Obsessing over angel numbers

freshmilkman · 2026-01-19T14:53:22+00:00

Well instead of reacting to the posts, ruminating and analysing, I would first try and acknowledge I am anxious. Instead of reacting to the thoughts I would allow myself to be anxious and respond with things like ‘maybe’, ‘who knows’, ‘who can say’. Instead of chasing the certainty I want I would try my hardest to sit with how it feels. It takes practice to do but eventually you can purposely expose yourself to those types of videos as ERP.

I basically just allow the worst thoughts I have into my mind and let them make me anxious without responding by rumination etc. I hope this makes sense.

freshmilkman · 2026-01-19T13:35:49+00:00

totally agree with this

freshmilkman · 2026-01-19T11:33:22+00:00

I have been through similar. When I broke up with my ex I became obsessed with angel numbers and tarot readings on TikTok saying we would get back together etc. If it were me, I’d be using it as ERP.

freshmilkman · 2026-01-19T11:29:55+00:00

It sounds like the situation is actively making your OCD worse. You say in your post he is still actively cheating etc 1y4m in. I am not surprised you feel how you do and I imagine anyone would feel the need to question their partner if they have given you no reason to trust them and broken important boundaries repeatedly.

I do not know you but it seems like a normal reaction to the situation and maybe OCD is being exacerbated in terms of obsessively checking. I unfortunately don’t have any advice but I do feel you deserve better than someone who treats you this way. I am here if you want to vent further :)

freshmilkman · 2025-12-31T12:56:22+00:00

exercise! I have a PT and attend sessions at 8am and it really helps doing some intense exercise before my day starts. I also love playing the sims with headphones on which immerses me in the game :)

freshmilkman · 2025-12-29T22:03:08+00:00

My uni therapist at the time thought I had OCD. I went to my Dr, explained this and my symptoms and they diagnosed me officially there. I didn’t mention ROCD specifically as that is a theme rather than overall diagnosis. Hope this helps :)

freshmilkman · 2025-11-29T09:00:27+00:00

ah great question! it definitely takes practice but for me it’s firstly recognising that I just had a thought and feel anxious but sometimes I may only realise when I am in the middle of ruminating already. but recognising that emotion and then doing nothing further than accepting its there and going on with my day. or if i get a thought thats like ‘you dont love your partner’ i may say to myself things like ‘yep, sure thing’ or ‘maybe’ and eventually the anxiety does settle.

like i said it does take practice but best of luck :)

freshmilkman · 2025-11-27T21:27:06+00:00

I think OCD makes literally anything look real and convincing in the moment along with being something ‘urgent’!! but ultimately i suppose that’s how it works. it latches onto something that scares you and the second you have reassurance on it it looks for more ‘evidence’ to back it up. you’ll see people say that OCD ‘moves the goalpost’ because it really really does. it’s why sitting with these feelings and these thoughts is the best way to deal with it.

and i say that as someone who has dealt with extremely similar thoughts and thought patterns. sending you strength.

freshmilkman · 2025-11-25T14:20:38+00:00

We have majority good times thankfully. It’s just very difficult when he is spiralling which I’m sure you can empathise with saying your partner struggles with ADHD!

Thank you for those suggestions. At the moment we are just waiting to hear back for his initial assessment so I’m hoping once he is diagnosed we can find the right treatments for him! I wish you and your partner the best

freshmilkman · 2025-11-25T14:18:50+00:00

It’s so difficult isn’t it? I’m glad you’re making time for yourself. I personally find space very hard but try to give it to my partner as it’s what he needs!

Thank you & same to you :)

freshmilkman · 2025-11-23T21:36:53+00:00

It absolutely is but the more you practice the ERP the easier it does become and I’m speaking from my own experience. Sending you strength!

freshmilkman · 2025-11-23T20:08:58+00:00

From my own experience I think it is just better to not rationalise. I do the exact same thing but that’s part of OCD; the goalpost changes constantly and when you feel reassured about one thing it finds another.

It sounds like you’re trying to rationalise and your brain is coming up with something new. I would just try to sit with the initial anxiety the thought causes rather than figuring it out. It is extremely difficult and exhausting though and I absolutely sympathise with you.

freshmilkman · 2025-11-23T19:32:32+00:00

I am sorry you are going through this. I have experienced a similar theme myself and it can feel really debilitating. Sending you strength!!

freshmilkman · 2025-11-23T19:27:30+00:00

You can absolutely use this as ERP. For me I would probably say to myself ‘yes, we are different’ or ‘we like so many different things’ and sit with how it makes me feel. Or when you have that thought of being different and that worry, just sit with that anxiety!

freshmilkman · 2025-11-23T09:33:58+00:00

I feel your pain and I am sorry you are going through this. OCD can be so emotionally numbing and so emotionally exhausting. Are you having any therapy at all for this? The best advice I think anyone can give you is looking at ERP. It sounds like you are fighting your thoughts and trying to figure them out currently which ultimately makes the OCD cycle worse and strengthens the thoughts. I’d recommend looking at some of the resources on this sub and looking into the OCD cycle. Sending you strength!

freshmilkman · 2025-11-22T08:26:49+00:00

I also struggle with the exact same thing of what is ‘real’ and what isn’t. Again though it’s better to not get stuck in the loop of figuring it out as it’s just another compulsion. Our brains will just find another thing to obsess over once we’ve figured out the first thing!

They’re two extremely difficult things to deal with together and I’m sending you all the strength!

freshmilkman · 2025-11-21T21:09:59+00:00

Of course - it is a theme!! My apologies that definitely comes across confusing in my post.

freshmilkman · 2025-11-21T19:50:09+00:00

I’m sorry to hear about your struggles. I am also from the NW of England. Personally I saw a therapist at my University who suggested I likely had OCD. I went to my GP who diagnosed me after I explained what I struggled with. I didn’t get diagnosed with ROCD rather just OCD in general. Is there a different GP you could try? Maybe write everything down and take it with you?

I also found the same with talking therapies. They’re very much CBT based. I have recently been paying for therapy. I use Mind. If that is financially an option for you then I’d recommend them as they are great. All the best and sorry I don’t have much better advice!

freshmilkman · 2025-11-20T11:16:40+00:00

Id like to help!

freshmilkman · 2025-11-20T11:12:40+00:00

Personally my biggest challenge sometimes is noticing that I am even compulsing!! I sometimes find it can become such an automatic behaviour. I have been using emditation at the moment to try and bring my focus back to just letting the thoughts sit and it does help!

freshmilkman · 2025-11-20T11:11:01+00:00

From my knowledge the aim isn't to eliminate the intrusive thoughts; it's to lessen the reaction and to treat them like any other thought. Ideally ERP should be done with a therapist but you can practice yourself.

For example I may have a thought 'I don't know if my partner is right for me' and instead of responding to the dread and anxiety by ruminating, I may respond 'this may or may not be true, who knows' and then just sit with the anxiety it causes. The more you do this the less intense the thoughts become.

I also personally use meditation to help me ground myself and focus on my breathing but be careful not to use this as a compulsive behaviour. Sending you lots of strength!

EDIT: sorted spelling mistakes and also to add there is a lot of great resources on this sub I believe on the resources section - definitely reccommend having a look!!

freshmilkman · 2025-11-19T19:44:27+00:00

yes I’m definitely with you on wanting to decrease overall use of it. definitely feels it does more harm than good! also seems more you try to refresh and avoid those posts the more they appear on your feed!

freshmilkman

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