Purely OCD

Lauren Rosen, LMFT, and Kelley Franke, LMFT, discuss the nuances of OCD treatment from their perspectives as OCD Specialists living with OCD.

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

Often people with #ocd fear bad things will happen because of their choices. But bad things happen regardless. If you can't prevent all catastrophes, you're better off taking reasonable actions and living your life. You can't stop the bad but you can create the good.

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

If you have hit and run #OCD and are triggered when you hear something while driving, remember that that something could be a lot of things. It could be nothing, a piece of trash, a person or a sound from the radio. Just because you guess person, doesn't make it more likely.

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

If you have #relationshipOCD and are worried that you're not attracted enough to your partner, remember: attraction is variable. You may be hot for someone one day and not so much the next. We don't always need to be attracted in order to commit to a person.

#rocd #ocd #pureocd

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

If you have contamination OCD and are wondering whether or not you might have some residual contaminant on your hands, consider that we are all contaminated by virtue of being alive. The goal is to be clean enough not to be absolutely sure we aren't contaminated.

#ocd

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

If you have #existentialocd and are worried about whether or not you're living life to the fullest, consider that ruminating about living life to the fullest can actually interfere with living your life to the fullest.

#ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #pureocd #pureo

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

In recovery, people with #harmOCD learn to accept thoughts about being a murderer. This acceptance would sound like "Oh look, I'm having the thought that I could be a murderer." This acceptance does NOT involve accepting the content of the thoughts about being a murderer.

#ocd

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

We don't know what's next. Yes that's scary. It's also freeing.

#livingwithanxiety #anxious #anxiety #anxietydisorders

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

You don't have to face every single thing that scares you in order to recover. You do have to be willing to face the things that scare you when avoiding these things keeps you from the life you want.

#anxietyrecovery #ocdrecovery #anxiety #ocd #mentalhealth

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

If you have #RelationshipOCD and are worried that you're in the "wrong" relationship, consider that no relationship is "right." Instead, there are many good enough relationships. You can decide to commit to the relationship even though you can't be sure that it's good enough.

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

If you have #relationshipOCD and want to ask for reassurance, consider whether or not this will prove what you hope it will prove.

For instance, if you're going to ask if it's normal to find other people attractive, will this confirm you're in the "right" relationship?

#rocd

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

If you're worried you might harm others, and want to avoid things because of this fear, consider: could you convince someone else that it's a good idea for you to avoid these things based on the facts?

#ocd #harmocd #pureo #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #MentalHealthAwareness

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

Intrusive, unwanted thoughts can be about anything. And anyone can have them. The compulsions are what cause the disorder.

#ocd #ocdawareness #ocdrecovery #livingwithocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

Recovery from OCD requires a willingness to accept the inevitable amount of unknown inherent to life.

#ocd #ocdrecovery #ocdawareness #ocdtreatment #pureocd

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

People with OCD sometimes compulsively confess in order to get reassurance from their loved ones.

#ocd #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #mentalillness

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

You can (and will) prefer certain emotions to others. This is normal. The question is, can you view these emotions and your preferences with non-judgment, so that you can accept the presence of these emotions and move on with your life?
#mindfulness #mindfulmft #ocd #anxiety

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

You might be focused on your recovery in the hopes that you will one day be able to live your life. This is actually a little bit backwards. Focusing on living life supports recovery.

#ocd #ocdrecovery #anxiety #anxietyrecovery #mentalhealth #mentalillness #mentalillnesssupport

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

People with OCD often worry that it's irresponsible to refrain from doing compulsions. But just because you feel fear or have the thought that something is irresponsible, doesn't mean that it is irresponsible. You don't have to let thoughts and feelings stop you!

#ocd

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

Doubt is a part of life for everyone, whether or not they have OCD. Doubt isn't the problem. Doubt may be felt more intensely in those with OCD, but it's ultimately the relationship with doubt that causes the disorder.

#OCD #pureo #pureocd

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

It's more important to support yourself by being gentle and kind in the face of difficult feelings than it is to get rid of these emotions. Ultimately, you can't control whether emotions show up, but you can control how you treat yourself.

#ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder

[Purely OCD @PurelyOCD]

Your mind may tell you that it's "too hard" to refrain from compulsions, or that you can't do it. Consider, though, that your mind probably isn't a reliable source when it comes to estimating your capacity.

#ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #pureo #pureocd #rocd #soocd #pocd