I was suffering from mysophobia from 2 years then I visited a psychologist and got my self better but after 1 year year now I realize that the root cause was the phobia of ringworm and now I am struggling with it. No matter where I go I just feel that this place might be contaminated with ringworm fungus. What should I do
calling OCD the thief of time is a very accurate and smart description. I cannot tell you how many beautiful moments with my family I can only remember minutes of because the rest of that time I was inside my own mind doing compulsions.
Interesting. Mine are my compulsions. I am now disabled by my OCD and haven’t left the house in months because I don’t have the energy to do all the compulsions.
Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd. Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position). It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
@@noraaa8479 For the mudra,Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position). Also, there are other mudras but this one works the best. You can also add Ashtanga yoga to your practice. Especially pranayam and meditation. Search on Google for more with detailed pictures.
About 8 months ago out of nowhere, I got severe OCD as a 23yo male. I still can't believe what happened to me. I'm experiencing anxiety at levels that I never even knew a human being could experience. At first, I did not believe I had OCD because It had nothing to do with germs. Later I figured out it can be about anything. The lvls of pain and anxiety are completely unfathomable and illogical. A non-sufferer will never understand this. I'm forever thankful people like you are spreading the world about what OCD actually is about.
@@anselmopat4985 Not impolite at all. Mine is fixated on free will. Makes me believe I have no choice in anything I do. I'm starting to get a hold on it thanks to Mark Freeman and some other great TH-cam channels. Doing a lot better than in the beginning for sure!
Im so sorry to hear that. I had severe OCD for 5 years, but by the grace of God was totally delivered of it 1 and a half year ago Dont give up hope, talk to God, it isn't you but something in you
@@Romina2711 As someone who’s been in therapy for OCD, I find your comment disgusting. I’m glad religion worked for you, but please don’t preach unverified remedies to vulnerable people.
so true buddy! all these I thought it was my fault and cursed myself! but for the first time am feeling better about myself that even after such a rough time with this am still kicking through life and proud of myself .
"your thoughts may be scary but they are not dangerous" is how i got through the suicidal part of my depression. It's a lesson i still take comfort in no matter what weird it stupid thing my brain might sometimes come up with. i wish this was talked about more.
I had almost debilitating OCD as a child. I hid my symptoms from my mom because I was afraid I was crazy. I washed my hands until the skin cracked and bled. I was miserable. For some reason my symptoms increased in intensity at night. I gradually improved by forcing myself think logically to stop nonsensical behavior. For instance, I’d want to flip that switch a second time, I’d stop, ask myself why, then tell myself my answer was unrealistic, and walk away. This often induced nausea, and sweating. But when I could overcome, each won battle made me better. I never saw a therapist, and actually didn’t even know I had a “condition” until I was about 20. I’m 41 now, and and when a stressful event happens in my life, my symptoms all start coming back and I have to fight all over again. I guess it’s a demon I’ll never be fully rid of.
It truly is a demon I had severe OCD for five years, couldnt touch people without disinfecting right away But God delivered me one and a half year ago The psychologist told me I would have to deal this with this all my life but God is bigger Dont lose hope, talk to God
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an imbalance in brain chemistry. It is irrational delusional thoughts in the brain that are malicious false thoughts that force a person to perform compulsive rituals such as checking door locks or cleaning hands.
@@Polina-hn7hu Thank you for your post. I think you are spot on. I feel that I should add some detail in defense of my mother, however… My OCD started at the age of 10, when my parents divorced. I was crazy about my dad, and he left quickly and unexpectedly. It devastated me AND my mother. She withdrew into an emotional bubble and I felt completely alone. She was fighting serious depression. Other things happened to me following the divorce that only added to my feelings of fear and instability. So, yes, I believe if I’d had more support it may have saved me from OCD, but I don’t lay that fault at my mother’s feet. I’m just thankful she survived that heartbreak and depression and is still with me today.
While I still struggle with these thoughts, I want to make everyone aware that as I've gotten older I have learned overcome these intrusive thoughts and the anxiety that comes with them. Through time and practice you can overcome your OCD. You've got this!
@@christinwinterpracht9301 Well, a lot of it I grew out of as I got older and more mature but this is my best advice (NOTE: Consult a psychiatrist if you want legitimate help. I am not a licensed professional and everything I am telling you is based off my experience, what may work for me may not work for you and so on): 1. Recognizing how irrational the thoughts are. Just because you did X does not logically mean it will equate to Y. 2. Recognizing that most people don’t deal with these intrusive thoughts or compulsions and that you are not a special case. 3. Resisting the compulsions. I hope this helps!
Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd. Also, add meditation to your routine if you want more improvement in all aspects of your life. Search on types of meditation and do what suits you best. It's very hard for a ocd person to meditate, I know , that's why do the mudra for few days and when you get a bit better, then start pranayam and meditation and also do the mudra with it. For the mudra,Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position). It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
Yes, me as well. They’re still there but I’m aware so it’s much easier to deal with. It still gets me on occasion but nothing like before. Now let me clarify. There’s still things I do and have to see a certain way and still have that like cloudiness (maybe not the right word) that tries to block me from getting everything needed lined up (this is so freaking hard to explain with words) in my mind but now I’m aware, I can just move past it and not dwell on moving past it. Again, this is so hard to explain. I also pray daily and that is what helped me. Even though the ironic thing is, is sometimes the actual prayer itself is hard to get through and that’s when my mind is going bananas. 😂 so weird.
Same here with me. I’ve had it since I was a teenager. It has gotten better. The only way I’ve gotten through it, is through God and literally ignoring the thoughts as much as I possibly can. Sometimes exposing the doubt is helpful too, because you then realize that the thought/belief was a lie.
What do you mean? That it is biological? How can something be both biological and cured by behavioural (non biological) treatment? If OCD is caused by childhood trauma, how is it biological? Cancer (actually biological) cannot be caused by trauma.
@Alex Mccormick I'm not an expert, but do we know that having a biological predisposition for cancer is all it takes to cause it? What about stress and it's effect on our immune systems? Couldn't that be caused by trauma?
As someone with diagnosed OCD, I feel it's by far the best explanation I've ever seen. It has this "you're staring into my soul" effect to it. Great work!
@@joydarling314 Thank you for sharing, I'm looking into that. I can't take the drug medications so vitamines sound like a good option or the good diet version.
@@estari4Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd. Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position). It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd. Also, add meditation to your routine if you want more improvement in all aspects of your life. Search on types of meditation and do what suits you best. It's very hard for a ocd person to meditate, I know , that's why do the mudra for few days and when you get a bit better, then start pranayam and meditation and also do the mudra with it. For the mudra,Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position). It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
Oh, I really don’t mind it. I have bad ocd, have had it forever. But it’s like with many words - it just takes on a different meaning, next to the clinical one.
It's doubt, incompleteness, intrusive thoughts, disgust, and it's very suggestive. It morphs into different obsessions and compulsions, sometimes without noticing. It's anxiety about being anxious. It steals precious time and fills the time that's left with shame and guilt. The irony is that no amount of compulsions will ever satisfy the obsessions. I can't will myself to stop, but knew thing I've noticed is that food, chemicals, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, most of what I can tell that's related to histamine over-production or not breaking it down properly, seem to have biggest effect, good or bad.
One of the worst compulsions I had involved making sure my bladder was 10000% empty, I'd use the bathroom, get up, and sit back down. I could not let myself sleep unless I thought my bladder was completely empty.
@@ashleyk6553 I know exactly what you mean, it's a long process but I'm sure you'll get better soon. Part of my healing was forcing myself to sleep, even if I still felt like going to the bathroom.
Thank you for posting this. Whenever I talk about my OCD with friends or people I know, I am always met with 'Oh I do that too,' or 'Oh I think I have OCD too' and it just feels so invalidating because I know they don't spend the majority of their every day thinking about ruminations, compulsions, and worrying about simple things. Yes, they may have 1-2 small behaviors but that does not mean they have OCD. They do not know what it is like to not be able to leave the bathroom without picking every inch of your skin or having a meltdown when someone sets your backpack on the ground. These are things I have struggled with almost my entire life and people saying 'Oh me too' when they really just want to have neatened pencils makes people like me with debilitating OCD really invalidated and sad. I appreciate your video saying that and I hope it gets more views.
True. People think just rechecking if the door is locked counts in as ocd but it's worse. Like for me it was I had to turn the doorknob in multiples of 9 and only shut the door when I heard the 'perfect' sound. Similarly I exhibited these behaviours in random tasks such as walking , reading etc. I had ocd in my middle to high school years. I don't have it anymore but only recently realised that it's an actual disorder and not just me
I completely agree with you, I always try to explain this to the many folks who think they are ocd because they like their house clean. Drives me crazy because this disorder has taken over my life and is extremely debilitating.
I have OCD...I'm on treatment...but it's really a zig zag road with treatment too... prayers fr all who r suffering....thanks a lot for making this video...good video
@@donovanreed3236 I took Lexapro! It helped so much for a while ! At one point it helped too much though. I stopped feeling ANY emotions yes ocd was mostly gone but so was everything else it almost felt like I had brain damage. My flight or fight response was gone. Holding a puppy felt no different from folding laundry. No excitement no anger, no joy, no sense of accomplishment after completing tasks no depression or sadness but equal for happiness and joy. I am only now back to normal now after over a year of being off of it. This is not to discourage you from medication just to inform. Most people don't get such severe discontinuation syndrome and I do have more sensitivity to medication.
I have had OCD ever since I can remember. I have been looking for something to truly help people understand WHAT it is. Thank you for this informative video!
Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd. Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position). It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
I've been getting treatment for my OCD for nearly two years now and have made fantastic progress! Just weaned off of medication (SSRI) after mastering some techniques. The thoughts certainly feel stronger than they did while I was on the medication, but what's great is that, while uncomfortable, I actually have the tools to deny the compulsions now, even without medication! I hope anyone else who is struggling and starting to get help sees this and knows that it DOES get better, a LOT better! Videos like this helped me get the right treatment. Thanks for helping to educate!
@Bryan I took Citalopram, 10mg (the generic form of brand name CELEXA) for 6 months. Took about two weeks before it really noticably kept me calm, and about a month of weaning off. It never truly changed who I was, but my emotions were far easier to control. Whenever I would get an anxiety spike, It wouldn't come along as hard, and I was able to apply my techniques a lot easier. I may consider going on it again in the future, but for now, I will stay off of it just to practice using everything without medicine. I am genuinely better even without it since going to therapy and getting help!
Thank you for that wonderfully clear explanation. I've had episodes of OCD from time to time and they are crippling. In one episode back in the early 90s I had a terrible fear of infection. I knew every detail about HIV and AIDS infection. Of course, my fear was completely irrational. I didn't fall into any risk group. And yet, I was sick with worry. Constant hand-washing, repeating events in my head over and over again to see if I might exposed myself to something. It was absolutely oppressive. Riding the NYC subway was a nightmare of handkerchiefs and tissues, and hand cleaning afterwards. Then one day I just decided I did not care anymore. I told myself, the hell with it, let the other shoe drop. I was so mentally exhausted. Always thinking and worrying and worrying and thinking. So I just grabbed handhold on the subway train, no gloves, no tissue. It was torture, but less each time. I washed my hands one less time. I stopped pouring alcohol on my hands and wiping surfaces down. And then one day, it was just gone. Easier to conquer than some of my other episodes. When I tell people these stories they can't believe it. My own wife never seemed to fully grasp it. Anyway, thanks again Dr. Ali!
"The thief of time." Yep, that sounds about right. The sheer number of times I rewinded this video because I kept doubting if I absorbed the information properly, having to hear a certain "key-word" again & again until it felt registered, which I for some reason hold to a greater importance than it actually is 😒
I am doing erp with my therapist, and it can be so hard! Most of the time I do not want to do it, but it’s actually beneficial to me. It’s good to keep trying even though it can be difficult. I wish you the best!
I'm working on ERP therapy by myself since I don't have money, the first time I applied ERP steps and instructions, I succeeded in getting out of ocd loop but after that I felt really sharp chest pain through out the day, is this thing common when trying to treat ocd?
@@lisam8608 Hi! I’m not entirely sure, but sometimes anxiety can have major physical effects on the body, like pain. I personally have not experienced it, but it’s not uncommon to have symptoms like this (I have heard this from other people I know).
@@lisam8608 I would speak to your Doctor if you experience chest pain, sometimes it is a more seripus condition like heart attack or pulmonary embolism, so it's best to get it checked out to find out what it is
Dr Ali, thank you. As someone who’s dealt with Trichotillomania since the age of 4 and generalized ocd…man. The doubting is no joke! I have always found myself “just wanting to make sure” when completing the most mundane tasks. God bless and thank you for your much needed work and time
I have had OCD for more than eleven years, I’ve had days where I couldn’t sleep at night, I had days where obsessions was attacking me consistently from the moment I wake up to the very last second of the day. I have missed so many beautiful moments, I have worried about so many things I shouldn’t be worrying about cause non of them have happened. I’m OCD free now, or almost at least, I couldn’t imagine that someday I would be writing or saying something like this. Yes it wasn’t an easy fight but life is worth fighting. For whoever dealing with it now, do not stop fighting, it might seem hard at the beginning but believe me it’s not. Many beautiful days are ahead, many great people are waiting for you outside to meet them, you can do it
@@Lordran__first of All,if you believe in God,get close to Him! Submit to him and ask him for help,ask him for guidance and ask him for peace and tranquility,only tranquility from him is everlasting and fulfilling Secondly,get comfortable with the thought,allow it play for as long as it wants,don’t try to prove it wrong,don’t try to make it go away,cause it’ll come back worse,that voice will come back with something better to torment you,so let it be,it’s really hard,but you have to allow it do what ever it wants to do,and you’ll see it fade away slowly,it won’t just go away,it’ll take months or years to fully recover,but I promise you’ll start feeling better ! I wish someone told me this two things These are the two main thing that helped the most!
Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd. Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position). It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
The best feeling is when one day you realise all those times you’ve internally fought with yourself and (won) by managing to not act on the impulse, and you end up feeling in control of yourself and your life☀️ Being in nature where it’s quiet has helped me so much: walking, riding my bike (heavy exercise had the opposite effect) just being outside, especially near trees or water. But knowing your triggers is crucial to overcome this false sense of security the compulsions provide. For me they were: being tired, both from doing too much but also poor sleep, too much sugar and being stressed. Stressed out and worried act like happy hour for OCD to creep in and do its damage imo. Also do something that brings joy to your life, where you can submerge yourself - if you don’t have anything that sparks joy; search for it until you find it!🍀😊
This makes me feel better. I procrastinate, hyper focused on everything but myself and the things that I need to finish complete, or start you name it. It’s been such a struggle now after hearing this is so much and with so little words now I I see it. Yes I have been robbed of my time with these thoughts and just going through day-to-day, it is truly exhausting when I haven’t even accomplished my goals moving forward I plan to get help. Best of luck to all of you who have these struggles.
Thank you so much for this video. I've had OCD on and off since I was a teenager. The theme changes all the time and each being more brutally terrifying and debilitating than the last. The constant doubts and reassurances. I have been robbed so much of life because of this. I don't wish this condition on ANYBODY.
I have severe OCD and it's the same. If I tackle one obsession a new one takes it's place or multiply, because it's not about the theme but the way our brains are wired and the way we think not necessarily what it's about. I'm about to do my third stint in the hospital, I know I will never beat this but I'm determined to make a better life despite it. Support can be so so difficult to access though
Thank you for this. I’ve had OCD my entire life, but lost control of it during the pandemic. I never heard someone explain it so accurately as you. I love how you included that it has to feel right. I tried explaining this to my therapist but she was like, ok, let’s set a goal: how many less times do you want to wash your hands? Me: It’s not about a number, it’s about the feeling. Hand washing in itself is not wrong; it’s that horrible feeling. Therapist: I’m gonna need a concrete number, feeling is too vague. I think it’s time to leave my therapist…
@ataylor702that's the hardest part for me and my therapists! I'm more educated on the subject than they are most of the time and the signifier of it being OCD over psychosis is the sufferers insight being unaffected. It feels like they just can't do anything to help me through talk alone.
I just want to thank you for making this video as I have been diagnosed with OCD and have been struggling for quite some time now…the first step was opening up about it but then I felt so completely misunderstood. All I’ve wanted is for someone to understand it and stand by my side. Sometimes it feels impossible to explain. I’m finally seeing a therapist and found this video to share with some of my family and closest friends - it’s one of the best I’ve seen to help explain what I’m feeling. Hopefully it will help them to understand it as well. Thank you 🤍
I can't speak for everyone magic shrooms rejuvenated me, No doubt about that. It lifted an existential angst ( OCD )that I have been carrying for years. It never came back.
I undoubtedly have it. Thank you for this, I have religious trauma that has infused with my ocd. You made me feel a little more normal. I appreciate how well you conveyed what I go through every day and every night.
@CAUGHT UP Linda powerful but if He’s even real He is used by people like you to always bother other people!! Please stop this. I know this comment is 2 months old but do realize that what you’re doing is cruel, this person suffers from religious trauma! Have you no common sense?
Look I can tell your fine , I thought at first that I have to believe everything in my book and don't ask alot but the Surprise was when I knew that god wants us to ask to open up our minds we are special and the whole universe is made for us , so I wasn't scared to ask anything and thanks Allah I find every time the answer that conveniences me , iam Muslim and what you may not know about Islam is that we believe all prophets for example mousa , 3isa you call him Jesus, Mohamed God bless all of them❤. so definitely Jesus wants you to ask without fear .
Thank you so much, I've believed that I most likely have OCD for the past 1-2 years but was afraid to go to the hospital to get a diagnosis, I'm planning to try to go this or next week, but seriously though, thank you so much for making this video, it will be a great video to send when someone asks me about OCD, and now I feel slightly less scared about getting a diagnosis.
i was diagnosed with OCD 2 years ago . More specific i have terrible thoughts with knifes and family members . By even typing it my heart kinda start beating faster . I did one session with a psychologist and as soon as he explained me that am not a lunatic and this is a rare case but still a decent amount of people have it around the world it already made it 75% more manageable . Even tho i did only one session with my therapist i realized that facing my thoughts has actually helped me a lot . What i mean by that is , in the beginning of my OCD journey , i was avoiding stare or even touch knifes because i was scared am going to cause harm to some one . Couple days later i realized that this is also insane and i was kinda furious with my self for acting like a lil boy who is scared of his own thoughts so i said no to the thoughts and started using the knife as a regular person because at the end of the day am the one in charge not my thoughts . My only problem is sometimes here and there i feel incredible guilt for having this thoughts even tho i know they are not real . Most of the times i dont pay attention to it but there are some days that it really affects . But its only for 1 or 2 days and then its gone to the normal again .
@@Bryan-il1vu No bro , my psycologist said he doesn't feel like i need medication and he didn't want to prescribe me nothing . Am telling you its all in our mind . We are the one in control not our thoughts
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an imbalance in brain chemistry. It is irrational delusional thoughts in the brain that are malicious false thoughts that force a person to perform compulsive rituals such as checking door locks or cleaning hands.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an imbalance in brain chemistry. It is irrational delusional thoughts in the brain that are malicious false thoughts that force a person to perform compulsive rituals such as checking door locks or cleaning hands.
@@0408M You can calm down. I thought my ocd was incurable and that it would get worse and make me go crazy and force me to go to the mental clinic. I literally thought i had physochis ir schizophrenia. But when I didn't pay much attention to my thoughts and brushed them off like if they were a daily thought, the thoughts would decrease and slowly go away. If you focus on getting a thought out, it's gonna keep coming back but worse. First step is to calm down Second step is to not pay much attention to your thoughts and don't give them power and control. Third step is to be patient. It's gonna take a while. Fourth step (You may not agree) But read the Bible and pray. Wash your face with cold water and meditate. Get rest and proper nutrition. Fifth step is to get some laughter in and not be negative. Fix your mindset and practice positive thoughts. Always remember to calm down. Literally most of what ocd tells you is a lie. There just obsessions. It took me years to realize that. If you have more questions about your physical health, it's best to ask a doctor to check you. If nothing is wrong, then nothing is wrong, don't let ocd tell you to go back there over and over again. Remember Prayer is the best medicine.
All that has been said here, is exactly what I have been experiencing for two years now. I'm a freshman and my education is on the line due to these symptoms I experience such as; lack of concentration, I'm convinced that I need to study the same thing for a multiple times cause I believe that if I don't then I won't get anything from study. This has been time consuming and exhausting to a point that I feel my memory being affected. I can't seem to stop such kind of madness. For the sake of my education I need help
Omg thank you so much! This is the best video I've found to explain things to my close friends and family. It's a process not just to overcome it but also to educate people. It's a stigma
0:45 I have been describing my mind as "static brain" for YEARS! And my professionals only write it off as anxiety and depression. Finally working with someone who I think understands me.
Intern therapist here, excited to see you posting videos again. (had to take a break from watching because of grad school) keep up the meaningful work :)
Psychedelics definitely have potential to deal with health issues like anxiety and depression,I would like to try them but it's hard to source them here
I have ocd for about 20 years, the first 7,8 years were disastrous. After that I have learnt and still learning to deal with it. When I do something repetitively, its because I am thinking something all the time and not concentrating on what I am doing. once I am out of those thoughts, its not very difficult. What worked for me is, look for why those thoughts and fears are originating in the first place and try to answer them. After that don't get stuck in any thoughts and focus on whatever you're doing and try overcome your fears relentlessly without any procrastination. The sooner you'll overcome your fears the better it will be. Otherwise you'll have to learn it the hard way.
I can remember feeling difficulty breathing one time when I was around 11. Likely anxiety causing me to feel a need to take a deep breath constantly. I struggled with it for months because I believed there was something physically wrong with my lungs. Eventually I was able to logically explain to myself that when I would fall asleep I would breathe fine, so clearly nothing was wrong with my lungs. Today at 24, if I think about my breathing too long, I get extremely anxious. However, things are more difficult now because my obsessions are generally not about physical sensations, and instead involve harm obsessions. I don’t really have a solid logical basis to counter my obsessions. It’s terrible.
I found this video extremely helpful when conducting a psychoed. session with teens and/or their parents. The visuals and simplification of OCD are great convo. starter. With that said, THANK YOU very much for making the time to create this much-needed video!
I used to struggle with intrusive thoughts. I still do, but probably 80% less than when I was in my 20’s and 30’s. Long story short I no longer try and control my thoughts. The more I tried the worse it got. It took a long time to finally sink in, but I realized I can’t control what pops into my head, so I accept this fact and just welcome any and all thoughts. It can be a freak show circus but I just say ok cmon in. I try to laugh about them too which helps. So what I realized was my mind quieted down. I understand this sounds easier than it really is. The key is truly understanding that you’re not your thoughts at all. Just let it be.
Way to Go, Dr. Mattu!!! The best I have seen -you have delivered it exactly..... so many think it is a new vogue thing to have and be funny .... but, the one in the room not laughing has OCD. It is crippling ..things you would love to do, but don't because you know that is a trigger for you to get stuck and so you never do it. I have done medication... and that was a disaster....it numbs you so much that you lose your personality .... no emotion, no excitement, no passion ...after 5 years I quit...I wanted me back ...so I found that behavioral therapy worked...and realized if I can get away from the ritual...just walk away and play a video game...something that occupies my mind for about 15 minutes..then I'd forget what I was counting and why. Before it would last all day...the trick for me was to get a mind engaging alternative ...not tv...video game was the best or a game on phone.... 15 min.... then I could control that anxiety to the point over time it diminished, and the obsessive didn't engage me because I won't be anxious if I get away. This worked for me and I had quite a severe case for years before ever getting any help. Good Luck out there comrades... it's a fight we'll win!
I deal with mild obsessions which started September 2022. I have been learning to accept more my thoughts/intrusions. Though there was never a day I did not have an obsession and that's ok that's normal, I have been practicing to look for the good moments during the day mixed with all the triggers and thoughts. I also focus instead on the things I am passionate about and make me happy.
As a psychotherapist who treats OCD I really appreciate this video. I find a combination of ACT and slow ERP works quite well. I also provide treatment for trauma that may have triggered or exacerbated OCD.
Is there a spectrum of OCD? I could relate a lot from this video although it's not severe but the anxiety I feel when I don't check or do things repeatedly is real. I always questioned myself if I am normal or not
I'm glad someone took the time to explain this well, in layman terms, taking into account most people understand OCD wrong. I had written a long rant about my life with multiple mental and physical health problems, and family problems and financial problems, but I decided to spare everyone of reading that (I deleted the rest and wrote this paragraph).
OH MY GOD YES. This is exactly what I mean when I say I have OCD, I don’t know when it started or why but I count everything I do, I repeat words until they’re right, I retake steps, and I can’t stand certain numbers, I overthink that if I don’t do it then I’ll die or something thing bad will happen and if I feel something needs to be moved again, touched again or somethings not right getting that feeling out of my body is VERY difficult to shake away. I also can’t stand loud noises now unlike before. I can’t stop it and it’s definitely started to take over my life. I think it might be time I see a professional about it because at this point it’s gotten so bad that I count everything, even blinking and breathing, clicking, touching, closing, reading… it’s bad.
After 15 years of struggling with OCD without knowing it even has a name (I thought I am weird and the only weirdo of this kind on this planet) I found some things that help, really decrease the simptoms, though some days are better and some are just like before. What helped me a bit is changes in my diet, more red meat, fruits especially organic apples and peanuts. I ditched toothpaste for two months because I had chopped lips and someone told me it might be from the toothpaste. I replaced it with sodium bicarbonate but it messed up my tooth enamel. Then I used toothpaste again and was shocked when I realized my racing, obsessive thoughts came back with full force. Only then I realized that maybe my improvements had something to do with not using toothpaste. Now I don't use it anymore, instead I use sodium bicarbonate but I dissolve it well with water. Also I noticed when I drink little water, my symptoms are to the roof. And when I am very stressed. Positive self talk helps a lot to calm the mind. There are lots of things that help to keep it under some control and I am just discovering them. There is hope. I think that proper nutrition and hydration keep the nerves and cells healthy, probably that's why it helps. Some days of the month are the worst that's why I think maybe hormones have something to do with it too. Antibacterial soap and shampoo have chemicals that interfere with hormones and create imbalance. I replaced them with normal soap and baby shampoo. I know therapy is a must but I can't afford it and I don't want to take medication as long as I can still function on some level. Now I want to try different changes and diets because I see it can help. Good luck to you!
I'm 75 and I have struggled with OCD for most of my life. I've seen multiple therapists and tried many medications. Nothing seems to work for very long. Now that I am old and suffer with chronic pain, the OCD is even worse. On the days I have to leave the house, I obsess about every aspect of preparation. Even taking a shower is a nightmare. My daughter was killed 8 months ago and her death has been devastating for me mentally and spiritually. I saw a "grief" counselor for awhile, but she made me feel worse. She would ask me the same questions repeatedly from session to session as if she didn't remember me. I once asked her outright, "Do you remember who I am?" She said that she did, but she constantly referred to her notes. I am a Christian and I believe that God cares for me and that ultimately I will go to Heaven. But here on earth my daily walk feels so painful and lonely. I pray and make gratitude lists and that helps. Mostly I feel frustrated and exhausted.
I was at a horrible period till I started praying and I felt much better I’m still a huge work in progress but I’m better than I was at that time. I will say though before that I was not a religious person and in honest I’m still not completely. I have weak faith. Not something I’m proud of. Part of me thinks it was just me finding comfort and hope in something finally that helped me and that it was just a phase. Other part of me believes I was actually looked after and helped I still say a prayer in the morning and night. I hope I can believe more at some point I would love it. As for you I’m sorry you are going through this I really am. Hang in there. It’s worth it to make it to the next day. God and our family would want that so we should give ‘em that. Even if it means suffer for us 😞
Hello, It sounds like you have been through a lot. I really admire your resilience! I'm sorry to hear the multiple therapists you have seen and many medications you have tried haven't helped much. My OCD began when I was in my late teens. Over the course of two decades I have been searching for things that help with this condition. I have found that various things help. One tool in particular that did not remove OCD altogether but which helped me feel so much better is called Emotional Freedom Technique (sometimes known as tapping). I am in the process of creating a TH-cam channel sharing this technique but would also love to work one to one with people to offer more individualised help (please know that I only charge for work that people find helpful). I don't think anyone's daily walk here on earth should be painful and lonely. Please send me a wee message if you would be interested in working together or in finding out more. Either way I send good wishes your way! Ela x
I absolutely love your video. I have "arranging " and obsessively doing the same things everyday at the same time. I've basically lost most of my life due to this disorder. I feel like it's a curse most days. Thankyou.
this was so incredibly eye opening. it explained all the suffering I’ve been going through these past years. I wish I could show this to myself a year ago, it would have helped me so much
I have a different form of OCD. Counting, writing and re-writing, radio volume on certain numbers only, counting everything, repeating words, symmetry, etc. I cannot write anything down. I will re-write until I have used an entire notebook. Grocery list? Forget it. I don’t only have to be sure it is 100% perfect in terms of handwriting and spacing, but that the items are ordered correctly in the same order as I would come upon them at the store. I can’t make myself stop. I have tried.
Your absolutely right, people use the word 'manic' in the same casual way and I think to myself you have no clue what manic looks like! I began ocd rituals when I was around 6 years old. I lived in a domestic violent home and it was my way of feeling some sort of control in an environment where I had none. Having ocd is being a prisoner in your own mind, takes so much and many years to be able to 'let go'.
I am someone who has suffered from profound and disabling OCD for at least 5 years (probably longer). However, I have almost cured it (I expect it will be completely cured within the next year). In my opinion, discussion around the brain, particularly that people with OCD are "wired differently" is superfluous and nonsense. It also does not help as it makes them think there is no way out. I cured OCD by doing a variation of exposure response therapy (on my own). Fundamentally, with OCD, you have a core belief or intrusive thought (mine was - you have done that wrong) that then creates a profound degree of anxiety in every day life (I have locked the door wrong or turned off the hob wrong or read something wrong) which then creates a compulsion that temporarily or ostensibly reduces the anxiety. However, when you do the compulsion, you perpetuate and entertain the idea that the intrusive thought/ core belief is TRUE. That is the biggest problem. People with OCD need to understand that their core belief/ intrusive thought (its almost invariably the same thing that applies to multiple situations) is fundamentally not true. Not just that it isn't true - it is utter nonsense. Why it is there is a diffetent question. Once you understand this, you can stop doing the compulsions (which is very hard at first). Your body then becomes used to the anxiety and slowly realises that the things you are anxious about do not happen, meaning the intrusive thought/ core belief is not true. Once this happens, you do it more and more and you are cured. To my mind, talking about the brain in this context is so pointless. Fantastic - I now know which areas of my brain flare up when this happens. However, I want to know WHY it happens (which, to my mind, can only come from IDEAS put inside your head, probably in childhood). Is this issue therefore biological? No, not really. If something is createsd, born of, an idea, then it is not biological in the sense that cancer is biological. Cancer cannot be born of an idea. OCD can. Biological explanations of OCD simply explain physically what I already know mentally. Hope you read this comment and keen to know what you think. When I say severe OCD btw, I mean profoundly bad. 4 days in one room going over the same byzantine compulsions. I am now almost completely cured. I feel like a new person.
Hats off to you bro here we are I was too battling with OCD for past 2 yrs and not cured but still managing daily non triggering tasks flawlessly and gained so much knowledge of applying ERP only prblm is that i am stuck to a particular number of repetition and and ERP is too though in eradication of last segments of OCD. However I have found a way out after exp.of 2yrs but as you said you almost cured it so plz tell me how to eradicate last remaining small no. of compulsions.they literally sucks.
@@user-eg2mt7iq5h what I would say is that you need to FUNDAMENTALLY understand why you do the compulsions. When you do the compulsions, what are you trying to stop? What are you trying to make sure won't happen? What are you trying to avoid? When you do the compulsions, what do you think will happen if you don't do them? What you need to understand is that nothing will happen if you don't do your compulsions. Next time you have the urge do to a compulsion. Pause and try to understand what you think is going to happen if you don't do your compulsion. Then ask yourself if that is true. Really think about this. Think about why you believe that. Think about the reason you believe that. Is it something that happened to you in the past? Only when you truly understand why you are doing the compulsions can you actually cure OCD. When you understand that the intrusive thought that makes you anxious is intrinsically untrue and therefore doing the compulsions is literally pointless and only serves to perpetuate the disorder, the compulsions become pointless. So ask yourself what you are trying to avoid by doing the compulsions? Then ask yourself why you think that big thing is going to happen? Really try and understand this, because you are trying to avoid something. You are trying to avoid a pain that is fundamentally untrue and does not need to be avoided. All you need to do is realise that this pain does not exist and that nothing is going to happen if you don't do the compulsion to avoid it.
I like the humor, as a very loving person I tend to get harming my loved ones and the religious OCD. It runs in our family and one day my four year old came to me crying that he has thoughts that make him do certain things or his Mommy and Daddy. I just smiled and hugged him and thanked him for sharing. Then I explained to him , we are not sure why, but Mommy and Grandpa have it so that is why you have it. And we are not alone millions and millions of people have it. It went away for him instantly but later during his stressful years it popped back up. But he was in his early 20s and knew what it was and got online counseling. Now he is working on becoming a counselor.
Best video I have seen about OCD. Having it myself, I agree a 100% about the concept of “the thief of time”. Still struggling with it but my therapist and psychiatrist really helps me to deal and find a way to cope. Congratulations on the excellent video!
Ocd and every mental issue is completely curable. Modern medicine just doesn't reach that. Please try daily anulom vilom and meditation. It will cure you. It will be hard in start, but Don't give up. There is proof of brain scans that meditation can rewire our brains within just 6 weeks. There are many types of meditation. Since you're a beginner, you should do some easy meditation, like transcendental meditation. I started it as a beginner and it was very good for instant focus.
This video started with me doubting my OCD, around the middle he started to describe my experience, then he started to describe how I had begun to self treat, and suddenly he had me recoiling in horror with "touch something contaminated". Almost had an urge to wash my hands for that alone. I'm getting better, but some things are not as much of a problem as others. I'm comfortable with my level of wanting my hands clean. It took years to break my compulsion to repeat everything I said four times.
oh my god thank you Doctor! I have had OCD my entire life and it was because of these stereotypes in the popular culture that it took me SIXTEEN YEARS to get diagnosed. Please keep up the good work! :D
Thank you so much for this clear and easy to understand explanation. I have had many of the weird thoughts you mentioned and have made me even question my sanity. It's good to know I may be more normal than I thought.
I was diagnosed with ocd at 18 and I was really upsetted by the diagnosis so much so that I tried to completely reject it. I didn’t want to have OCD and I’d try to find excuses for why I couldn’t have it. Im 20 turning 21 in October and I’ve decided I can’t run from this. I wanna be a functioning member of society and a good person and just because I have OCD does NOT mean I can’t be those things. Thank you this video helped comfort me and come to terms with my diagnosis.
Amazing video and explanation. Thanks for spreading awareness on this topic! OCD really is a thief of time…I can’t even imagine the amount of hours I have lost to fighting my OCD inside of my head!
Hi so this is the first in a long time writing a comment on TH-cam, but I do this now because I seek out help. So this my situation: At the age of 13 I started with this really clear and bad ocd signs, and it developed drasticcaly until I was 14 years old. This was under corona times, I was home alone alot with homeschool, which probably made the situation vorse. I really suffered from this thoughts and actions I felt I had to reapeat, or else I felt something bad would happen. Examples of this actions: I had to stand on this spot and watch this painting for 5 minutes straight, I could not leave the bathroom until everything was clean. And the thoughts I had was that I had to think these certain things about myself, family or friends or else they would suffer or myself. This thoughts really haunted my mind for 2 years, and I constantly had to think these thoughts trough a day too feel safe. Ofcourse, this had a really negative effect on my daily life, it held me back from soscial activites/friends, and it affected my school situation. When the corona restrictions were over, and school started, I still really suffered and was haunted by the thoughts and forced actions. At the worst times, it made come so late to school, that the teacher and principal sent a letter to my parents, as a warning that my grades would be lowered. So this countiued for a long time (felt like an enternity ofc), until now as I am 16 years old. My situation is alot better, I have almost cleared myeself from this impulses and actions that I had to repeat over and over. The thoughts are still there, a little better than they was, but some days they are worse than others. And this winter has been really challenging, trying to controll my thoughts. This make very anxiuos and stressed all the time, and I have a hard time keeping it away from my parents ( I know I should talk with them, its just hard). The point of this comment is that I ask for help or any tips from people that suffer like me, or if anny of you people have any suggestions on what I can do to help me controll these thougts. Im really sorry about making such a long comment😅 But English is not my native language, so I have a hard time formulating my complex problem. Thank you if you took the time reading this, and I would really bee gratefull for and tips or help I could get. From a troubled 16 year old boy.
This is so helpful. My brother is currently suffering with OCD following a cancer diagnosis and I’m having such a hard time understanding his thinking. This is much appreciated.
Bro you hit the nail on the head. Thanks for 1, understanding this to such an legitimate level; you could've fooled me into thinking you have it. You must work with OCD patients, no? and 2) using your platform to let people understand this better.
for the past 5 years, i've been thinking that i had OCD but everything i read up or watched videos about OCD kinda came to the conclusion that one can't have OCD unless i have all 3 elements of OCD. but after watching your video, i can kinda confirm that i DO have OCD on top of my major depressive disorder and general anxiety features. i've had 2 different psychiatrists brush me off and shut me down when i brought up the possibility of me having OCD, telling me that it's just my anxiety. but the thing is, DOUBT is always present in even my most mundane tasks, even during when i give in to my compulsions to alleviate the anxiety. next time i come in for my psych session, i'm gonna confront my doctor and will not back down until i'm able to convey all my symptoms and how OCD has been ruling my life these past half decade. thank you for this video.
This video literally almost brought me to tears because of how much aligns with my behaviours. I'm so happy to be finally getting all my issues sorted out so I can be more productive with my life by being open with my doctors. The "thief of time" is what struck me the most. I've never felt such a bittersweet moment until right then
I've had OCD and anxiety most of my life, its gotten worse since covid. Most people don't understand it and think its just hand washing and cleaning, it's not it's a lot of things. For me its like im permanently stuck on a never ending roller coaster 😂
Came here because one of my friend is having such problems. This video made me much clear about his thoughts... now I could understand him too better. Hope you people do be doing well
This is so sad that people joke about OCD, I have experienced all types of OCD since I was 17 and I am 28 now, from self harm to doubts literally everything. But I know one thing for sure I will get out of this and I will! I have conquered most of it but yet to fully conquer it that too without medication or therapy.
Can you guys tell me if medication works or atleast works a little? One of my biggest sources of hope is that I will get medication sometime soon and I will feel or be normal again eventually but I start having thoughts what if the medicine don’t work what will happen then..
@@EagleEntity …. I do not take meds because it derives from opiates. I believe anxiety is a phase. When we are chronically anxious or highly stressed out, the ocd thoughts start.
@@ElizabethGonzalez-jt7ns so your belief is that if anxiety can be controlled or even eliminated so too does the intrusive thoughts? I wake up with anxiety for no reason but usually my anxiety stems from the intrusive thoughts and wanting to fight it away. You know
@@EagleEntity … yes. I believe that for ocd to be under control, first we must lower the anxiety. Usually, people who undergo a very stressful situation or trauma then struggle with OCD. Anxiety comes first.
I was diagnosed with it when i was 25. I struggled with it since my teens and i thought i was sick and gross and something was wrong with me. I had to get help after my daughter was born because i couldn't hardly talk to people without the thoughts bombarding me. I was so grateful for the diagnosis and realizing i wasn't crazy. Thankfully years later I've gotten a lot of counseling for things and i don't struggle with it like i used to.
Please try daily anulom vilom and meditation. It will cure you. It will be hard in start, but Don't give up. There is proof of brain scans that meditation can rewire our brains within just 6 weeks. There are many types of meditation. Since you're a beginner, you should do some easy meditation, like transcendental meditation. I started it as a beginner and it was very good for instant focus.
I had it as a teenager it was a horrible affliction. But one day I told myself this is bs and basically mentally reprogrammed my brain. I just told myself stop doing this. And kinda imagined myself downloading a new program and I've rid out of my life completely.
Basically just had a sudden realization that this was bulls**t and I'm totally enslaved by it. And visualized me downloading new mental software and ever since then I've rid it
You are not your thoughts. They might be scary. That doesn't make them dangerous.
Can you please make a video on mysophobia.
I was suffering from mysophobia from 2 years then I visited a psychologist and got my self better but after 1 year year now I realize that the root cause was the phobia of ringworm and now I am struggling with it. No matter where I go I just feel that this place might be contaminated with ringworm fungus. What should I do
🥺❤
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calling OCD the thief of time is a very accurate and smart description. I cannot tell you how many beautiful moments with my family I can only remember minutes of because the rest of that time I was inside my own mind doing compulsions.
This. 😔
bingo👍👍👍
I have missed so much. Just waking up every day worrying about crazy thoughts.
wow this is exactly how I feel it too!🙁
yaass😢😢😢
The worst part about OCD is the unwanted thoughts 😩
i agreed with you.
Interesting. Mine are my compulsions. I am now disabled by my OCD and haven’t left the house in months because I don’t have the energy to do all the compulsions.
True
@@Rowanda7361i hope you’re doing okay. I also struggle and find it exhausting, you aren’t alone:)
My "thoughts" from OCD almost feel like fighting like another voice in my head.
I was diagnosed with mild to moderate OCD. All I can say is my heart goes out to anyone with severe OCD.
I hope you are doing better.
Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd. Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position).
It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
@@FlowersandNature852what exactly is this method?
@@noraaa8479 For the mudra,Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position).
Also, there are other mudras but this one works the best. You can also add Ashtanga yoga to your practice. Especially pranayam and meditation. Search on Google for more with detailed pictures.
@@noraaa8479 and do it everyday for atleast 30 minutes. Don't stop it. Make it a morning routine.
About 8 months ago out of nowhere, I got severe OCD as a 23yo male. I still can't believe what happened to me. I'm experiencing anxiety at levels that I never even knew a human being could experience. At first, I did not believe I had OCD because It had nothing to do with germs. Later I figured out it can be about anything. The lvls of pain and anxiety are completely unfathomable and illogical. A non-sufferer will never understand this. I'm forever thankful people like you are spreading the world about what OCD actually is about.
If it’s not too impolite
Why kind of thoughts did your ocd fixated themselves on?
@@anselmopat4985 Not impolite at all. Mine is fixated on free will. Makes me believe I have no choice in anything I do. I'm starting to get a hold on it thanks to Mark Freeman and some other great TH-cam channels. Doing a lot better than in the beginning for sure!
So true!! It is literally the worst thing that ever happened to me
Im so sorry to hear that. I had severe OCD for 5 years, but by the grace of God was totally delivered of it 1 and a half year ago
Dont give up hope, talk to God, it isn't you but something in you
@@Romina2711 As someone who’s been in therapy for OCD, I find your comment disgusting. I’m glad religion worked for you, but please don’t preach unverified remedies to vulnerable people.
I don’t know why, but hearing that it’s physical and not my fault made me cry. I really needed to hear that.
💜
so true buddy! all these I thought it was my fault and cursed myself! but for the first time am feeling better about myself that even after such a rough time with this am still kicking through life and proud of myself .
It’s spiritual warfare God does not gives us a spirit of fear but of peace, love & sound mind*
@@danniellejohnson448 yeaaaah I was raised Catholic for my entire life and still have OCD so I think it’s a bit more complicated that that 🙃
I had the same reaction when I was first diagnosed. Now you can let it go (with professional help!) and rest assured that it is not you.
Ive come to describe my OCD as "I don't control my thoughts, my thoughts control me."
So true
Real
"your thoughts may be scary but they are not dangerous" is how i got through the suicidal part of my depression. It's a lesson i still take comfort in no matter what weird it stupid thing my brain might sometimes come up with. i wish this was talked about more.
I had almost debilitating OCD as a child. I hid my symptoms from my mom because I was afraid I was crazy. I washed my hands until the skin cracked and bled. I was miserable. For some reason my symptoms increased in intensity at night. I gradually improved by forcing myself think logically to stop nonsensical behavior. For instance, I’d want to flip that switch a second time, I’d stop, ask myself why, then tell myself my answer was unrealistic, and walk away. This often induced nausea, and sweating. But when I could overcome, each won battle made me better. I never saw a therapist, and actually didn’t even know I had a “condition” until I was about 20. I’m 41 now, and and when a stressful event happens in my life, my symptoms all start coming back and I have to fight all over again. I guess it’s a demon I’ll never be fully rid of.
It truly is a demon
I had severe OCD for five years, couldnt touch people without disinfecting right away
But God delivered me one and a half year ago
The psychologist told me I would have to deal this with this all my life but God is bigger
Dont lose hope, talk to God
@Romina how did this happen? I would love to know.
My syptoms come back when I move to a new place and get worse in the winter -- kinda similar
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an imbalance in brain chemistry. It is irrational delusional thoughts in the brain that are malicious false thoughts that force a person to perform compulsive rituals such as checking door locks or cleaning hands.
@@Polina-hn7hu Thank you for your post. I think you are spot on. I feel that I should add some detail in defense of my mother, however… My OCD started at the age of 10, when my parents divorced. I was crazy about my dad, and he left quickly and unexpectedly. It devastated me AND my mother. She withdrew into an emotional bubble and I felt completely alone. She was fighting serious depression. Other things happened to me following the divorce that only added to my feelings of fear and instability. So, yes, I believe if I’d had more support it may have saved me from OCD, but I don’t lay that fault at my mother’s feet. I’m just thankful she survived that heartbreak and depression and is still with me today.
While I still struggle with these thoughts, I want to make everyone aware that as I've gotten older I have learned overcome these intrusive thoughts and the anxiety that comes with them. Through time and practice you can overcome your OCD. You've got this!
@ aidan Hello, could you please explain a bit more in detail on HOW to get over these intrusive thoughts?
@@christinwinterpracht9301 Well, a lot of it I grew out of as I got older and more mature but this is my best advice (NOTE: Consult a psychiatrist if you want legitimate help. I am not a licensed professional and everything I am telling you is based off my experience, what may work for me may not work for you and so on):
1. Recognizing how irrational the thoughts are. Just because you did X does not logically mean it will equate to Y.
2. Recognizing that most people don’t deal with these intrusive thoughts or compulsions and that you are not a special case.
3. Resisting the compulsions.
I hope this helps!
Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd.
Also, add meditation to your routine if you want more improvement in all aspects of your life. Search on types of meditation and do what suits you best. It's very hard for a ocd person to meditate, I know , that's why do the mudra for few days and when you get a bit better, then start pranayam and meditation and also do the mudra with it.
For the mudra,Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position).
It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
Yes, me as well. They’re still there but I’m aware so it’s much easier to deal with. It still gets me on occasion but nothing like before. Now let me clarify. There’s still things I do and have to see a certain way and still have that like cloudiness (maybe not the right word) that tries to block me from getting everything needed lined up (this is so freaking hard to explain with words) in my mind but now I’m aware, I can just move past it and not dwell on moving past it. Again, this is so hard to explain. I also pray daily and that is what helped me. Even though the ironic thing is, is sometimes the actual prayer itself is hard to get through and that’s when my mind is going bananas. 😂 so weird.
Same here with me. I’ve had it since I was a teenager. It has gotten better. The only way I’ve gotten through it, is through God and literally ignoring the thoughts as much as I possibly can. Sometimes exposing the doubt is helpful too, because you then realize that the thought/belief was a lie.
Great explanation of what OCD ACTUALLY is. 💜
Thanks for the feedback!!! I’ve got two more on OCD coming out this month.
@@drali @Doctor Ali Amazing! I'm going to send you a message!
What do you mean? That it is biological? How can something be both biological and cured by behavioural (non biological) treatment? If OCD is caused by childhood trauma, how is it biological? Cancer (actually biological) cannot be caused by trauma.
@Alex Mccormick I'm not an expert, but do we know that having a biological predisposition for cancer is all it takes to cause it? What about stress and it's effect on our immune systems? Couldn't that be caused by trauma?
@@999dayslater well, cancer can be caused by radiation
As a psychotherapist who helps some patients with OCD, I have to say: magnificent overview! Congrats!
As someone with diagnosed OCD, I feel it's by far the best explanation I've ever seen. It has this "you're staring into my soul" effect to it. Great work!
Same! Have OCD and agree 100 percent.
Vitamin B1 and inositol helps lessen Ocd. Thank God
@@joydarling314 Thank you for sharing, I'm looking into that. I can't take the drug medications so vitamines sound like a good option or the good diet version.
@@estari4Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd. Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position).
It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
@@FlowersandNature852 Thank you so much for sharing! I shall try that. ☺
As a licensed therapist myself, this is one of the best explanations of OCD. 👍
Thn help pls
i have ocd and i always lose so much respect when people joke about being so ocd to my face. Makes me feel so alone and small
Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd.
Also, add meditation to your routine if you want more improvement in all aspects of your life. Search on types of meditation and do what suits you best. It's very hard for a ocd person to meditate, I know , that's why do the mudra for few days and when you get a bit better, then start pranayam and meditation and also do the mudra with it.
For the mudra,Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position).
It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
😢
Oh, I really don’t mind it. I have bad ocd, have had it forever. But it’s like with many words - it just takes on a different meaning, next to the clinical one.
I have OCD since I was a young child. It is hellish. It makes you so exhausted both mentally and psychologically.
"the thief of time" is the perfect nickname for OCD!
💯
I prefer "Psychological UTI" for OCD.
It's doubt, incompleteness, intrusive thoughts, disgust, and it's very suggestive. It morphs into different obsessions and compulsions, sometimes without noticing. It's anxiety about being anxious. It steals precious time and fills the time that's left with shame and guilt. The irony is that no amount of compulsions will ever satisfy the obsessions.
I can't will myself to stop, but knew thing I've noticed is that food, chemicals, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, most of what I can tell that's related to histamine over-production or not breaking it down properly, seem to have biggest effect, good or bad.
One of the worst compulsions I had involved making sure my bladder was 10000% empty, I'd use the bathroom, get up, and sit back down. I could not let myself sleep unless I thought my bladder was completely empty.
I do this too and it takes me a hour
And then it still doesn't feel right
@@ashleyk6553 I know exactly what you mean, it's a long process but I'm sure you'll get better soon. Part of my healing was forcing myself to sleep, even if I still felt like going to the bathroom.
It happened with me too. Quite crazy!
Im experiencing that right now…. Its so stupid…
Thank you for posting this. Whenever I talk about my OCD with friends or people I know, I am always met with 'Oh I do that too,' or 'Oh I think I have OCD too' and it just feels so invalidating because I know they don't spend the majority of their every day thinking about ruminations, compulsions, and worrying about simple things. Yes, they may have 1-2 small behaviors but that does not mean they have OCD. They do not know what it is like to not be able to leave the bathroom without picking every inch of your skin or having a meltdown when someone sets your backpack on the ground. These are things I have struggled with almost my entire life and people saying 'Oh me too' when they really just want to have neatened pencils makes people like me with debilitating OCD really invalidated and sad. I appreciate your video saying that and I hope it gets more views.
True. People think just rechecking if the door is locked counts in as ocd but it's worse. Like for me it was I had to turn the doorknob in multiples of 9 and only shut the door when I heard the 'perfect' sound.
Similarly I exhibited these behaviours in random tasks such as walking , reading etc.
I had ocd in my middle to high school years. I don't have it anymore but only recently realised that it's an actual disorder and not just me
I completely agree with you, I always try to explain this to the many folks who think they are ocd because they like their house clean. Drives me crazy because this disorder has taken over my life and is extremely debilitating.
@@appreciate8084 do you take any medication for ocd
Have you checked channel brahma life,its best for ocd related problems
Im going through it rn andt tahk uou for making me not feel alone
I have OCD...I'm on treatment...but it's really a zig zag road with treatment too... prayers fr all who r suffering....thanks a lot for making this video...good video
Bro I am from India as well, how do I tell me parents about this ? It's been 6 years by now ! Pls help me , I am begging you
youve got this, you are in control of your thoughts and narratives keep goin
90% percent of my life is dealing with OCD the other 10% is me hiding the severity of it.
@@donovanreed3236 I took Lexapro! It helped so much for a while ! At one point it helped too much though. I stopped feeling ANY emotions yes ocd was mostly gone but so was everything else it almost felt like I had brain damage. My flight or fight response was gone. Holding a puppy felt no different from folding laundry. No excitement no anger, no joy, no sense of accomplishment after completing tasks no depression or sadness but equal for happiness and joy. I am only now back to normal now after over a year of being off of it. This is not to discourage you from medication just to inform. Most people don't get such severe discontinuation syndrome and I do have more sensitivity to medication.
@@donovanreed3236 if you have to take mediation start low and work your way up. Also try not to be on it long-term like I was.
I have had OCD ever since I can remember. I have been looking for something to truly help people understand WHAT it is. Thank you for this informative video!
You’re welcome! Thanks for leaving this comment.
Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd. Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position).
It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
I've been getting treatment for my OCD for nearly two years now and have made fantastic progress! Just weaned off of medication (SSRI) after mastering some techniques. The thoughts certainly feel stronger than they did while I was on the medication, but what's great is that, while uncomfortable, I actually have the tools to deny the compulsions now, even without medication!
I hope anyone else who is struggling and starting to get help sees this and knows that it DOES get better, a LOT better!
Videos like this helped me get the right treatment. Thanks for helping to educate!
Hi Smith. What medication did you take and how long thanks
@Bryan I took Citalopram, 10mg (the generic form of brand name CELEXA) for 6 months. Took about two weeks before it really noticably kept me calm, and about a month of weaning off. It never truly changed who I was, but my emotions were far easier to control. Whenever I would get an anxiety spike, It wouldn't come along as hard, and I was able to apply my techniques a lot easier. I may consider going on it again in the future, but for now, I will stay off of it just to practice using everything without medicine. I am genuinely better even without it since going to therapy and getting help!
@@Real_Iron_Smith i am taking ssri did not work much I have to take klonopin temporary . So stress out and depression
@@Bryan-il1vu I am sorry to hear that... but remember to keep working with the techniques, and I hope a medication can be found that helps!
@@Real_Iron_Smith do you have any experience to control anxiety sharing
Thanks very
Thank you for that wonderfully clear explanation. I've had episodes of OCD from time to time and they are crippling. In one episode back in the early 90s I had a terrible fear of infection. I knew every detail about HIV and AIDS infection. Of course, my fear was completely irrational. I didn't fall into any risk group. And yet, I was sick with worry. Constant hand-washing, repeating events in my head over and over again to see if I might exposed myself to something. It was absolutely oppressive. Riding the NYC subway was a nightmare of handkerchiefs and tissues, and hand cleaning afterwards. Then one day I just decided I did not care anymore. I told myself, the hell with it, let the other shoe drop. I was so mentally exhausted. Always thinking and worrying and worrying and thinking. So I just grabbed handhold on the subway train, no gloves, no tissue. It was torture, but less each time. I washed my hands one less time. I stopped pouring alcohol on my hands and wiping surfaces down. And then one day, it was just gone. Easier to conquer than some of my other episodes. When I tell people these stories they can't believe it. My own wife never seemed to fully grasp it. Anyway, thanks again Dr. Ali!
Great 👍🏻. I'm inspired by your story. I hope I too muster the courage to do what you did.
Exposure Therapy treats OCD in this way.
So proud of you and u were your own doctor!!!!❤
"The thief of time." Yep, that sounds about right. The sheer number of times I rewinded this video because I kept doubting if I absorbed the information properly, having to hear a certain "key-word" again & again until it felt registered, which I for some reason hold to a greater importance than it actually is 😒
I was diagnosed with OCD this year - response prevention is such hard work.
Absolutely. It takes a lot of courage.
I am doing erp with my therapist, and it can be so hard! Most of the time I do not want to do it, but it’s actually beneficial to me. It’s good to keep trying even though it can be difficult. I wish you the best!
I'm working on ERP therapy by myself since I don't have money, the first time I applied ERP steps and instructions, I succeeded in getting out of ocd loop but after that I felt really sharp chest pain through out the day, is this thing common when trying to treat ocd?
@@lisam8608 Hi! I’m not entirely sure, but sometimes anxiety can have major physical effects on the body, like pain. I personally have not experienced it, but it’s not uncommon to have symptoms like this (I have heard this from other people I know).
@@lisam8608 I would speak to your Doctor if you experience chest pain, sometimes it is a more seripus condition like heart attack or pulmonary embolism, so it's best to get it checked out to find out what it is
The way you approach mental health topics is both informative and empathetic. It's evident that you genuinely care about your audience. Kudos!
Thanks for making this video. I've been suffering with OCD for about 4 years now and there's nowhere near enough videos on it.
Dr Ali, thank you. As someone who’s dealt with Trichotillomania since the age of 4 and generalized ocd…man. The doubting is no joke! I have always found myself “just wanting to make sure” when completing the most mundane tasks. God bless and thank you for your much needed work and time
I have had OCD for more than eleven years, I’ve had days where I couldn’t sleep at night, I had days where obsessions was attacking me consistently from the moment I wake up to the very last second of the day. I have missed so many beautiful moments, I have worried about so many things I shouldn’t be worrying about cause non of them have happened. I’m OCD free now, or almost at least, I couldn’t imagine that someday I would be writing or saying something like this. Yes it wasn’t an easy fight but life is worth fighting.
For whoever dealing with it now, do not stop fighting, it might seem hard at the beginning but believe me it’s not.
Many beautiful days are ahead, many great people are waiting for you outside to meet them, you can do it
How did you fight it?
@@Lordran__first of All,if you believe in God,get close to Him! Submit to him and ask him for help,ask him for guidance and ask him for peace and tranquility,only tranquility from him is everlasting and fulfilling
Secondly,get comfortable with the thought,allow it play for as long as it wants,don’t try to prove it wrong,don’t try to make it go away,cause it’ll come back worse,that voice will come back with something better to torment you,so let it be,it’s really hard,but you have to allow it do what ever it wants to do,and you’ll see it fade away slowly,it won’t just go away,it’ll take months or years to fully recover,but I promise you’ll start feeling better !
I wish someone told me this two things
These are the two main thing that helped the most!
Best video I've seen in a long time. As someone with severe OCD,I can say you really captured the essence of the disorder.
Please do chin mudra or Gyan mudra everyday for atleast 30 minutes. It will cure all your mental issues, including ocd. Just join your thumb and index finger together with a very slight pressure (don't overdo the pressure, otherwise it won't work. Also make sure you don't have pressure anywhere else in your hand and are in a very relaxed position).
It changed me completely. I don't ever get any ocd symptoms just after doing it for 15 days, but I did it atleast 3-4 hours a day as I was determined and impatient to see the results fast.
As someone who suffers from this disorder, I appreciate this educational video and know that we are all loved!
The best feeling is when one day you realise all those times you’ve internally fought with yourself and (won) by managing to not act on the impulse, and you end up feeling in control of yourself and your life☀️ Being in nature where it’s quiet has helped me so much: walking, riding my bike (heavy exercise had the opposite effect) just being outside, especially near trees or water. But knowing your triggers is crucial to overcome this false sense of security the compulsions provide. For me they were: being tired, both from doing too much but also poor sleep, too much sugar and being stressed. Stressed out and worried act like happy hour for OCD to creep in and do its damage imo. Also do something that brings joy to your life, where you can submerge yourself - if you don’t have anything that sparks joy; search for it until you find it!🍀😊
Another giant part of ocd that goes unmentioned is the mental compulsions, and how it targets your core beliefs/values!
'Pure O' OCD is the hardest to treat, and existential OCD is the hardest form of that to treat. Guess what I got.
This makes me feel better. I procrastinate, hyper focused on everything but myself and the things that I need to finish complete, or start you name it. It’s been such a struggle now after hearing this is so much and with so little words now I I see it. Yes I have been robbed of my time with these thoughts and just going through day-to-day, it is truly exhausting when I haven’t even accomplished my goals moving forward I plan to get help. Best of luck to all of you who have these struggles.
Thank you so much for this video. I've had OCD on and off since I was a teenager. The theme changes all the time and each being more brutally terrifying and debilitating than the last. The constant doubts and reassurances. I have been robbed so much of life because of this. I don't wish this condition on ANYBODY.
I have severe OCD and it's the same. If I tackle one obsession a new one takes it's place or multiply, because it's not about the theme but the way our brains are wired and the way we think not necessarily what it's about.
I'm about to do my third stint in the hospital, I know I will never beat this but I'm determined to make a better life despite it. Support can be so so difficult to access though
Thank you for this. I’ve had OCD my entire life, but lost control of it during the pandemic. I never heard someone explain it so accurately as you. I love how you included that it has to feel right. I tried explaining this to my therapist but she was like, ok, let’s set a goal: how many less times do you want to wash your hands? Me: It’s not about a number, it’s about the feeling. Hand washing in itself is not wrong; it’s that horrible feeling. Therapist: I’m gonna need a concrete number, feeling is too vague. I think it’s time to leave my therapist…
Maybe your therapist needs to watch this video…
sis how your feel now 😢
@ataylor702that's the hardest part for me and my therapists! I'm more educated on the subject than they are most of the time and the signifier of it being OCD over psychosis is the sufferers insight being unaffected. It feels like they just can't do anything to help me through talk alone.
You need someone who specializes in OCD.
you need someone who specialies in ERP!
I just want to thank you for making this video as I have been diagnosed with OCD and have been struggling for quite some time now…the first step was opening up about it but then I felt so completely misunderstood. All I’ve wanted is for someone to understand it and stand by my side. Sometimes it feels impossible to explain. I’m finally seeing a therapist and found this video to share with some of my family and closest friends - it’s one of the best I’ve seen to help explain what I’m feeling. Hopefully it will help them to understand it as well. Thank you 🤍
I can't speak for everyone magic shrooms rejuvenated me, No doubt about that. It lifted an existential angst ( OCD )that I have been carrying for years. It never came back.
Magic mushrooms are the safest recreational drug to take.
Heard so much about magic mushrooms I'lld like to give it a try please where do I get?
Doctor.hayles
𝕴𝖓𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖌𝖗𝖆𝖒
doc.felchshrooms grows and sells the best strains.
I undoubtedly have it. Thank you for this, I have religious trauma that has infused with my ocd. You made me feel a little more normal. I appreciate how well you conveyed what I go through every day and every night.
Thank you for your feedback!
Try looking into "scrupulosity." It's very real
@CAUGHT UP Linda no one asked. Your comment is highly inappropriate as a response to someone mentioning their religious trauma.
@CAUGHT UP Linda powerful but if He’s even real He is used by people like you to always bother other people!! Please stop this. I know this comment is 2 months old but do realize that what you’re doing is cruel, this person suffers from religious trauma! Have you no common sense?
Look I can tell your fine , I thought at first that I have to believe everything in my book and don't ask alot but the Surprise was when I knew that god wants us to ask to open up our minds we are special and the whole universe is made for us , so I wasn't scared to ask anything and thanks Allah I find every time the answer that conveniences me , iam Muslim and what you may not know about Islam is that we believe all prophets for example mousa , 3isa you call him Jesus, Mohamed God bless all of them❤. so definitely Jesus wants you to ask without fear .
I've suffered from OCD since childhood (mostly OCD3). I have comorbid issues as well. Your emphasis on doubt is spot on!
Is your comorbid issues pain
Bi Polar@@Truerealism747
One of the best summaries I've heard. Watching my thoughts repeat and repeat. Years gone.
Thank you so much, I've believed that I most likely have OCD for the past 1-2 years but was afraid to go to the hospital to get a diagnosis, I'm planning to try to go this or next week, but seriously though, thank you so much for making this video, it will be a great video to send when someone asks me about OCD, and now I feel slightly less scared about getting a diagnosis.
Any updates?
i was diagnosed with OCD 2 years ago . More specific i have terrible thoughts with knifes and family members . By even typing it my heart kinda start beating faster . I did one session with a psychologist and as soon as he explained me that am not a lunatic and this is a rare case but still a decent amount of people have it around the world it already made it 75% more manageable . Even tho i did only one session with my therapist i realized that facing my thoughts has actually helped me a lot . What i mean by that is , in the beginning of my OCD journey , i was avoiding stare or even touch knifes because i was scared am going to cause harm to some one . Couple days later i realized that this is also insane and i was kinda furious with my self for acting like a lil boy who is scared of his own thoughts so i said no to the thoughts and started using the knife as a regular person because at the end of the day am the one in charge not my thoughts . My only problem is sometimes here and there i feel incredible guilt for having this thoughts even tho i know they are not real . Most of the times i dont pay attention to it but there are some days that it really affects . But its only for 1 or 2 days and then its gone to the normal again .
I can feel it too, sometimes I even cut myself in mind by seeing pointed sharp but when I challenge myself to take charge of myself it works fine
Do you have to take medication for that
@@Bryan-il1vu No bro , my psycologist said he doesn't feel like i need medication and he didn't want to prescribe me nothing . Am telling you its all in our mind . We are the one in control not our thoughts
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an imbalance in brain chemistry. It is irrational delusional thoughts in the brain that are malicious false thoughts that force a person to perform compulsive rituals such as checking door locks or cleaning hands.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an imbalance in brain chemistry. It is irrational delusional thoughts in the brain that are malicious false thoughts that force a person to perform compulsive rituals such as checking door locks or cleaning hands.
I have OCD, and I felt so connected. Also thanks for educating people what it is.
OCD is killing me day by day
Me too. It's terrible.
Same here, I'm so tired of all
It will get better. I thought mine would never leave but it slowly is. It will get better.
@@legendaryg518 How?Can you please explain?
@@0408M You can calm down. I thought my ocd was incurable and that it would get worse and make me go crazy and force me to go to the mental clinic.
I literally thought i had physochis ir schizophrenia. But when I didn't pay much attention to my thoughts and brushed them off like if they were a daily thought, the thoughts would decrease and slowly go away. If you focus on getting a thought out, it's gonna keep coming back but worse.
First step is to calm down
Second step is to not pay much attention to your thoughts and don't give them power and control.
Third step is to be patient. It's gonna take a while.
Fourth step (You may not agree)
But read the Bible and pray. Wash your
face with cold water and meditate. Get rest and proper nutrition.
Fifth step is to get some laughter in and not be negative. Fix your mindset and practice positive thoughts. Always remember to calm down. Literally most of what ocd tells you is a lie. There just obsessions. It took me years to realize that. If you have more questions about your physical health, it's best to ask a doctor to check you. If nothing is wrong, then nothing is wrong, don't let ocd tell you to go back there over and over again.
Remember Prayer is the best medicine.
All that has been said here, is exactly what I have been experiencing for two years now. I'm a freshman and my education is on the line due to these symptoms I experience such as; lack of concentration, I'm convinced that I need to study the same thing for a multiple times cause I believe that if I don't then I won't get anything from study. This has been time consuming and exhausting to a point that I feel my memory being affected. I can't seem to stop such kind of madness. For the sake of my education I need help
Omg thank you so much! This is the best video I've found to explain things to my close friends and family. It's a process not just to overcome it but also to educate people. It's a stigma
One of the most accurate explanation of OCD till date. I'm a Masters in Psychology student and was looking for a perfect explanation.
I have contamination and "just right" OCD. This is spot on. Thanks, doc!
0:45 I have been describing my mind as "static brain" for YEARS! And my professionals only write it off as anxiety and depression. Finally working with someone who I think understands me.
Intern therapist here, excited to see you posting videos again. (had to take a break from watching because of grad school) keep up the meaningful work :)
Psychedelics are just an amazing discovery, it's quite fascinating how effective they're for depression and stress disorders. Saved my life
Psychedelics definitely have potential to deal with health issues like anxiety and depression,I would like to try them but it's hard to source them here
My first shroom trip was really awesome, it felt like I was deep into the sea
/doctor_mckenzie/
Got psych's*
Shroom microdosing help me overcome my life long addiction to cigarettes and alcohol
Here in Brazil its very easy tind them.
I have used one named Ayahuasca, treated me my anxiety.
I know of someone who has OCD and this is insightful. Thanks
Thanks for the feedback! Later this month I’ll have a video about how to be a good friend to someone with OCD.
I have ocd for about 20 years, the first 7,8 years were disastrous. After that I have learnt and still learning to deal with it. When I do something repetitively, its because I am thinking something all the time and not concentrating on what I am doing. once I am out of those thoughts, its not very difficult. What worked for me is, look for why those thoughts and fears are originating in the first place and try to answer them. After that don't get stuck in any thoughts and focus on whatever you're doing and try overcome your fears relentlessly without any procrastination. The sooner you'll overcome your fears the better it will be. Otherwise you'll have to learn it the hard way.
I can remember feeling difficulty breathing one time when I was around 11. Likely anxiety causing me to feel a need to take a deep breath constantly. I struggled with it for months because I believed there was something physically wrong with my lungs. Eventually I was able to logically explain to myself that when I would fall asleep I would breathe fine, so clearly nothing was wrong with my lungs. Today at 24, if I think about my breathing too long, I get extremely anxious. However, things are more difficult now because my obsessions are generally not about physical sensations, and instead involve harm obsessions. I don’t really have a solid logical basis to counter my obsessions. It’s terrible.
I found this video extremely helpful when conducting a psychoed. session with teens and/or their parents. The visuals and simplification of OCD are great convo. starter. With that said, THANK YOU very much for making the time to create this much-needed video!
I used to struggle with intrusive thoughts. I still do, but probably 80% less than when I was in my 20’s and 30’s.
Long story short I no longer try and control my thoughts. The more I tried the worse it got. It took a long time to finally sink in, but I realized I can’t control what pops into my head, so I accept this fact and just welcome any and all thoughts. It can be a freak show circus but I just say ok cmon in. I try to laugh about them too which helps. So what I realized was my mind quieted down. I understand this sounds easier than it really is. The key is truly understanding that you’re not your thoughts at all. Just let it be.
Great advice.
This is a fantastic primer and myth busting explanation. A relief to see this reaching a large audience for education
Amazing explanation about OCD! As someone who has it, thank you.
Way to Go, Dr. Mattu!!! The best I have seen -you have delivered it exactly..... so many think it is a new vogue thing to have and be funny .... but, the one in the room not laughing has OCD. It is crippling ..things you would love to do, but don't because you know that is a trigger for you to get stuck and so you never do it. I have done medication... and that was a disaster....it numbs you so much that you lose your personality .... no emotion, no excitement, no passion ...after 5 years I quit...I wanted me back ...so I found that behavioral therapy worked...and realized if I can get away from the ritual...just walk away and play a video game...something that occupies my mind for about 15 minutes..then I'd forget what I was counting and why. Before it would last all day...the trick for me was to get a mind engaging alternative ...not tv...video game was the best or a game on phone.... 15 min.... then I could control that anxiety to the point over time it diminished, and the obsessive didn't engage me because I won't be anxious if I get away. This worked for me and I had quite a severe case for years before ever getting any help.
Good Luck out there comrades... it's a fight we'll win!
Best explanation of OCD I've heard in a minute. I always thought it was obsessions and compulsive behaviors. Never thought it was so nuanced.
Viewer recently diagnoses with OCD, thank you for making this
I deal with mild obsessions which started September 2022. I have been learning to accept more my thoughts/intrusions. Though there was never a day I did not have an obsession and that's ok that's normal, I have been practicing to look for the good moments during the day mixed with all the triggers and thoughts. I also focus instead on the things I am passionate about and make me happy.
As a psychotherapist who treats OCD I really appreciate this video. I find a combination of ACT and slow ERP works quite well. I also provide treatment for trauma that may have triggered or exacerbated OCD.
Is there a spectrum of OCD? I could relate a lot from this video although it's not severe but the anxiety I feel when I don't check or do things repeatedly is real. I always questioned myself if I am normal or not
I'm glad someone took the time to explain this well, in layman terms, taking into account most people understand OCD wrong.
I had written a long rant about my life with multiple mental and physical health problems, and family problems and financial problems, but I decided to spare everyone of reading that (I deleted the rest and wrote this paragraph).
my brain and heart hurt so much because of this but this video helps, i am so tired of being stuck
OH MY GOD YES. This is exactly what I mean when I say I have OCD, I don’t know when it started or why but I count everything I do, I repeat words until they’re right, I retake steps, and I can’t stand certain numbers, I overthink that if I don’t do it then I’ll die or something thing bad will happen and if I feel something needs to be moved again, touched again or somethings not right getting that feeling out of my body is VERY difficult to shake away. I also can’t stand loud noises now unlike before. I can’t stop it and it’s definitely started to take over my life. I think it might be time I see a professional about it because at this point it’s gotten so bad that I count everything, even blinking and breathing, clicking, touching, closing, reading… it’s bad.
After 15 years of struggling with OCD without knowing it even has a name (I thought I am weird and the only weirdo of this kind on this planet) I found some things that help, really decrease the simptoms, though some days are better and some are just like before. What helped me a bit is changes in my diet, more red meat, fruits especially organic apples and peanuts. I ditched toothpaste for two months because I had chopped lips and someone told me it might be from the toothpaste. I replaced it with sodium bicarbonate but it messed up my tooth enamel. Then I used toothpaste again and was shocked when I realized my racing, obsessive thoughts came back with full force. Only then I realized that maybe my improvements had something to do with not using toothpaste. Now I don't use it anymore, instead I use sodium bicarbonate but I dissolve it well with water.
Also I noticed when I drink little water, my symptoms are to the roof. And when I am very stressed.
Positive self talk helps a lot to calm the mind.
There are lots of things that help to keep it under some control and I am just discovering them. There is hope. I think that proper nutrition and hydration keep the nerves and cells healthy, probably that's why it helps.
Some days of the month are the worst that's why I think maybe hormones have something to do with it too.
Antibacterial soap and shampoo have chemicals that interfere with hormones and create imbalance. I replaced them with normal soap and baby shampoo.
I know therapy is a must but I can't afford it and I don't want to take medication as long as I can still function on some level.
Now I want to try different changes and diets because I see it can help.
Good luck to you!
I'm 75 and I have struggled with OCD for most of my life. I've seen multiple therapists and tried many medications. Nothing seems to work for very long. Now that I am old and suffer with chronic pain, the OCD is even worse. On the days I have to leave the house, I obsess about every aspect of preparation. Even taking a shower is a nightmare. My daughter was killed 8 months ago and her death has been devastating for me mentally and spiritually. I saw a "grief" counselor for awhile, but she made me feel worse. She would ask me the same questions repeatedly from session to session as if she didn't remember me. I once asked her outright, "Do you remember who I am?" She said that she did, but she constantly referred to her notes. I am a Christian and I believe that God cares for me and that ultimately I will go to Heaven. But here on earth my daily walk feels so painful and lonely. I pray and make gratitude lists and that helps. Mostly I feel frustrated and exhausted.
I was at a horrible period till I started praying and I felt much better I’m still a huge work in progress but I’m better than I was at that time. I will say though before that I was not a religious person and in honest I’m still not completely. I have weak faith. Not something I’m proud of. Part of me thinks it was just me finding comfort and hope in something finally that helped me and that it was just a phase. Other part of me believes I was actually looked after and helped I still say a prayer in the morning and night. I hope I can believe more at some point I would love it. As for you I’m sorry you are going through this I really am. Hang in there. It’s worth it to make it to the next day. God and our family would want that so we should give ‘em that. Even if it means suffer for us 😞
Hello,
It sounds like you have been through a lot.
I really admire your resilience!
I'm sorry to hear the multiple therapists you have seen and many medications you have tried haven't helped much.
My OCD began when I was in my late teens. Over the course of two decades I have been searching for things that help with this condition.
I have found that various things help. One tool in particular that did not remove OCD altogether but which helped me feel so much better is called Emotional Freedom Technique (sometimes known as tapping).
I am in the process of creating a TH-cam channel sharing this technique but would also love to work one to one with people to offer more individualised help (please know that I only charge for work that people find helpful).
I don't think anyone's daily walk here on earth should be painful and lonely.
Please send me a wee message if you would be interested in working together or in finding out more.
Either way I send good wishes your way!
Ela x
I'm suffering from OCD since 2008...
Every day, every second of my life is giving me unbearable pain
Do you get physical pain from it
I absolutely love your video. I have "arranging " and obsessively doing the same things everyday at the same time. I've basically lost most of my life due to this disorder. I feel like it's a curse most days. Thankyou.
I wish my old psyc classes linked your videos! Great explanation!
Thanks!!! Glad you liked it.
this was so incredibly eye opening. it explained all the suffering I’ve been going through these past years. I wish I could show this to myself a year ago, it would have helped me so much
I have a different form of OCD. Counting, writing and re-writing, radio volume on certain numbers only, counting everything, repeating words, symmetry, etc.
I cannot write anything down. I will re-write until I have used an entire notebook. Grocery list? Forget it. I don’t only have to be sure it is 100% perfect in terms of handwriting and spacing, but that the items are ordered correctly in the same order as I would come upon them at the store. I can’t make myself stop. I have tried.
Your absolutely right, people use the word 'manic' in the same casual way and I think to myself you have no clue what manic looks like!
I began ocd rituals when I was around 6 years old. I lived in a domestic violent home and it was my way of feeling some sort of control in an environment where I had none.
Having ocd is being a prisoner in your own mind, takes so much and many years to be able to 'let go'.
I'm so sorry!
I am someone who has suffered from profound and disabling OCD for at least 5 years (probably longer). However, I have almost cured it (I expect it will be completely cured within the next year). In my opinion, discussion around the brain, particularly that people with OCD are "wired differently" is superfluous and nonsense. It also does not help as it makes them think there is no way out. I cured OCD by doing a variation of exposure response therapy (on my own). Fundamentally, with OCD, you have a core belief or intrusive thought (mine was - you have done that wrong) that then creates a profound degree of anxiety in every day life (I have locked the door wrong or turned off the hob wrong or read something wrong) which then creates a compulsion that temporarily or ostensibly reduces the anxiety. However, when you do the compulsion, you perpetuate and entertain the idea that the intrusive thought/ core belief is TRUE. That is the biggest problem. People with OCD need to understand that their core belief/ intrusive thought (its almost invariably the same thing that applies to multiple situations) is fundamentally not true. Not just that it isn't true - it is utter nonsense. Why it is there is a diffetent question. Once you understand this, you can stop doing the compulsions (which is very hard at first). Your body then becomes used to the anxiety and slowly realises that the things you are anxious about do not happen, meaning the intrusive thought/ core belief is not true. Once this happens, you do it more and more and you are cured. To my mind, talking about the brain in this context is so pointless. Fantastic - I now know which areas of my brain flare up when this happens. However, I want to know WHY it happens (which, to my mind, can only come from IDEAS put inside your head, probably in childhood). Is this issue therefore biological? No, not really. If something is createsd, born of, an idea, then it is not biological in the sense that cancer is biological. Cancer cannot be born of an idea. OCD can. Biological explanations of OCD simply explain physically what I already know mentally. Hope you read this comment and keen to know what you think. When I say severe OCD btw, I mean profoundly bad. 4 days in one room going over the same byzantine compulsions. I am now almost completely cured. I feel like a new person.
Hats off to you bro here we are
I was too battling with OCD for past 2 yrs and not cured but still managing daily non triggering tasks flawlessly and gained so much knowledge of applying ERP only prblm is that i am stuck to a particular number of repetition and and ERP is too though in eradication of last segments of
OCD. However I have found a way out after exp.of 2yrs but as you said you almost cured it so plz tell me how to eradicate last remaining small no. of compulsions.they literally sucks.
@@user-eg2mt7iq5h what I would say is that you need to FUNDAMENTALLY understand why you do the compulsions. When you do the compulsions, what are you trying to stop? What are you trying to make sure won't happen? What are you trying to avoid? When you do the compulsions, what do you think will happen if you don't do them? What you need to understand is that nothing will happen if you don't do your compulsions. Next time you have the urge do to a compulsion. Pause and try to understand what you think is going to happen if you don't do your compulsion. Then ask yourself if that is true. Really think about this. Think about why you believe that. Think about the reason you believe that. Is it something that happened to you in the past? Only when you truly understand why you are doing the compulsions can you actually cure OCD. When you understand that the intrusive thought that makes you anxious is intrinsically untrue and therefore doing the compulsions is literally pointless and only serves to perpetuate the disorder, the compulsions become pointless. So ask yourself what you are trying to avoid by doing the compulsions? Then ask yourself why you think that big thing is going to happen? Really try and understand this, because you are trying to avoid something. You are trying to avoid a pain that is fundamentally untrue and does not need to be avoided. All you need to do is realise that this pain does not exist and that nothing is going to happen if you don't do the compulsion to avoid it.
@@ParthasarathyM7 of course. Message here or elsewhere. Where do you want to talk?
@@ParthasarathyM7 what's your email?
Thank you for your comment. How can we do ERP for a “real event” ocd? Like… a real event that’s happened in our lives?
This is one of the best explanations I have heard on OCD disorder. 👏👏
I like the humor, as a very loving person I tend to get harming my loved ones and the religious OCD. It runs in our family and one day my four year old came to me crying that he has thoughts that make him do certain things or his Mommy and Daddy. I just smiled and hugged him and thanked him for sharing. Then I explained to him , we are not sure why, but Mommy and Grandpa have it so that is why you have it. And we are not alone millions and millions of people have it. It went away for him instantly but later during his stressful years it popped back up. But he was in his early 20s and knew what it was and got online counseling. Now he is working on becoming a counselor.
Hello Miss. Do you have any more kids?
Best video I have seen about OCD. Having it myself, I agree a 100% about the concept of “the thief of time”. Still struggling with it but my therapist and psychiatrist really helps me to deal and find a way to cope. Congratulations on the excellent video!
Ocd and every mental issue is completely curable. Modern medicine just doesn't reach that.
Please try daily anulom vilom and meditation. It will cure you. It will be hard in start, but Don't give up. There is proof of brain scans that meditation can rewire our brains within just 6 weeks.
There are many types of meditation. Since you're a beginner, you should do some easy meditation, like transcendental meditation. I started it as a beginner and it was very good for instant focus.
Thanks for the tip! I have done some meditation in the past (recommended even by my doctor) and it truly helps to ease (in my case) the thoughts.
This video started with me doubting my OCD, around the middle he started to describe my experience, then he started to describe how I had begun to self treat, and suddenly he had me recoiling in horror with "touch something contaminated". Almost had an urge to wash my hands for that alone. I'm getting better, but some things are not as much of a problem as others. I'm comfortable with my level of wanting my hands clean. It took years to break my compulsion to repeat everything I said four times.
Four does seem to be a common number with OCD. It is for me. Probably because it's symmetrical. Groups of four are a problem with me as well.
oh my god thank you Doctor! I have had OCD my entire life and it was because of these stereotypes in the popular culture that it took me SIXTEEN YEARS to get diagnosed. Please keep up the good work! :D
Thank you so much for this clear and easy to understand explanation. I have had many of the weird thoughts you mentioned and have made me even question my sanity. It's good to know I may be more normal than I thought.
I was diagnosed with ocd at 18 and I was really upsetted by the diagnosis so much so that I tried to completely reject it. I didn’t want to have OCD and I’d try to find excuses for why I couldn’t have it. Im 20 turning 21 in October and I’ve decided I can’t run from this. I wanna be a functioning member of society and a good person and just because I have OCD does NOT mean I can’t be those things. Thank you this video helped comfort me and come to terms with my diagnosis.
Amazing video and explanation. Thanks for spreading awareness on this topic! OCD really is a thief of time…I can’t even imagine the amount of hours I have lost to fighting my OCD inside of my head!
Very good. I have OCD I appreciate this video
It's a minute by minute struggle but managing well is possible.
Hi so this is the first in a long time writing a comment on TH-cam, but I do this now because I seek out help. So this my situation: At the age of 13 I started with this really clear and bad ocd signs, and it developed drasticcaly until I was 14 years old. This was under corona times, I was home alone alot with homeschool, which probably made the situation vorse. I really suffered from this thoughts and actions I felt I had to reapeat, or else I felt something bad would happen. Examples of this actions: I had to stand on this spot and watch this painting for 5 minutes straight, I could not leave the bathroom until everything was clean. And the thoughts I had was that I had to think these certain things about myself, family or friends or else they would suffer or myself. This thoughts really haunted my mind for 2 years, and I constantly had to think these thoughts trough a day too feel safe. Ofcourse, this had a really negative effect on my daily life, it held me back from soscial activites/friends, and it affected my school situation. When the corona restrictions were over, and school started, I still really suffered and was haunted by the thoughts and forced actions. At the worst times, it made come so late to school, that the teacher and principal sent a letter to my parents, as a warning that my grades would be lowered. So this countiued for a long time (felt like an enternity ofc), until now as I am 16 years old. My situation is alot better, I have almost cleared myeself from this impulses and actions that I had to repeat over and over. The thoughts are still there, a little better than they was, but some days they are worse than others. And this winter has been really challenging, trying to controll my thoughts. This make very anxiuos and stressed all the time, and I have a hard time keeping it away from my parents ( I know I should talk with them, its just hard). The point of this comment is that I ask for help or any tips from people that suffer like me, or if anny of you people have any suggestions on what I can do to help me controll these thougts. Im really sorry about making such a long comment😅 But English is not my native language, so I have a hard time formulating my complex problem. Thank you if you took the time reading this, and I would really bee gratefull for and tips or help I could get. From a troubled 16 year old boy.
This video is so true!
This is so helpful. My brother is currently suffering with OCD following a cancer diagnosis and I’m having such a hard time understanding his thinking. This is much appreciated.
He always had ocd but a trauma made the ocd worse. 6/14.
Is he suffering from any disease or it was just his anxiety??
@@Md_Shamiidoes the OCD cause you pain
@@Truerealism747 yes it can cause mild pain in back ,chest and also sometimes i gets headache
Bro you hit the nail on the head. Thanks for 1, understanding this to such an legitimate level; you could've fooled me into thinking you have it. You must work with OCD patients, no?
and 2) using your platform to let people understand this better.
Thank you so much for this. The stereotypes and the jokes people make have been bugging me for a long time.
for the past 5 years, i've been thinking that i had OCD but everything i read up or watched videos about OCD kinda came to the conclusion that one can't have OCD unless i have all 3 elements of OCD. but after watching your video, i can kinda confirm that i DO have OCD on top of my major depressive disorder and general anxiety features. i've had 2 different psychiatrists brush me off and shut me down when i brought up the possibility of me having OCD, telling me that it's just my anxiety. but the thing is, DOUBT is always present in even my most mundane tasks, even during when i give in to my compulsions to alleviate the anxiety. next time i come in for my psych session, i'm gonna confront my doctor and will not back down until i'm able to convey all my symptoms and how OCD has been ruling my life these past half decade. thank you for this video.
This video literally almost brought me to tears because of how much aligns with my behaviours. I'm so happy to be finally getting all my issues sorted out so I can be more productive with my life by being open with my doctors. The "thief of time" is what struck me the most. I've never felt such a bittersweet moment until right then
I've had OCD and anxiety most of my life, its gotten worse since covid. Most people don't understand it and think its just hand washing and cleaning, it's not it's a lot of things. For me its like im permanently stuck on a never ending roller coaster 😂
yes for me, this is not about washing my hands
covid has affected me as well, more depressed and more gender confusion,,,,,, frustration,,,, oh god,,,,
Came here because one of my friend is having such problems. This video made me much clear about his thoughts... now I could understand him too better. Hope you people do be doing well
This is so sad that people joke about OCD, I have experienced all types of OCD since I was 17 and I am 28 now, from self harm to doubts literally everything. But I know one thing for sure I will get out of this and I will! I have conquered most of it but yet to fully conquer it that too without medication or therapy.
Same. But the worse ocd is “real event ocd”. I’m still trying to kick that one…. For a month now. 😣
No meds or therapy for me.
Can you guys tell me if medication works or atleast works a little? One of my biggest sources of hope is that I will get medication sometime soon and I will feel or be normal again eventually but I start having thoughts what if the medicine don’t work what will happen then..
@@EagleEntity …. I do not take meds because it derives from opiates. I believe anxiety is a phase. When we are chronically anxious or highly stressed out, the ocd thoughts start.
@@ElizabethGonzalez-jt7ns so your belief is that if anxiety can be controlled or even eliminated so too does the intrusive thoughts? I wake up with anxiety for no reason but usually my anxiety stems from the intrusive thoughts and wanting to fight it away. You know
@@EagleEntity … yes. I believe that for ocd to be under control, first we must lower the anxiety. Usually, people who undergo a very stressful situation or trauma then struggle with OCD.
Anxiety comes first.
I was diagnosed with it when i was 25. I struggled with it since my teens and i thought i was sick and gross and something was wrong with me. I had to get help after my daughter was born because i couldn't hardly talk to people without the thoughts bombarding me. I was so grateful for the diagnosis and realizing i wasn't crazy. Thankfully years later I've gotten a lot of counseling for things and i don't struggle with it like i used to.
Please try daily anulom vilom and meditation. It will cure you. It will be hard in start, but Don't give up. There is proof of brain scans that meditation can rewire our brains within just 6 weeks.
There are many types of meditation. Since you're a beginner, you should do some easy meditation, like transcendental meditation. I started it as a beginner and it was very good for instant focus.
this is so validating
I was literally just diagnosed today. This video made me cry.
I had it as a teenager it was a horrible affliction. But one day I told myself this is bs and basically mentally reprogrammed my brain. I just told myself stop doing this. And kinda imagined myself downloading a new program and I've rid out of my life completely.
Is there anything you did in particular to "reprogram your brain"?
Basically just had a sudden realization that this was bulls**t and I'm totally enslaved by it. And visualized me downloading new mental software and ever since then I've rid it