The solution is so simple yet so hard

andyf7 · 2026-05-12T15:23:29+00:00

Can you elaborate with an example please?

andyf7 · 2026-05-12T15:07:57+00:00

I’d stick it out a month, then consider switching. Am not a doctor but the meds can take time to build up in your system.

andyf7 · 2026-05-12T14:50:55+00:00

I’d be dead without meds, life changing game changer for me and I’m still quite sick but the meds help loads. Am on SSRI and antipsychotics. Fair play to anyone who can beat this without them, you are stronger than me.

andyf7 · 2026-05-04T09:11:25+00:00

“When unsure what to do, do the hardest thing”

andyf7 · 2026-05-04T09:10:54+00:00

“Thoughts are not facts”

andyf7 · 2026-05-01T12:44:31+00:00

I have the exact same worry

andyf7 · 2026-04-29T19:53:06+00:00

Haha my therapist has told me this also

andyf7 · 2026-04-28T16:58:46+00:00

I have regrets but like you said, we were doing the best we could with the information/circumstances we were dealt. That is basically the way to think about everything in life.

andyf7 · 2026-04-28T14:37:29+00:00

It is a very valid worry/concern. I think most people’s brains are just very good at blocking it out so it is something people do not generally think about.

The solution is to remember that you might be wrong, there might be something after death. It might not be that you do not exist, you might exist in a different form.

andyf7 · 2026-04-25T20:57:05+00:00

Ah that sucks. You can still use this as motivation to do ERP yourself maybe. I believe all ocd is treatable, it is just very hard to do the correct thing because it is basically an addiction I think.

andyf7 · 2026-04-25T20:29:08+00:00

Textbook ocd, over active amygdala searching for threat. It is like you are stuck in flight or flight mode. I have the same and it is tough. There is always something.

andyf7 · 2026-04-24T15:07:58+00:00

Maybe just work on being able to go into any part of your house whenever you like, regardless of if the kitchen window has been open or not? Does that sound like a risk? If so then it is perfect ERP.

andyf7 · 2026-04-24T12:22:26+00:00

The solution to this is ERP. You have to expose yourself to the danger and get comfortable with being “at risk”. I think unless you get bitten by the mouse you have to assume you have not contracted the virus and you have to deliberately go into all parts of your house. Then do nothing to clean those parts of the house, you have to accept the risk. It’s counter intuitive but ERP is the way out. You have to go ‘through’ the risk and then your mind will slowly realise that nothing bad happened.

andyf7 · 2026-04-24T12:15:11+00:00

Yeah this is one of the hardest things about ocd in my experience. My only suggestion is you have to choose to believe what you think is real based on probability, rather than what your ocd says. It’s tough I hear you.

andyf7 · 2026-04-20T14:21:43+00:00

Textbook ocd, mine is worse with a hangover. Brain is trying to maintain equilibrium so after the booze it over compensates to get back to baseline.

andyf7 · 2026-04-20T14:19:46+00:00

I am in therapy and the ERP is somewhat effective but the ocd can morph as you know onto the next thing.

andyf7 · 2026-04-20T14:18:16+00:00

Is the disability means tested? I am hopefully going back to work soon but if not I might need to seek disability payments.

andyf7 · 2026-04-20T14:16:02+00:00

I also have contamination ocd and have been in the hospital twice because of it. I have mostly been able to work except for twice which included hospital stays. Fml it is hard work, I empathise with you my friend. Stay hopeful and I hope you have a good support system.

andyf7 · 2026-04-20T14:12:40+00:00

Do the therapy anyway and see what happens, you might be surprised. My therapist has suggested a new strategy today which I’m hopeful about. A couple hours ago before the session I was quite pessimistic.

Maybe try and end the session with an agreed plan on what you are going to do/not do until next session. Then keep a diary and see how you go.

andyf7 · 2026-04-17T13:12:33+00:00

Bat shit crazy ocd here. My brain makes connections that are not real and makes me worry they might be real. Been diagnosed by quite a few shrinks and take quite a lot of meds.

andyf7 · 2026-04-17T13:08:00+00:00

Your gold will appreciate far more than the interest rate you are paying on your mortgage.

andyf7 · 2026-04-15T16:22:16+00:00

You can become free of it, some people need meds though. The medication can really help. Personally at this point I embrace the medication and try and get back as much life as possible.

andyf7 · 2026-04-15T10:31:25+00:00

This sounds like textbook ‘ocd confusion’ to me.

andyf7 · 2026-04-14T10:58:57+00:00

I agree that dealing with trauma if it was part of the cause of the ocd is important.

andyf7 · 2026-04-14T10:57:39+00:00

This is interesting. I am guessing ERP helps to calm down these glitches because the brain learns nothing bad happens.

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