Don’t know what to do next

Welcome, @anxiousgirl22 , it's great to have you with us 🙂

I also have OCD, and had been aware some people suffered intrusive harm thoughts although I wasn't aware of "harm OCD" speciafically. I googled it, and OMG it sounds horrific. I really feel for you.

(My form of OCD is mainly germophobia with a bit of counting and checking)

I'm wondering if you have any professional support? Like a counsellor, meds, psychologist or psychiatrist?

I know the standard gold treatment of OCD is ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention therapy). I have really struggled with this in the past. Have you tried any ERP? It is a very tough therapy and requires long-term professional support.

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Hi @NatureLover thank you for welcoming me means a lot !! Yeah it has been a pretty scary ride for me as I’m sure it has been pretty scary for your as well I did know about germophobia although I’ve never had a problem with that I can imagine how debilitating that would be for you.

I do have a psychologist and I’m on medication I guess I just wanted to to connect with people who struggle with ocd because sometimes I feel as if I’m on the only one going through it even though I know that’s not the case it’s just a feeling I get you know ? I did do exposure therapy and I successfully got rid of an intrusive thought but know my mind has brought on a different thought :face_with_rolling_eyes: and I know I have to do the therapy for it I do I guess I’m just exhausted from having to do all this work and only getting a month of relief from my thoughts until another thing good thing in my life happens and BANG ocd is like no way are we gonna let her enjoy life.

I hope that makes sense haha thank you for your response means alot x

Thanks for your understanding @anxiousgirl22 - germophobia is debilitating 😢 As is your OCD, and any form of OCD.

Well done for being on meds and seeing a psychologist and doing ERP, I'm impressed. I really struggled with ERP as my whole house felt contaminated and unafe to live in. I had to stop and work on my childhood trauma instead.

Well done for getting rid of an intrusive thought! I'm sorry another one took its place 😢 It's true, OCD is exhausting.

I'm happy to talk to you about OCD any time, just tag me 🙂 I'm usually only around in the early mornings but am running late today.

@NatureLover I’m extremely proud of you though for working through something that would be pretty scary your doing great I’m sure of it even if you don’t feel like you are sometimes.

and thank you very much same goes keep me updated on your ocd journey always here for support ❤️

Aww, thanks for your encouragement ❤️ @anxiousgirl22

I know somehow it helped my OCD when I accepted the germophobia and rearranged my stuff so that all my cloths I use for ritual wiping stuff were out on the shelf instead of in drawers, and I started building in time to disinfect and clean and wash after going out, that sort of thing.

The problem with germophobia is that some people take offence at it 😢 Whereas you would maybe suffer from the fact that yours is inside your head and not visible to others? 🫂

@NatureLover Of course anytime here to help ❤️

it does sound awfully exhausting for you and alot of people nowadays you would think wouldn’t be judgemental but they are I guess my compulsions are actually for me at the moment is avoiding going to work because I think something terrible is going to happen to me if I do it’s effecting my daily life in that sense but other then avoiding certain places my compulsions are more non visible to others

I’m sorry people take offence to it when they shouldn’t it must make you feel worse about it have you tried explaining to them the reasons behind it ?

I just try to explain I have no control over it or that it's not personal (to them).

Concerned about your job if you don't go a lot... @anxiousgirl22

@NatureLover once you explain it to them do they continue to judge or are they understanding?

thankfully for some reason haha my co workers and my boss are the best people they continue to support and even when I’ve said I need to quit because of my mental health they don’t want me to because they don’t want me to feel more isolated

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@anxiousgirl22 wrote:

@NatureLover once you explain it to them do they continue to judge or are they understanding?

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I don't know, @anxiousgirl22 . I guess judge.

Aww, that's great you have such understanding and support from your workplace! 🙂