc i, in the same possition as you are, good luck!!!!!!!
hi i know it's been two years but thank u for this video. i've always been an avid reader but i've been struggling with rereading for about 4 years now. just recently i started thinking it might be ocd and it's super helpful to see that what's making it so hard to read for me has a name and i'm not alone with it
Same issue. I hate it so much. Once I’ve read something over and over I memorize it and once I’ve memorize it becomes even harder to actually read it because I think to myself “well you’re just memorizing it and not reading it” so it’ll take me 50 to 100 times to get something or 30 mins to an hour. I’ve given up on books because it’s not worth the mental stress and time. There’s no rhyme or reason to it though, some things I’ll read just fine others will stop me in my tracks. The most upsetting thing though is I just had a daughter and I can’t read to her.
Don't give up! I know it's exhausting, but you really will lose practise with it if it's not something you're doing regularly. I hope it gets easier for you eventually.
I have this and thankfully you shared this video. I had books I gave up on because I would be sweating trying just to finish a page. It's the same with watching TV I use subtitles but I get drawn in to it and repeat the subtitles aswel. It's a struggle but maybe try head'space or read HARRY BARRY books. He's an Irish author/Doctor I haven't started the books yet but hesdspace 10 day trial was hard because the OCD kicked in.
I have OCD and find reading hard also, albeit for slightly different reasons. Primarily because sitting still and reading means my mind is more vulnerable to my intrusive thoughts, and the content of the book I’m reading may also trigger these thoughts. I think you are right that we just have to plough on with reading rather than giving up reading altogether. Do you keep a journal at all? I’m thinking of starting one to help consolidate my thoughts. Thanks for your video. I appreciated the sponsorship gag btw.
Thanks for your comment! I don't keep a journal; I have a few times in the past but I've just never stuck with it. I definitely relate to having certain topics in books mess with my OCD. Blindness is a big worry for me, and every time it comes up in a book my brain goes a little haywire. I hope reading gets easier for you.
I always reread sentences when i dont read them with the same rrythm i breathe.. It all started like 3 years ago.. I used to be the best greek reader in my class, and im not even greek.
i have the same problem. But it almost only happens when i read a difficult book. When i read a news paper article i can plough through it easy. But when i read a philosophy book then i have the same problem as u! ( however sometimes i think i just have a lazy brain. I mean why does it only happen when i read something difficult) what should we do about this? i have thought about going to a Dr. and getting pills. But i am afraid. I have thought about cbd cannabis? i have heard several good things about lowering anxiety, but in the end i don't now because where i live cannabis is ilegal, and no one sells cbd cannabis in the black market. Can some one help? any suggestion is welcome.
ADHD and OCD often occur together because the underlying cause of both is the same and that's inhibitory control deficit. i advise you to buy learning breakthrough program kit and do the exercises twice each day for three years. i know it's too much but at least try it for a year and see it yourself about how life changing it can be. learning breakthrough program uses physical exercise to change key brain areas responsible for inhibitory control/executive function. Good Luck!
There isn't a cure, unfortunately. Just keep reading, and as hard as it is, don't let yourself reread passages. You could try covering parts you've already read with paper, so you physically can't go back and reread them?
This is exactly the issue I'm having. In fact, I haven't found myself displaying such obsessive tendencies during any other activity except while reading and while coming across mathematic calculations. I find that my problem worsens when I sleep poorly. And sometimes I feel like I sleep poorly because of the stress arising from the problem. Is this the case for others? Has anyone who's had this successfully overcome or managed the issue? If so, any tips? Another interesting thing is, I'm a cricket journalist and editing articles is part of what I do. Strangely, I read effortlessly then. It's only when I'm trying to read recreationally that this compulsion arises.
yes!! for me is also when i'm trying to read for enjoyment when it kicks in, it's terrible (i'm just figuring out this is what happens to me so i can't give you ant advice :( i think stopping the complusion and just sitting with the anxiety but not rereading helps but it feels really scary to do) i hope it gets better!
@@celiasaiz3786 That sucks. A positive update from my side is that the issue has become less severe and less frequent. I think what helped me is improving my overall health and overall routine. Exercise, good nutrition - no refined carbs and refined sugar, and good sleep. At least for me, just focusing on overcoming the symptom didn't work. Like all other mental health issues, this one can be improved significantly by a wholesome, healthful lifestyle. I hope this can be of help to you.
@@minimalisthealth Hi, I'm so glad it's gotten better!! Yes, I absolutely understand what you mean, a healthy lifestyle always, always helps. I think I will try and excersise more frequently than I do now. Thank you so much! 😊
It really makes you tired:( I’ve had this problem for about 3 years now, it all started when I was preparing for exams, I was just reading really long paragraphs and had to memorize the information in it, and those paragraphs put so much pressure on me lol, and boom smth happened and ta-dam it worsened my ability to read. It’s the most stupid thing, I was that child who started to read very early, I guess at the age of 4-5 and my speed of reading was fastest in the class, now I suffer from OCD and can't read properly, nice 👍
It's a subtype of perfection OCD, the key is do the opposite of what your compulsion is telling you to do, so if you feel like you are not going to understand the text or you are going to miss out on words or whatever may be the thought, then purposefully skip words, paragraphs, sentences while reading non critical material( not study or work related) . Always make a diligent effort to not re read sentences and never avoid reading. Build up to this practise and eventually your symptoms will loose grip on you.
I experience something very similar to what you described.. I finally found someone who has such close manifestation of OCD and attention and such.. do you have any insight about getting better? Thank you!
I think therapy is beneficial, if that's an option for you. If not, realizing your brain is just trying to bully you and pushing past those thoughts that are trying to impede you is a small thing you can do. My OCD does hinder me a lot, but I've continued reading and have actually read a decent number of books this year in an effort to overcome it. You have to push onwards to get to the greener grass on the other side. I hope this made sense 😅
Yes re reading the paragraph more than onve in case I have not understood everything make this process of reading very complex. So I read 1or 2 pages a day.
hola a todos, yo también padezco de ocd reading hace 10 años atrás apareció de la nada, me dificulta mucho en los estudios. Alguien ha podido superar esto y si tiene algo de información?
hola, me pasa lo mismo, estoy descubriendo ahora que el toc de lectura existe así que no tengo ningún consejo comprobado pero por lo visto resulta útil evitar releer aunque eso te agobie muchísimo, quizás leer tapando con un papel lo que ya has leído o alguna estrategia así. sé que suena horrible porque si relees es porque tu cerebro te lo está pidiendo pero parece ser que le funciona a alguna gente. espero que vaya a mejor :)
How is this for you these days? Came back to this video, and it rings true still. You articulate it so perfectly; you really are helping people with this. :) The memorization thing is a good point. I used to think it’s because I played in much theatre in high school, that I had to cram whole Shakespearean roles into my brain at that time~~so perhaps my brain got in a routine of needing to retain everything. It remains a mystery. :) Thanks again.
Thanks for the kind words, and for checking in! For me, it varies day to day - some days I can read pretty fluently with little-to-no issue, and other days it's like wading through quicksand. I've read 32 books this year though, so it's worth pushing through.
The big things for me right now are going blind or ingesting something dangerous. I've started getting more into skincare and with that comes a big fear of getting product into my eyes. I'm also nervous to do things like drink water after putting on deodorant - in my mind, the 'essence' of the deodorant will be passed from my hands to the straw and I might end up ingesting it and dying. Luckily most OCD thoughts, like the ones that tell me I need to blink ten times or my family will die, I'm able to ignore for the most part. But I still give myself weird little restrictions, like not 'giving myself permission' to go to certain websites until some arbitrary time or until I've done some arbitrary thing. Sounds bizarre but that's OCD for you 😅
You’re right there, that is OCD for you. :) It always is a bit weird trying to explain them to people who don’t have these urges~~it’s hard to make the urgency or severity come across I’ve found. I used to have to have a “good thought” before turning off light switches, going through doorways, etc. Nowadays it has more to do with my health, specifically my heart. I can get preoccupied trying to keep it “on a good place”, sometimes with repetitive touch. Oy. I can understand the concern with one’s health, seems to be something shared. Thanks for sharing!
„If you want something, you need to give up what you like“ That’s the solution. Stop care about understanding every detail of every book. You are giving books to much value.
Please look for professional help. Might be expensive, but life is more important. Share with your parents. There is a cognitive-behavioural therapy. Specific branch called ERP. Exposure response prevention. Science is in agreement that this therapy is gold standard for OCD. Don't wait any longer and be optimistic. Good luck and thanks for sharing.
My ocd affect my reading so much. I keep re-reading sentences but also the sounds of words and repeating it
Same I have to read the words exactly how there spelled even if it’s a sound like in a comic book or manga
You are not alone my friend. I have the same compulsions. Ocd is a lier. It is not true. You can go past the discomfort. You can.
same problems here. i always feel like im going to miss some important details so i push myself harder to catch them. then i realize i don't even understand the basic storyline. so i always keep re reading. if i don't re-read i feel anxious. and don't know what to do :(
Ignore it and anxiety will go down by itself and keep doing it eventually there will be barely any anxiety
SAME.
Everyone thinks it's just laziness :(
even my psychologist and psychiatrist
I get this too, but with writing and video games.
Ocd made me quit video games and writing for good. I was spending days on end planning stories and detailing character looks and whatever. It made me wanna kill myself with how much it took control. And with games I was modding all day and when I did play, I would be dissatisfied and restart the whole process over again.
I haven’t got this with reading as much. My advice is ignore the thoughts and compulsions, just read and enjoy, ignore your brain and finish the chapter and move on. Focus on the current moment and don’t worry about the other stuff.
God bless you, sister, I have this issue as well. I know how it can Get. It comforts me to know that I’m not alone
I have had this same exact problem and still have it now. I have always been a big reader since I was about 3 and now my mum is having to tell me to read when she actually used to have to tell me to stop reading for a bit. I was such a big reader that I even need glasses. I have to re-read sentences over and over and even then it still doesn't sink into my brain properly. I am now very slow at reading trying to catch every single detail and if I don't I get anxious and have to re-read. I am now only able to read about half a page before I get so anxious and worked up I need to stop. A few years ago I also had a habit of counting how many lines were in each paragraph and I wouldn't take in what was happening. In school when I have to read for ten minutes I read one page and then stop and stare into space because I virtually can't bring myself to read. It's something I've always loved to do and now I feel I've lost what used to be my own little world because of this stupid OCD.
Sorry to hear that, though I can definitely relate. I hope it gets easier for you.
I think you’re me
@@spencerfreebairn9346 It's horrible, isn't it! Thankfully now I can read somewhat normally again, although there will be times when it creeps back just to taunt me. It took a year and a half, but I finally beat it I guess I can say! Sadly i still do have other compulsions that don't involve reading but I'm slowly getting there. I'm sure you will too!
@@adriannablair3885 Did you therapy? Have you been diagnosed with Reading OCD?
I have this problem. It does suck.
I have an English degree, so reading is not something that's been out of the ordinary for me. I have OCD in this and other areas, especially an obsession with keeping things organized (I take after my mother). My reading OCD was been with me for about 3 years. It's exactly as you describe it, text won't register in my mind, I'll read sentences over and over and over again before they stick. I've always read with a voice in my head and I tend to move my lips in order to 'hear' the words, so it gets to a point where the voice is screaming at me! Nowadays I can only read 9-10 pages of a book in an hour and I feel tired afterwards.
It's said that computers are changing the way we're seeing and reading words. I work on computers all of the time, so I can see how this might happen. We read computer text differently than printed text because of how it's organized and there are a lot of distractions with links, video, etc.
I hope you pull through it. I'm making efforts to get rid of this but I honestly haven't gotten much better. :(
Thanks for your comment. Sorry to hear you're going through it as well. I don't have much to offer in the way of advice, but I hope it gets better for you.
@@shaylerish_ Thanks for saying that. I have my good days and my bad.
please look at my comment above and write a reply to me if u have any suggestion
I have the same behavior too. am I ocd?
How can we overcome this?
I can't express how emotional I got while watching your video. I have been struggling with reading OCD for years and there was so little information about it on the internet that it took me so long to realize what it was. Thank you so much for shedding light on this!
As for me, my reading OCD started around grade 10 when I was trying to read 50 books in a year, and it originated as me feeling like it wouldn't count unless I truly read & understood every single word, so it started with common but abstract words like "was", "is", "the", and "said". I am finishing my third year of undergrad as an English major, and it is hard not to feel like a fraud when I have only fully read (like actually finished) maybe one book in my entire 3 years. I'm doing really well in the program though so tbh fake it 'til you make it I guess!
I find reading out loud helps a lot though! I would say I can get through about 15-25 pages before it really slows down my reading and tires me out, but when I read out loud I can get to 40-50 before becoming mentally exhausted!
Thank you for your comment! I really appreciate that the video resonated with you 😊
wow i so relate with the abstract words thing. i get stuck in such unremmarkable words that i just can picture, the more abstract the word is the hardest bc it helps me to stop rereading when i can actually picture and feel what the character feels like but if it's an abstract word then... well good luck
@@celiasaiz3786 hi its been one year since you commented this. I wanna ask have you cured yourself? Asking ths cuz i m facing the same problem
Thank you for posting this video. I have always loved books but it's such a struggle to read lately. I had no idea so many other people struggled with it too.
I also suffer from re reading compulsion. I have other checking compulsion also.
I can’t believe I found this community. I started therapy today to discuss this issue because I really thought it was so unique and rare that I couldn’t solve it on my own. I understand completely what you’re explaining and it can truly be debilitating when it comes to emails and text messages. My OCD started to manifest into this around 1.5-2 years ago... hoping to get it all straightened out soon. Hang in there!!!!!
Hope it goes well for you! :)
I can't even tell how much I hate it. I keep re-readind the same sentence when reading a book for about 3 times, because my brain says so. It's also so hard to concentrate when I hear any kind of noise. Any advice on how to make it easier? :\
Thanks for commenting. I don't really have much to give in the way of advice, but one trick I've heard people mention is covering what you last read with a piece of paper so you can't re-read it.
@@shaylerish_ Thank you. Have you tried that?
You can use earplug for noise.
I'm so glad I found this video, because I think what you're explaning is super similar to my experience... Thank you for sharing
Glad I could help!
I have OCD. Yeah it affected my reading, and i know it really hurts. BUT. It's curable! You just have to face your ultimate reading fear: Read and understand every phrase-word of the text! so the solution is: NEVER REREAD. When i say NEVER, i mean NEVER. Not even a phrase, a word. It's FORBIDDEN. Always keep on! your concentration will move from the Ocd Thoughts to the "text and reading flow". And you ll see that when you become concentrated to the plot's flow, you ll be in controll of the thoughts you want or you dont want to listen to. It needs exercise and hard commitment. But at the end you ll be again fine. And always remember: DONT ANSWER TO THE THOUGHTS. P.S. EVERYBODY IN READING (I m not talking about studying a text for school) IS OVERSEEING WORDS, PHRASES et cetera. It's completely natural! I hope it helps. It really helped me.
As I was reading you said not to reread, not even a word and I started reading your whole comment without rereading and i'm literally crying for reading about 10 lines without rereading, it's so much anxiety. but also, i could do it, so that's great :) i've been doing this for about 4 years now and just now i'm thinking i might have ocd. thank u for your comment :) i'll try to do what you advice
@@celiasaiz3786 im so gladd that it helped!! Much love !!! And dont worry , OCD is curable !!!! It might get tough sometimes but dont forget the deepest dark is just before the dawn !! Much love!!
@@TheParisthething thank you so much for you comments!! They're really helpful :) it makes me very happy to know that it's curable and that it can get better. Thank you again 😊 I'll do my best to get through it, lots of love to you too!! 🤗
@@celiasaiz3786 Im really gladdd!! It is!! And i know you got thiss!! i sense it!!! Take care
You have no idea how true this rings for me. Thanks for sharing~~after struggling for so long with re-reading sentences, trying to squeeze every bit of meaning out of them and thinking perhaps there’s something I missed, I decided to search “reading OCD” to see if anybody else has the same type, as I was sure they must. Up popped your video. Many thanks again, nice to know you’re not alone, you know!
Thanks for commenting! I'm glad my video helped you :)
:D Yes indeed!
I'm speechless that this is a real condition, I used to read a lot back in high school and stopped roughly around A levels. I recently got back into it last year but I noticed I was much slower, constantly rereading sentences, or going back to previous pages. When before I could read a standard 200-300 page book in a few days, now it takes me a month and it's so frustrating because I crave stories, and this problem makes reading such a struggle when it's meant to be a form of relaxation. It's hard when you've made a list of all the books you really want to read, and then realizing you can't properly enjoy them now. It makes me wonder if I didn't stop reading back then, would this issue even crop up. Thank you for sharing your experiences, it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
thank you for your comment! i definitely relate, reading just doesn't come as naturally to me anymore. I try to make the effort to read, but it *is* an effort, you know? i hope reading gets easier for you. :)
@@shaylerish_ thank you for taking the time to reply! I also agree about the feel of trying to memorise the words, maybe it's triggered from reading textbooks/education who knows...thank you, I hope reading becomes easier for you too
I’ve had the same problem since I was a child but it got way worse this year. I’m an executive assistant and I read emails and schedule appointments everyday. It gets really frustrating when I know I have a lot of pending emails to go through and I can’t move on from a single email without rereading it at least 20 times and checking calendars multiple times to make sure I scheduled the appointment correctly. It’s great to know that I’m not the only one going through this. I live in the Philippines and it’s hard to look for a professional who can help me. So thank you for making this video and for everyone in the comments for sharing your experiences!!!
My reading OCD started in high school and I remember crying so badly when I had exams coming up. I didn't understand it and thought I was the only one who had this.
For me, I think it stems from anxiety as it usually kicks in when I'm reading important things like for an exam, or at work etc. Sometimes I hold my breath when I'm stuck at a word, and I have to remind myself to breathe. I loved reading when I was young, and I'm starting to try to get over this fear of reading again.
When you're stuck, remember to take deep breaths. That helps me.
Thank you for sharing :)
I've had this condition for 5 years in my life and the only way that I handled it is I did the opposite of what the ocd wants you to do. And remember if you actually have ocd this condition is not curable it and only be contained.
@Amit Mishra what do you mean?
OCD/Autistic re-reading sucks. It turns something that should be fun and relaxing into an exhausting chore. I had to stop reading almost completely for a year because having to slowly read everything out loud and several times over to make sure I fully understand is very stressful and ruined my favourite activity. I'm slowly easing back into it now by only sub-vocalising and forcing myself to only read a sentence once and move on, but I still get caught up in compulsive loops sometimes and it's very stressful and tiring. Just hope I improve before I start studying again...
Ps. Keep making videos, i have a channel under another account with 1,000s of subs and the key is to keep at it when you have something to say, share it. I found this video helpful. I read alot for work and im constantly re reading, worrying if i wont remember something etc, i get anxious and stop breathing whilst reading.. i have bad OCD. So seeing someone else with the same is good
I have the same reading OCD problem (together with other forms of ocd). This illness just seems very dumb but it is quiet frustrating. I love reading and OCD has made it very hard for me to pick up a book. However, I’m not giving up. On the contrary, I push myself to read and I feel I’m getting better. Also, we need to remember that we will have bad days and good days. There are times where I have little urge to re read and days that are tough. I have had all forms of OCD and the fact is that this godforsaken illness changes all the time. But the core problem is the same. It’s all in the biology of our screwed up brain 😞
You're right, pushing ourselves to read anyway is the best thing we can do. I definitely have some days where it's more of a struggle to take in what's happening, but I won't let myself be defeated. :)
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I'm also struggling with reading OCD and this video, plus the comments below, definitely brought some comfort. Best wishes to you and to everyone dealing with this!
Thank you so much for your kind comment! :)
For my whole life, I’ve thought that I was the slowest reader (yes I’ve been struggling with this for as long as I can remember but it got even worse in the past 4 years) and I’m desperate trying to overcome this. My mom and my friends won’t take me seriously and would just tell me to “stop rereading” (wow.. I’ve NEVER thought of that 😒) but like no one relates to my condition and I’m so glad I at least found people who also suffer the same things as I do. Like I feel like I belong somewhere and I have somewhere to start but I honestly don’t know how I could start to combat this stupid condition. Like it’s making it rly rly hard to even get thru school reading and I’m having trouble keeping up with my hard coursework. At the moment, I’m also doing my drivers ed, and it’s so difficult to get through one single paragraph coz I keep rereading so If anyone see this, please, I need every and all advice I can get.
Hi i absolutely relate to this. a 100%. i don't know if i might have ocd but it seems like i might with this. what i've read is that the most common therapy for ocd in general is about not giving in to your compulssions (rereading) but also not cutting that out of your life ( don't stop reading for good). it feels super scary for me to try and not reread and face all the anxiety it creates but i think we have to face that (i'm not saying its easy at all, i'm not sure if i'm even ready for it) some people say you can cover what you've read with a paper for example, or i also want to try audiobooks. I hope this helps in some way but i can't really for good recommendo you anything bc i, in the same possition as you are, good luck!!!!!!!
This week is OCD awareness week! ✨
Thank you guys for almost 600 views!
hi i know it's been two years but thank u for this video. i've always been an avid reader but i've been struggling with rereading for about 4 years now. just recently i started thinking it might be ocd and it's super helpful to see that what's making it so hard to read for me has a name and i'm not alone with it
I'm glad I was able to help in some way. :)
thank you for sharing your experience.
:)
Same issue. I hate it so much. Once I’ve read something over and over I memorize it and once I’ve memorize it becomes even harder to actually read it because I think to myself “well you’re just memorizing it and not reading it” so it’ll take me 50 to 100 times to get something or 30 mins to an hour. I’ve given up on books because it’s not worth the mental stress and time. There’s no rhyme or reason to it though, some things I’ll read just fine others will stop me in my tracks. The most upsetting thing though is I just had a daughter and I can’t read to her.
Don't give up! I know it's exhausting, but you really will lose practise with it if it's not something you're doing regularly. I hope it gets easier for you eventually.
I have this and thankfully you shared this video. I had books I gave up on because I would be sweating trying just to finish a page. It's the same with watching TV I use subtitles but I get drawn in to it and repeat the subtitles aswel. It's a struggle but maybe try head'space or read HARRY BARRY books. He's an Irish author/Doctor I haven't started the books yet but hesdspace 10 day trial was hard because the OCD kicked in.
I have OCD and find reading hard also, albeit for slightly different reasons. Primarily because sitting still and reading means my mind is more vulnerable to my intrusive thoughts, and the content of the book I’m reading may also trigger these thoughts.
I think you are right that we just have to plough on with reading rather than giving up reading altogether.
Do you keep a journal at all? I’m thinking of starting one to help consolidate my thoughts.
Thanks for your video. I appreciated the sponsorship gag btw.
Thanks for your comment! I don't keep a journal; I have a few times in the past but I've just never stuck with it. I definitely relate to having certain topics in books mess with my OCD. Blindness is a big worry for me, and every time it comes up in a book my brain goes a little haywire. I hope reading gets easier for you.
I always reread sentences when i dont read them with the same rrythm i breathe.. It all started like 3 years ago.. I used to be the best greek reader in my class, and im not even greek.
i have the same problem. But it almost only happens when i read a difficult book. When i read a news paper article i can plough through it easy. But when i read a philosophy book then i have the same problem as u! ( however sometimes i think i just have a lazy brain. I mean why does it only happen when i read something difficult) what should we do about this? i have thought about going to a Dr. and getting pills. But i am afraid. I have thought about cbd cannabis? i have heard several good things about lowering anxiety, but in the end i don't now because where i live cannabis is ilegal, and no one sells cbd cannabis in the black market. Can some one help? any suggestion is welcome.
ADHD and OCD often occur together because the underlying cause of both is the same and that's inhibitory control deficit. i advise you to buy learning breakthrough program kit and do the exercises twice each day for three years. i know it's too much but at least try it for a year and see it yourself about how life changing it can be. learning breakthrough program uses physical exercise to change key brain areas responsible for inhibitory control/executive function. Good Luck!
I have the exact problem it's making me really sad now what should I do to cure this
There isn't a cure, unfortunately. Just keep reading, and as hard as it is, don't let yourself reread passages. You could try covering parts you've already read with paper, so you physically can't go back and reread them?
Hey i came back to your video, its been 5 months and it honestly became worse :(( i wanna give up everything and i lose my motivation to live life
This is exactly the issue I'm having. In fact, I haven't found myself displaying such obsessive tendencies during any other activity except while reading and while coming across mathematic calculations.
I find that my problem worsens when I sleep poorly. And sometimes I feel like I sleep poorly because of the stress arising from the problem. Is this the case for others? Has anyone who's had this successfully overcome or managed the issue? If so, any tips?
Another interesting thing is, I'm a cricket journalist and editing articles is part of what I do. Strangely, I read effortlessly then. It's only when I'm trying to read recreationally that this compulsion arises.
yes!! for me is also when i'm trying to read for enjoyment when it kicks in, it's terrible (i'm just figuring out this is what happens to me so i can't give you ant advice :( i think stopping the complusion and just sitting with the anxiety but not rereading helps but it feels really scary to do) i hope it gets better!
@@celiasaiz3786 That sucks. A positive update from my side is that the issue has become less severe and less frequent. I think what helped me is improving my overall health and overall routine. Exercise, good nutrition - no refined carbs and refined sugar, and good sleep. At least for me, just focusing on overcoming the symptom didn't work. Like all other mental health issues, this one can be improved significantly by a wholesome, healthful lifestyle.
I hope this can be of help to you.
@@minimalisthealth Hi, I'm so glad it's gotten better!! Yes, I absolutely understand what you mean, a healthy lifestyle always, always helps. I think I will try and excersise more frequently than I do now. Thank you so much! 😊
@@celiasaiz3786 good luck!
I have the same problem and I'm suffering
Sorry to hear that. Hope it gets better for you :)
It really makes you tired:( I’ve had this problem for about 3 years now, it all started when I was preparing for exams, I was just reading really long paragraphs and had to memorize the information in it, and those paragraphs put so much pressure on me lol, and boom smth happened and ta-dam it worsened my ability to read. It’s the most stupid thing, I was that child who started to read very early, I guess at the age of 4-5 and my speed of reading was fastest in the class, now I suffer from OCD and can't read properly, nice 👍
I also have reading problem due to OCD.
It's a subtype of perfection OCD, the key is do the opposite of what your compulsion is telling you to do, so if you feel like you are not going to understand the text or you are going to miss out on words or whatever may be the thought, then purposefully skip words, paragraphs, sentences while reading non critical material( not study or work related) . Always make a diligent effort to not re read sentences and never avoid reading. Build up to this practise and eventually your symptoms will loose grip on you.
could it be we are all too stressed to focus well enough?
I experience something very similar to what you described..
I finally found someone who has such close manifestation of OCD and attention and such.. do you have any insight about getting better?
Thank you!
I think therapy is beneficial, if that's an option for you. If not, realizing your brain is just trying to bully you and pushing past those thoughts that are trying to impede you is a small thing you can do. My OCD does hinder me a lot, but I've continued reading and have actually read a decent number of books this year in an effort to overcome it. You have to push onwards to get to the greener grass on the other side. I hope this made sense 😅
Thank you for your feedback..
Did youtube just deleted my prior reply or didn't pass the message through?
Sh*t.. I'm not rewriting it!
Yes re reading the paragraph more than onve in case I have not understood everything make this process of reading very complex. So I read 1or 2 pages a day.
mine is drawing a dot when writing a word with i in it for example or drawing a colon
what the hell, i had it and i didn't know it.
SAME & reread words. Same thing with typing I have to retype Certain words.
hola a todos, yo también padezco de ocd reading hace 10 años atrás apareció de la nada, me dificulta mucho en los estudios. Alguien ha podido superar esto y si tiene algo de información?
hola, me pasa lo mismo, estoy descubriendo ahora que el toc de lectura existe así que no tengo ningún consejo comprobado pero por lo visto resulta útil evitar releer aunque eso te agobie muchísimo, quizás leer tapando con un papel lo que ya has leído o alguna estrategia así. sé que suena horrible porque si relees es porque tu cerebro te lo está pidiendo pero parece ser que le funciona a alguna gente. espero que vaya a mejor :)
I can,t enjoy fiction now and it feels so bad 😔😔
Possibly its connected with fear of bad memory.
i used to suffer from this when i was in elementary school
Im exactly the same.
My ocd effects our carrer so badly
How is this for you these days? Came back to this video, and it rings true still. You articulate it so perfectly; you really are helping people with this. :)
The memorization thing is a good point. I used to think it’s because I played in much theatre in high school, that I had to cram whole Shakespearean roles into my brain at that time~~so perhaps my brain got in a routine of needing to retain everything. It remains a mystery. :) Thanks again.
Thanks for the kind words, and for checking in! For me, it varies day to day - some days I can read pretty fluently with little-to-no issue, and other days it's like wading through quicksand. I've read 32 books this year though, so it's worth pushing through.
That’s excellent, happy you’re making it work. 😊
May I ask: in what other ways does your ocd manifest? So interesting to find similarities.
The big things for me right now are going blind or ingesting something dangerous. I've started getting more into skincare and with that comes a big fear of getting product into my eyes. I'm also nervous to do things like drink water after putting on deodorant - in my mind, the 'essence' of the deodorant will be passed from my hands to the straw and I might end up ingesting it and dying. Luckily most OCD thoughts, like the ones that tell me I need to blink ten times or my family will die, I'm able to ignore for the most part. But I still give myself weird little restrictions, like not 'giving myself permission' to go to certain websites until some arbitrary time or until I've done some arbitrary thing. Sounds bizarre but that's OCD for you 😅
You’re right there, that is OCD for you. :) It always is a bit weird trying to explain them to people who don’t have these urges~~it’s hard to make the urgency or severity come across I’ve found. I used to have to have a “good thought” before turning off light switches, going through doorways, etc. Nowadays it has more to do with my health, specifically my heart. I can get preoccupied trying to keep it “on a good place”, sometimes with repetitive touch. Oy. I can understand the concern with one’s health, seems to be something shared. Thanks for sharing!
„If you want something, you need to give up what you like“ That’s the solution. Stop care about understanding every detail of every book. You are giving books to much value.
Please look for professional help. Might be expensive, but life is more important. Share with your parents. There is a cognitive-behavioural therapy. Specific branch called ERP. Exposure response prevention. Science is in agreement that this therapy is gold standard for OCD. Don't wait any longer and be optimistic. Good luck and thanks for sharing.
does exercise help?
Just get good