@heidighomi6489 you can too! Work on breaking the cycle of ocd, and you will eventually be free of it. It's hard, but you will be happy you did. Seek therapy, you can do it with the support of a therapist! :-)
Failing is not the word! It's just a set back! It's another chance to try again. It's a journey! You CAN DO IT!! You are the boss of ocd, not the other way around! It is a bully, it will tell you all sorts of things to get your attention so it cam keep feeding off your compulsions. Don't do anything to ease your anxiety because it will only feed off it. Don't give it what it wants, and sit with the anxiety. Overtime, it will lose its power over you and you will feel like you again. It will be worth it in the end, I promise! X
I have a lot of ERP that I have to face daily and sometimes it's been feeling a bit much. I've been in recovery for 3ish years dealing with harm ocd, POCD, suicidal ocd, and relationship ocd. Lately, it's been much much harder dealing with POCD and harm ocd. The exposures are really stressful as they're parts of my every day life. But I really like how you said you're not tackling "this specific subtype", you're tackling OCD. I really like that because I always feel like I have to tackle this specific subtype.
I have pure o. I repeat words in my head over and over. Any random word can stick for months!! If i ever think to myself "Ill think about it later because im too busy right now" it gets louder and tells me im a liar and I need to think about it NOW but once is never enough. Erp really works! Im just still struggling triggering myself and not doing the mental compulsions after because words are just such easy access.
I have been facing this ever since I was like 6 years old At first it was about saying a word over and over again to be satisfied or to be relaxed I thought I was the only one facing these kind of things but somewhere I always knew there is at least one person in this world who is suffering from this But as I came to know about OCD I have found my people :) Don't worry you are not alone, there's more people who is facing OCD
Your videos have been incredible for me. I’m always grateful I found your TH-cam channel. Thank you for all the time you give us to help us. You’re incredibly generous 💖
Reading about and practicing stoicism has helped me a lot with my intrusive thoughts. Maybe it's worth making a video about "stoicism and OCD", just a suggestion.
thank you so much my guyyyyy.. i am struggling with sensorimotor OCD but your videos give me hope for real. i always feel like i can't breathe but then i think of what you say and i feel like i can take on my day again
I’ve lived with real event OCD for a long time and I actually did find meditation to be useful, as I was able to notice that my mind was merely a carousel of thoughts of which I’ve no control over and I’ve chosen to give meaning to one of them and my OCD is nothing more than this. However, I didn’t feel like I could do this until I was a long way down the road to recovery. I felt I needed medication and therapy before I could use meditation, as the thoughts were too loud to be able to concentrate.
Hello Nathan my friend, I did a mix of ERP, but mostly mindfulness (at least I think) I often just allow things to be. Instead of focusing on for example the word “life” instead of “death” (which is an example of my MTOCD) focusing on “death” instead of “life” felt like a compulsion to me more than ERP. Instead, I tried sitting with whatever popped in my head when doing whatever it was that was usually a compulsion/ritual related, I’d just go with that. So example, I used to shut the light off and I’d have to think of like 10 specific positive things to counter the bad things or all the bad thoughts would come true. So now, instead of focusing on these things and having them control my life, I just shut the light off, open the microwave, get dressed, open a game, pull a chair out etc and accept the thoughts as thoughts. I don’t choose to think of the negative nor positive. I just sit and it goes away and if it doesn’t, I deal with it. Now I will say this, it’s INCREDIBLY difficult doing it alone. I never did therapy. I found your channel and just gritted my teeth for like 8 months while I was on edge 24/7, it got so much better. I could see how ERP could work, I just felt I could have less “relapses” with mindfulness or whatever, so I sat with thought. Didn’t seek out the opposite during a ritual (which was literally for EVERYTHING in my life at the time)
I know you’re busy but I have made tons of progress where my ocd is basically gone. Now I tend to think about past memories such as rejection and it goes on repeat which kills my self esteem and I overthink do you have any advice that could help me please
What works for me is agreeing and exagerating the intrusive toughts. For example if i have a harm intrusive, i would say, yep that would definately happen, we should do it. Nothing ever happends so might aswel exagerate to show that you dont care
Hey Nathan, I’m currently (hopefully) suffering from POCD and maybe it’s because I caught it in its early stages because I basically piggy backed right off of HOCD but I’m not getting insanely triggered where I should be and it’s worrying me, it also means ERP isn’t as effective as my problem is rumination. Any tips?
I also had HOCD and after some years it would get better - but then I started worrying that I am not getting anxious anymore - so maybe my fears are true -I became what I feared... But actually anxiety going away means that you are on a good path.
My 18 years old son always washes his mouth to relieve his depression(being bullied at school), sometimes could last 1 hour with dog screaming. It’s really a painful experience for him and my family and he refuses to see the doctor and take medicine s
I've done ERP on my own then contaminate the whole house in the two hours I've sat with it. Which leads to showers loads of laundry, cleaning handles walls etc... and eventually fights with my husband. Sitting with it for two hours washing hands and resting sounds nice but that's not how it works for me. My OCD is cleaning and contamination. With people at home spreading the contamination every where while I sit and wait leads to hours and days of cleaning and stress. Help
Sir, i have been in serious condition for 1 month, pls help. I use to sleep peacefully but suddenly one night i couldn't sleep and since then for 1 month i can't sleep at night. There's something poke me inside for which i cant sleep everytime. Whenever i try to ignore it, i get too pressure in brain. I am too anxious pls help me out😢😢
@zachyoutube213 I've had a really bad headache. I'm in therapy currently, and my head has been constantly hurting. The pain moves around all over my head. My therapist said that's normal. Just wanted to hear others' perspectives. Thanks for your reply!
yes! it's very tiring for our bodies and minds. adrenaline is being pumped up so when it crashes we are very tired. the headache is from all the tension! totally normal. you're in the fear zone. it gets better! stay hydrated and be kind to yourself :))
I feel like my ocd is making me have speech problems, I say the wrong word at end of a sentence, can't concentrate on things, tell the same story over again and again, I have adhd also and damage to my neck keep thinking something wrongwithmy brain, 66years old anyone else feel like me
the final result is YOU will respond differently to anything your mind may come up with - because you won't give it much mind, it will send less and less stuff to scare you. the change is you. the final result is a new you
I've been struggling with an OCD theme centered around a fear of accidentally closing important accounts, like my social media or financial accounts. The thoughts are intrusive, and I often feel the need to check procedures for account closure, even though I know how secure they are. This need for certainty disrupts my peace of mind, especially during happy moments. It's becoming increasingly difficult to manage, and I'd appreciate any advice or strategies that could help me cope better.
Best advice, don't check anymore. Because you have checked many times, and its a fear that you have, your brain will keep sending you those intrusive thoughts because it's signalling to you there is a problem when there isn't. You have most likely given it too much meaning. You have to now expose yourself to that fear, and your brain will give up with the intrusive thoughts because it will learn that it's doesn't need to keep reminding you to check, worry etc.
@@rianno_name1171 Hi Riano, thank you so much for your advice. It has been incredibly helpful. I was about to give up, but then I read your reply, and it gave me some hope. The problem I face is that I feel compelled to check every possible scenario. Even if I know with 99.999% certainty what will happen, my mind fixates on the 0.0001% uncertainty. If there's even a slight chance, I feel the need to check it, or else it will disturb me during my happy moments. Could you please share your contact information so I can discuss my situation with you in more detail? Maybe you can help.
@ahmarmuneer Hi, glad you found my advice helpful. That's what ocd does, it fixates on the tiniest of doubts. It is your fight and flight, doing that. Your brain is trying to keep you safe from a perceived danger. Because you checked so much, it has now associated fear with it. The more you check the more doubts you will have, and the more scenarios it will throw at you and the more anxiety you will have! I would give you my contact but it wouldn't be appropriate to leave it here.
OCD treatment works --> Let me show you how to do it step-by-step 💜 --> www.ocd-anxiety.com/master-your-ocd
It must be wonderful to live a life of ocd-free. 😢
@heidighomi6489 you can too! Work on breaking the cycle of ocd, and you will eventually be free of it. It's hard, but you will be happy you did. Seek therapy, you can do it with the support of a therapist! :-)
@@rianno_name1171 it is frustrating when I keep failing, I often hate myself for being who I am 😥
Failing is not the word! It's just a set back! It's another chance to try again. It's a journey! You CAN DO IT!! You are the boss of ocd, not the other way around! It is a bully, it will tell you all sorts of things to get your attention so it cam keep feeding off your compulsions. Don't do anything to ease your anxiety because it will only feed off it. Don't give it what it wants, and sit with the anxiety. Overtime, it will lose its power over you and you will feel like you again. It will be worth it in the end, I promise! X
@@rianno_name1171 How can I get therapy when I can’t afford it? No one ever brings this part up.
@@rianno_name1171 ❤️❤️
I have a lot of ERP that I have to face daily and sometimes it's been feeling a bit much. I've been in recovery for 3ish years dealing with harm ocd, POCD, suicidal ocd, and relationship ocd. Lately, it's been much much harder dealing with POCD and harm ocd. The exposures are really stressful as they're parts of my every day life. But I really like how you said you're not tackling "this specific subtype", you're tackling OCD. I really like that because I always feel like I have to tackle this specific subtype.
I'm glad you caught on to that. It can feel like we're treating the subtype, but we're really treating OCD. Thanks for your comments.
@@ocdandanxiety my ERP therapist reminded me that OCD is a one trick pony. Like you just said, it's the same. It a very good reminder thank you!
ERP has been amazing for me. It’s still challenging of course but I’m so grateful and learning.
thank you nathan! you are literally saving lives rn man, keep posting content❤😄💪
You are the best. Thank you for helping back in 2021 when I was struggling with ocd relapse. You are helping so so many
Please make more videos on real event ocd , Loved your every single video you are the best
You got it! I'll make sure to add more to my list.
I have pure o. I repeat words in my head over and over. Any random word can stick for months!! If i ever think to myself "Ill think about it later because im too busy right now" it gets louder and tells me im a liar and I need to think about it NOW but once is never enough. Erp really works! Im just still struggling triggering myself and not doing the mental compulsions after because words are just such easy access.
I have been facing this ever since I was like 6 years old
At first it was about saying a word over and over again to be satisfied or to be relaxed I thought I was the only one facing these kind of things but somewhere I always knew there is at least one person in this world who is suffering from this
But as I came to know about OCD I have found my people :)
Don't worry you are not alone, there's more people who is facing OCD
My mind gets me to face my fears every day! Part of the problem, part of the solution!
Your videos have been incredible for me. I’m always grateful I found your TH-cam channel.
Thank you for all the time you give us to help us. You’re incredibly generous 💖
Early gang. 😎
Greetings from The Netherlands.
Yessss! 🤙 Netherlands for the win!
Big respect we got this sir 💪@@ocdandanxiety
Thankyou for make me believe in myself.
Thank God. … I am subscribed to this channel.
Thanks Nathan! You are the best
Thank you for making these videos, they help me more than you know, thanks.
Reading about and practicing stoicism has helped me a lot with my intrusive thoughts. Maybe it's worth making a video about "stoicism and OCD", just a suggestion.
Thank you!!! Exactly what I needed for my son❤❤❤
Thank you for all your help ❤
in my experience, mindfulness helps with tackling pure ocd as thoughts can become overwhelming.😊
thank you so much my guyyyyy.. i am struggling with sensorimotor OCD but your videos give me hope for real. i always feel like i can't breathe but then i think of what you say and i feel like i can take on my day again
i love the reminder that we're not treating the subtype, we're treating the ocd itself!
I’ve lived with real event OCD for a long time and I actually did find meditation to be useful, as I was able to notice that my mind was merely a carousel of thoughts of which I’ve no control over and I’ve chosen to give meaning to one of them and my OCD is nothing more than this. However, I didn’t feel like I could do this until I was a long way down the road to recovery. I felt I needed medication and therapy before I could use meditation, as the thoughts were too loud to be able to concentrate.
Hello Nathan can you make a video on where the obsession is not the problem but the complusion is
Thank you!!!
Love from my troubled heart
Hello Nathan my friend, I did a mix of ERP, but mostly mindfulness (at least I think) I often just allow things to be. Instead of focusing on for example the word “life” instead of “death” (which is an example of my MTOCD) focusing on “death” instead of “life” felt like a compulsion to me more than ERP. Instead, I tried sitting with whatever popped in my head when doing whatever it was that was usually a compulsion/ritual related, I’d just go with that. So example, I used to shut the light off and I’d have to think of like 10 specific positive things to counter the bad things or all the bad thoughts would come true. So now, instead of focusing on these things and having them control my life, I just shut the light off, open the microwave, get dressed, open a game, pull a chair out etc and accept the thoughts as thoughts. I don’t choose to think of the negative nor positive. I just sit and it goes away and if it doesn’t, I deal with it. Now I will say this, it’s INCREDIBLY difficult doing it alone. I never did therapy. I found your channel and just gritted my teeth for like 8 months while I was on edge 24/7, it got so much better. I could see how ERP could work, I just felt I could have less “relapses” with mindfulness or whatever, so I sat with thought. Didn’t seek out the opposite during a ritual (which was literally for EVERYTHING in my life at the time)
Thank you so much🔥
I know you’re busy but I have made tons of progress where my ocd is basically gone. Now I tend to think about past memories such as rejection and it goes on repeat which kills my self esteem and I overthink do you have any advice that could help me please
What works for me is agreeing and exagerating the intrusive toughts. For example if i have a harm intrusive, i would say, yep that would definately happen, we should do it. Nothing ever happends so might aswel exagerate to show that you dont care
Hey Nathan, I’m currently (hopefully) suffering from POCD and maybe it’s because I caught it in its early stages because I basically piggy backed right off of HOCD but I’m not getting insanely triggered where I should be and it’s worrying me, it also means ERP isn’t as effective as my problem is rumination. Any tips?
I also had HOCD and after some years it would get better - but then I started worrying that I am not getting anxious anymore - so maybe my fears are true -I became what I feared... But actually anxiety going away means that you are on a good path.
I keep doing compulsion i am so worried that time something bad will happen i cry daily for this 😢
My 18 years old son always washes his mouth to relieve his depression(being bullied at school), sometimes could last 1 hour with dog screaming. It’s really a painful experience for him and my family and he refuses to see the doctor and take medicine s
love from india🇮🇳
I've done ERP on my own then contaminate the whole house in the two hours I've sat with it. Which leads to showers loads of laundry, cleaning handles walls etc... and eventually fights with my husband. Sitting with it for two hours washing hands and resting sounds nice but that's not how it works for me. My OCD is cleaning and contamination. With people at home spreading the contamination every where while I sit and wait leads to hours and days of cleaning and stress. Help
Sir, i have been in serious condition for 1 month, pls help. I use to sleep peacefully but suddenly one night i couldn't sleep and since then for 1 month i can't sleep at night. There's something poke me inside for which i cant sleep everytime. Whenever i try to ignore it, i get too pressure in brain. I am too anxious pls help me out😢😢
It's very painfull to deal with ocd I watched your video mustly all but no revover what I do I don't know how I recover from ocd
Anyone get headaches while doing exposures and during ocd treatment?
I know someone who sleeps for hours after an exposure. Says it feels like running a marathon sometimes.
@zachyoutube213 I've had a really bad headache. I'm in therapy currently, and my head has been constantly hurting. The pain moves around all over my head. My therapist said that's normal. Just wanted to hear others' perspectives. Thanks for your reply!
@@rianno_name1171 I had headaches after ERP sessions. These are like battle wounds 😎
@@rianno_name1171 lol bro respond to that person's question. They look like they're never gonna shut up
yes! it's very tiring for our bodies and minds. adrenaline is being pumped up so when it crashes we are very tired.
the headache is from all the tension! totally normal. you're in the fear zone. it gets better! stay hydrated and be kind to yourself :))
It’s the groin response that always drags me in…
I have ocd about afraid of breaking things and its gonna be my fault and feel doomed. Anyone else like me?
More relationship OCD videos :(
My ocd is telling me that I already hurt someone else or killing already so I don't know how to face this thought
how would this work with ocd regarding health, disease, life and death, etc?
You could maybe watch a movie or hear a podcast that revolve around these themes.
I feel like my ocd is making me have speech problems, I say the wrong word at end of a sentence, can't concentrate on things, tell the same story over again and again, I have adhd also and damage to my neck keep thinking something wrongwithmy brain, 66years old anyone else feel like me
So what is the final result of ERP? Like will OCD go away or will the brain find a new theme to obsess about?
the final result is YOU will respond differently to anything your mind may come up with - because you won't give it much mind, it will send less and less stuff to scare you.
the change is you. the final result is a new you
@@Sweetmakeup1000 I really hope so! 🙏
Honest question, how do you do ERP when you've actually had something bad happen?
Bless you, Nate (and I'm saying this as an atheist)
I've been struggling with an OCD theme centered around a fear of accidentally closing important accounts, like my social media or financial accounts. The thoughts are intrusive, and I often feel the need to check procedures for account closure, even though I know how secure they are. This need for certainty disrupts my peace of mind, especially during happy moments. It's becoming increasingly difficult to manage, and I'd appreciate any advice or strategies that could help me cope better.
Best advice, don't check anymore. Because you have checked many times, and its a fear that you have, your brain will keep sending you those intrusive thoughts because it's signalling to you there is a problem when there isn't. You have most likely given it too much meaning. You have to now expose yourself to that fear, and your brain will give up with the intrusive thoughts because it will learn that it's doesn't need to keep reminding you to check, worry etc.
@@rianno_name1171 Hi Riano, thank you so much for your advice. It has been incredibly helpful. I was about to give up, but then I read your reply, and it gave me some hope. The problem I face is that I feel compelled to check every possible scenario. Even if I know with 99.999% certainty what will happen, my mind fixates on the 0.0001% uncertainty. If there's even a slight chance, I feel the need to check it, or else it will disturb me during my happy moments. Could you please share your contact information so I can discuss my situation with you in more detail? Maybe you can help.
@ahmarmuneer Hi, glad you found my advice helpful. That's what ocd does, it fixates on the tiniest of doubts. It is your fight and flight, doing that. Your brain is trying to keep you safe from a perceived danger. Because you checked so much, it has now associated fear with it. The more you check the more doubts you will have, and the more scenarios it will throw at you and the more anxiety you will have! I would give you my contact but it wouldn't be appropriate to leave it here.
@@rianno_name1171 I am trying to tell you my mail but my comment isn't posting for some reason
@@rianno_name1171 hi
How you do exposure for just thoughts ocd ('pure o')?
If the theme is something you can’t do?
I read cbt was good therapy for ocd ?
There is inference based CBT (I-CBT) that is specifically for OCD. I’ve treated many clients with OCD using I-CBT with great success!
I was scared of wearing someone else hat and I did it
Love your videos!
Thanks so much! 💜
Thank you!!