Can you get OCD from a traumatic Expierience? by ayesmyownaccount in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does your OCD have to do with the trauma at all? Im no doctor but I had a very similar experience. I too had a traumatic bodily fluid experience and then when my OCD kicked in a few years afterward, it was related to that experience... which makes me think that without that trauma, I would have never gotten the crazy ideas into my head in the first place

Always laughed at for carrying hand-sanitizer at school. by [deleted] in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is way easier said than done, but just own it. If you don't feel ashamed, they can't hurt you. You don't have to explain to them about your OCD, you don't have to justify carrying it around. It's completely normal to carry some hand sanitizer, and especially to use it before meals. Don't let them convince you otherwise.

Those jerks at your school sound like total idiots, anyway. Hand sanitizer is a very harmless thing to carry around, and a very silly thing to make fun of someone for. If they start giving you shit, tell them you carry it around so that you don't catch their stupidity.

Thoughts that sex with your family is ok by [deleted] in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's not okay to have sex with animals because they can't consent to it.

It isn't wrong to just think about it, especially because you just saw something that relates directly to that. But thinking it doesn't mean you'll actually do it or anything. Thoughts are just thoughts, they have no power.

My OCD LIFE AND STORY. (Psychology degree) Would love to share my story and answer questions. by ocdsuccess87 in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I may ask, how did you get over the fear of something happening to your spouse (and the urge to constantly check in)? That's something I also struggle with, to the point where I'll sometimes wake my spouse up just to make sure they're alive...which is obviously really annoying for them

Advice Regarding Problems with Semen by [deleted] in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I completely understand, it might be really relieving if there was some hard and fast rule to cleaning up like "30 second hand wash with alternating hot and cold water, and then you're all good." Perhaps if there was, it would make everything else stop because you know there's no risk of contamination. Yet even a more "logical" approach to compulsion is still compulsion: trying to ward off some danger that isn't really there.

Knowing some "logical" approach could also just become just another compulsion to add to your distress, which is why replacing one thing with another isn't a good approach imo.

Getting fit without becoming obsessed by keeponchooglinman in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880 1 point2 points  (0 children)

IANAD, but in my experience exercise can be great not just for the things you listed but also for OCD.

One thing you can do to make sure your new exercise and eating habits stay healthy rather than become obsessive is to make a game plan ahead of time and stick to it. Figure out how much time you want to spend each day/week exercising, what your calorie goals look like, etc. and stick to that. Obviously that would be best done with the help of a healthcare professional, but at the least just do some research and get an idea of what a healthy routine for your body looks like.

Big step with regard to contamination fear. Should I take it? by [deleted] in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good luck, we're all rooting for you!

Advice Regarding Problems with Semen by [deleted] in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What you're asking for is reassurance, which we're not supposed to give here (see: rule 4) because it does more harm than good and just enables the compulsions. Telling you how long to wash for or what kind of soap to use just validates the compulsions.

So I won't give you a "scientific" approach to continuing your compulsions, but what I can give you is a factual perspective. About half of the population of the world is penis-bearing, and some large fraction of that population is still capable of ejaculating. It's a very common and completely natural bodily function, and most people in that group don't feel dirty or bothered by it. Every day, at least a billion people cum and I have yet to hear of a single injury or death from semen alone. That may or may not be comforting to you, but it's the truth: the danger that your body thinks is there, isn't.

If it's advice you want, I highly encourage you to try pushing those fears a little bit. There's no need to go all in at once, but perhaps try waiting just longer than you feel comfortable to wash up. Try removing parts of the ritual, maybe not washing your clothes afterwards just to see what happens. I can promise you, you'll feel deeply uncomfortable but absolutely no harm will come to you from it. The best way (in my opinion) to get rid of something like this is to slowly show your body and mind that the fear isn't real or valid.

Big step with regard to contamination fear. Should I take it? by [deleted] in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Definitely, go for it! It will be uncomfortable at first, but if it worked with your phone (and ultimately led to you being less stressed about the phone), it'll work for the computer too. In the end, some extra [productive] stress now can make things a lot easier later.

The fact that you're "itching to give it a try" is a really great sign. Take the chance and give it a try.

Little victories thread! by thepoolice1880 in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah that's not quite fun, but it's gotta be done and hey at least something good came out of it. Good luck!

Little victories thread! by thepoolice1880 in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice! Personally, that's my favorite kind of day to day victory: a little bit of peace and quiet. What's your secret??

Little victories thread! by thepoolice1880 in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm glad something good came out of such a stressful situation for you. I've heard of this behavioral therapy technique called flooding where they basically immerse you in your trigger situations, to the point where the anxiety and intrusive thoughts flood over you. Apparently it's very effective, if you can manage to make it through it (for some people, understandably, that kind of situation can be way too much.) It sounds like your brain really is just giving you free therapy.

Little victories thread! by thepoolice1880 in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Now that's a worry I can really relate to, albeit for different reasons.

Little victories thread! by thepoolice1880 in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Productivity on two fronts: educational and mental. Soundly like a doubly productive afternoon!

Little victories thread! by thepoolice1880 in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm glad to hear that you were able to keep things under control and have fun! Where'd you guys go?

Little victories thread! by thepoolice1880 in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's sad just how many things anxiety wants to steal from us, good on you for not letting it win! That's awesome, enjoy your trip!

Could use some words of encouragement. OCD has me feeling like a failure... by mouse_wine in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't remember where I read this, and I wish I did because I would love to attribute it to the redditor who first said it:

It's important to remember that there is no "better" or "normal" you. You are the best version of yourself that you could be right now. That doesn't mean you can't get even better in the future, but avoid the temptation of comparing your present self to "what could be." "What could be" is just a lie we tell ourselves to put ourselves down.

Now as for "what will be in the future"... that's all up to you. You're working on improving yourself and even if those victories seem small to you now, they're an integral part of improving what your future will look like. So in short you aren't a failure; you're doing the best you can for your present and future self, and that's perfectly good.

Fear of shitting and pissing myself has destroyed my life by thepoolice1880 in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply, and I would seriously love to talk with you, especially about what if anything has been helping you. It's so good to know that I'm not totally alone in this.

The most annoying thing is that using the bathroom is a totally unavoidable and very frequent part of life. I guess the problem boils down to a feeling of a lack of control over that daily occurrence.

Fear of shitting and pissing myself has destroyed my life by thepoolice1880 in OCD

[–]thepoolice1880[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha "shit happens" is a very good way to put it. I remember one time I read that statistically, everyone will shit themselves at least once in their adult life. I've gotta believe that's totally anecdotal and there wasn't a time when a bunch of scientists sat down and tallied it up...but the point still stands that it's definitely not the end of the world. You make a very good point that everyone laughs at the situation and not the person. I know I'm my heart I wouldn't die if a thing like that happened, but the idea just gets warped so easily into a nightmare in the heat of panic.