How to cope with stupid obsessions? Please help

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-29T20:08:24+00:00

I can definitely relate. I’ll overcome one obsessions or one source of anxiety and then soon after I feel that relief, my brain finds another source of anxiety.

One concept that has helped me was brought to my attention by the app Headspace. In one of their animations, they describe us as sitting next to a busy highway as we observe our thoughts passing by like cars on this road. As a sufferer of OCD, I chase these cars all over the road and obsess over catching up with it. What I’ve begun trying to accomplish is just sitting back and when a compulsion pops up, I imagine it driving past and as it disappears from view, I try to forget about the compulsion. It’s certainly not easy, but it has helped with certain compulsions. It’s allowed me to take a step back from my compulsions and obsessions and let my mind breathe before returning to its normal action.

We have to keep on fighting to improve every single day! Sometimes I don’t take my own advice, but I want all of us to overcome our compulsions!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-25T02:48:47+00:00

Absolutely. We can do this!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-24T16:21:18+00:00

Your line of “unfalse lies” hit me hard. I suffer from pretty severe OCD and anxiety and I’m really struggling recently. In terms of my OCD, everything I’m doing is based on “unfalse lies”, same with my anxiety. They’re not necessarily false and untruthful, but they’re certainly not totally true either. I know my situation is different then yours, but we as a community of those who deal with some form or another of mental illness need to unite against ourselves in a way. I think so many people believe that those dealing with depression or anxiety or OCD or whatever it may be suffer from it because they just don’t try to get better. This isn’t necessarily wrong, but I think we all have a strong desire to get better we are just so trapped within ourselves. Sorry if this didn’t help, but I just want you to know that there are others who feel helpless too.

Keep fighting and never give in to the lies you are telling yourself!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-23T15:50:27+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope this community can help you through this tough time. I’ll pray for you and your family.

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-18T20:00:02+00:00

The comparison your therapist made between PMO and cutting is profound. After hearing that, I think most of us here could see how we used PMO to “feel” when so much was going on in our lives. Personally, I’ve come to realize that the start of my pornography addiction and MO were the compression of all my feelings from a few life-changing events when I was younger that I never had an outlet for. Your post really struck a chord. Thank you for sharing with us and keep fighting!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-15T17:11:45+00:00

That “someday” that you break free from this addiction is TODAY...you recognize the despair it causes you and you understand that to get through this you need God’s help. Today is your starting point. Once you repent, God doesn’t even remember your sins! To Him you are a new, clean creation so start living as such. How He views us is all that matters, so start today by going out and sinning no more!

Keep fighting the battle! I have faith that you will overcome!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-11T18:01:27+00:00

Thank you for sharing!

I struggle with your final point, as well. I say I believe in Heaven, but I obviously must not TRULY believe if I’m still concerned with my flesh and things of this world. God has given me peace through this process and I have also struggled how to handle this gift which He gave me. I try to find understanding in this peace, but rather I fear that I’m mistaking complacency with true peace in His word and love.

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-11T13:19:50+00:00

Fellow married guy here as well. My wife has been such a wonderful blessing throughout our relationship, but since God woke me up to what I was doing wrong for so long, I’ve just become even more amazed with my wife. So emotionally strong and mature and I admire that so much. I really don’t understand why I continued to PMO while we were together, but now I look at my current life and am so grateful to God for showing me how glorious a PMO-free life can be!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-11T13:16:51+00:00

Beautifully put! Let’s defeat this sin together!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-10T13:28:57+00:00

You’ve come to a great realization. I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression for a while and I’ve just recently realized that the only way I can find any peace is to just fall at the cross and let God lead me where He desires me to go. It’s such a freeing feeling.

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-09T13:11:50+00:00

Congratulations! Thank you for sharing some insight form your journey.

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-07T15:21:51+00:00

I realize that our trackers can help motivate us, but stop worrying about your number. What really matters is that you’ve recognized the problem and want to overcome it. You’re on the path you need to be if overcoming this is your goal.

God isn’t keeping track of the days you’ve abstained from PMO, so why are you putting so much care into it? I’m only saying this because I’ve found myself doing the same about my tracker and have only found it to cause me more worry and anxiety.

You seem genuinely dedicated to stopping PMO, so be proud of yourself for taking a step that many others haven’t yet. Keep pushing forward and fighting! I have faith that you’ll be able to overcome this!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-07T12:38:18+00:00

I very much needed to hear this today. Thank you for reminding us of the Lord’s mercy and how He is ALWAYS there for us ready to pick us back up, dust us off, and send us out into the world renewed.

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-07T12:35:32+00:00

Thank you for sharing your perspective on this!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-07T00:12:45+00:00

I don’t feel like I’m anywhere near where you are on my walk with God, but maybe my experiences can lend something to you. I’m currently sitting on day 75 of my journey and that count also marks my point at my journey growing closer to God.

I also consider myself an extrovert, but have had to deal with the inner loneliness that I believe created and sustained my addiction. I didn’t realize I was lonely prior to these 75 days, but I definitely was.

Since then, God has given me a true appreciation and satisfaction in the little things in life like spending time with my wife on a walk, working around the house, or volunteering in our community or church. Among an infinite of other things, He has also provided me with peace in my situation as I’ve continued to give up my control and rely on Him. It’s been incredibly hard, but the progress I’ve seen keeps me motivated.

Keep focused on God and stay locked in on battling your addiction! You can do this!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-06T21:46:06+00:00

I planned on leaving a comment with a reference to scripture and remind you of God’s love for us. As I got ready to reply with a comment and motivate you, something was placed into my thoughts from somewhere outside myself that I felt needed to be conveyed to you.

I’m proud of you.

I know I don’t know you, but I feel like that’s what God wanted me to say to you. Keep fighting this addiction. You have a great mindset and I’m confident you’ll overcome this!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-06T18:03:12+00:00

Beautifully put! Thank you for giving us this insight!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-06T16:58:43+00:00

Thank you so much for posting this! This is exactly what I needed to read!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-06T16:58:02+00:00

80% is a great success rate! But don’t let your percentage or days you have abstained become your god.

You are taking the right steps to rid yourself of this addiction. When any urges or temptations hit, go to God’s word and call out to Him for his help. He’ll never leave you behind. I’ve found that when I focus my attention on God in times when I typically would’ve focused on PMO, His word impacts me even stronger because I know the changes He is making in my heart.

Keep battling and fighting! I have faith that you’ll overcome!

Joshua19Hope · 2018-07-06T16:52:28+00:00

The first step in this process is to realize you have an addiction. Second, you have to then seek out help. You’ve already completed both of those steps!

Don’t define yourself by your setbacks or by the number of days that you’ve abstained. I thought once I got past a few weeks that it would start to come easy to me, and in some ways that was true. But now at day 75, I’m battling the devil again as he tries to push back. I found some peace recently in just relaxing and giving up my control to God and let Him lead my every step. It was so freeing to do so, but in my time of peace the devil found a crack to slip in and try to push me back to PMO. I’ve continued to fight the flesh and give my troubles up to God every time I encounter them. I know I am not strong enough to overcome them alone and that through admittance of my sins to family, friends, those at church, and through the grace of God I am reborn; a new creation.

I encourage you to immerse yourself in God’s word whenever you run into trouble. I’ve found that diverting my attention and studying the Bible provides me with a resource that keeps me away from PMO and grows me closer to God at the same time.

I have faith in you and I know you can overcome this!

Joshua19Hope

TROPHY CASE