OCD is History!!!
Finally- someone who understands obsessive-compulsive disorder! I have been in psychotherapy for over three years and take 10 mg of Lexapro daily. Both have helped me in a lot of ways, but therapy and medication have NEVER been helpful with my OCD. I think it’s hard for people who don’t have OCD to truly understand. Hearing, “just don’t empower the thoughts,” distract yourself” or “you’re doing it on purpose,” isn’t helpful. That’s like saying, “just don’t have OCD anymore.” Would you tell someone with depression “just be happy.” No, you wouldn’t- because that wouldn’t work! I was in a very bad OCD loop when I bought this book. Something had to give and thankfully this book gave me what I really needed- understanding and a hope that my life could change.
Firstly, it’s very helpful to understand the WHY. Knowing the exact root cause of what you’re experiencing is mind blowing because now you can work on solving that problem. OCD felt like something I’d just have forever- as if my brain is broken and hates me and those are just the cards I was dealt with. But it all boils down to what you believe about yourself and how that subconsciously drives you and your OCD.
Secondly, it is incredibly helpful having something to focus on instead of intrusive thoughts. Now I can focus on that and not let it progress into having to do a compulsion! David Laing acknowledges what my therapist didn’t- the feeling you get in your body when you’re triggered. Every time you have an intrusive thought and then feel a compulsive urge to check, ask for reassurance, wash your hands, etc.- you have an undeniable, unpleasant feeling somewhere in your body that you simply can’t ignore. Now I focus on that instead of intrusive thoughts. It gives me a way to slow down and pause. Nearly every time I have done this, I have been successful in NOT doing a compulsion. I think of where I’m experiencing this sensation- an ache, pain, grief, heaviness- whatever it is at the time- in my body, and I breathe and sit with that. If my mind wanders, I tell myself- no and redirect my thoughts to my body. I remind myself that I am not actually upset about what is happening now, but my mind is trying to protect me based on what I believe about myself and what I learned from the past. Problem is that it is not serving me, it’s only hurting me.
Lastly, I remind myself that I am loved, I am worthy and I am going to get through this. It doesn’t seem to make sense that not feeling good enough can manifest itself into OCD, but the human brain is meant to keep us alive, and this is how we learned to survive.
Based on everything I’ve been told or read about OCD, it’s a chronic, lifelong condition but if OCD is a learned behavior based on the limiting core beliefs we have about ourselves, then I’m with David Laing and absolutely believe we can change it.