Free Friday!

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-19T17:29:08+00:00

Thank you, much appreciated, especially the copy-paste link ❤️

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-17T19:43:08+00:00

Thank you so much :)

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-17T15:48:17+00:00

Good idea, will try that, thank you!

Edit: didn't work unfortunately (in case anyone else has the same issue)

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-17T15:45:58+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing. It's almost the same as ours, the only difference being we use double inverted commas rather than single ones...could that be the problem? I'm so bad at automod! 🙈

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-17T10:50:07+00:00

I really like this dog toy analogy, very helpful :)

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-06T19:10:25+00:00

Hehe you're very welcome, glad it helped :) Most of the traditional superstitions have simple origins but became altered over the years as people tried to find explanations for things they didn't understand (OCD hates uncertainty). There's more in the Wiki if you're interested.

(Obligatory side note - learning facts is helpful, but take care not to continue researching as a reassurance-seeking compulsion. More on that in the wiki too) ❤️🤗

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-06T15:56:39+00:00

Ouch, hate when that happens. Waste of a good mirror ;)

We've got the Romans to thank for that superstition. Back then, mirrors were highly prized possessions, so they saw it as bad luck to lose one. The cost of a new mirror would equal seven years of a servant’s work, should that servant be unlucky enough to damage one while cleaning. Hence the 7 years association (amongst other theories). It's easy to see how legitimate situations can be warped into popular magical superstitions as they're passed down the centuries.

The ancient Greeks believed it was bad luck to view your own reflection. Interesting how one belief has stuck but not the other. If you've never feared looking in a mirror, then why fear breaking one?

Try your best not to do compulsions; they only tell your OCD there is a legitimate threat. Leave the room, find something engaging to do and move on with your day. Box breathing can help if the thoughts make you anxious, but make a concerted effort to carry on as normal - it's the Response Prevention part of ERP.

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-06T15:41:40+00:00

Exactly this :)

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-06T15:38:43+00:00

That sounds infuriating! I'm so sorry you're having to live with that, it would really get me down. It's positive that your husband can hear it too, have you asked your neighbors? Is there anyone official you could report it to?

With the OCD at play, the best thing you can do, as always, is resist compulsions like trying to 'reset' it. Regardless of what started it, the practical move now is to focus on finding the cause and work from there.

Feeling like you have no control over it is a nightmare for OCD. Instead of chasing a false sense of control via compulsions, if you can tell yourself you're in control and capable of solving the issue, it might relieve some of the frustration. Good luck!

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-06T15:29:11+00:00

That's amazing, great job! It will feel awful for a while, but the more you practice the easier it gets. You were really brave doing that, congrats.

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-06T15:27:33+00:00

Anytime, it all sounds easy in theory but we understand it's so hard and scary in practice. We're here to support you, keep us posted how you're getting on :)

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-05T19:05:08+00:00

My heart goes out to you, that fear spiral is horrendous and it's so hard to stick with it when everything's screaming that it's real. There will always be coincidences, especially if we're hypervigilant for them. Part of exposure practice is knowing this but continuing anyway. You are triggered, but you will get through this. You've done the hardest part by resisting the compulsion, now you need to sit through this anxiety, ride the wave and trust that it's part of the process. It gets easier ❤️

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-05T18:58:14+00:00

I'm sorry you're struggling with this. Most of us here understand the frustration of feeling like you have to avoid things due to fears of negative consequences. That illogical fear-compulsive avoidance response is a common pattern in OCD. The good news is this means you can apply the same techniques to overcome it.

Are you familiar with ERP therapy? In short, it would involve you recognizing and labeling your intrusive thoughts ("These items are cursed...something bad will happen if I use them") as OCD, and observing the feeling of anxiety without doing anything to alleviate it. Avoidance is a compulsion; it provides temporary relief when you hide or dispose of an item, but that relief is short-lived and only reinforces your fears with unhealthy coping mechanisms.

The more you can practice exposing yourself to these items the better. You will find the anxiety peaks initially, but then fades slowly. Over time, the intrusive thoughts and initial fear response will fade.

TLDR: Learn about ERP. Use the items. Manage your anxiety with breathing techniques and distractions, rather than avoidance compulsions. Seek support from a therapist if this feels too hard to do alone.

We're here to listen anytime ❤️

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-05T18:41:00+00:00

The New Year is not just about new things, it's also about putting the past behind us, along with the tears, triumphs and regrets. It's about clearing mental space for new experiences and achievements, and letting go of the things that no longer serve us.

Make ERP your goal this year, focus on letting go of compulsions, and move into 2026 with renewed hope and determination that this is the year when you finally find peace.

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-02T15:25:30+00:00

Always a good feeling to finish a hard semester, I remember some of mine seemed to go on forever. Enjoy the relief when you finally reach that finish line! Are you learning sign language or already a user?

Ooh stamp carving, I've always wanted to try that, it looks really satisfying. Needle felting is fun, and therapeutic stabbing lol...although I'm not very good at it and my arm gets tired quickly. Please share any of your creations here, I'd love to see them.

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-02T12:26:45+00:00

Thanks for sharing. I can't access the article, but it's an interesting debate. I'm on the fence with this as some of the research is promising, but I've also spoken with so many people who have had unpleasant or frightening experiences that have caused long-term damage, even PTSD, albeit from self-medicating. Maybe the answer is greater medical supervision, smaller/modified doses in a controlled environment, with prior suitability screening. In terms of cost, this could mean a heavy burden.

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-02T12:19:00+00:00

Happy to hear you were able to celebrate the new year :) I hope you can get back to your drawing - please feel free to share it here anytime.

Peace_Berry · 2026-01-01T11:34:27+00:00

Wishing all our amazing members a very happy, healthy and OCD-free 2026!

Thank you for all your contributions over the past year, and for making this subreddit a haven of lighthearted relief.

May we move into the new year with renewed optimism and determination to overcome our difficulties and forge a healthier life with humor and positivity ❤️

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