OCD makes me look up all the scary possibility about life, and that gives me panic attack, but I keep looking up, coming to scary conclusion for 7 to 8hours Straight. I guess not looking up answers about life would show OCD has no power
I’m an OCD veteran with over 30 years of experience in managing It. Being an actor comes with training and experience. I consider myself an academy award winning actor when it comes to OCD. However, being cool and acting like you’re not afraid etc, is not generally possible at the beginning of a diagnosis, relapses and in particular relapses with new fears. After a few exposures practiced successfully though, by all means, knock yourself out by cuddling up to the ball romantically and drift off to sleep.
Hey Nathan, Could you do an episode on the fear of going crazy? I know many people in the OCD struggle with the fear of schizophrenia or psychosis, and I see it discussed very rarely. I think it would provide people with a sense that they’re not alone.
Can i just say how amazing yojr channel is! You never fail to shock me with hie you can always break through to me. It's ike i am snapped bsck to reality and can see from a different perspective. I just become present. I think it's that you have so many different topics about OCD that are hard to find elsewhere and the way you explain things but I have to say when you said " boo you're scared!' i laughed 😂really hard
I really enjoy your videos. They are very helpful. Would like to see more videos on religious, just right, and magical thinking ocd. Thanks Nathan. Keep up the good work.
I’ve been working on rewiring my limbic system which has been in stress mode since childhood due to domestic violence. I have legit health issues including food sensitivities. I want to to reintroduce foods that I’m afraid of and avoid but they do give me real reactions. What would you suggest? Thank you. Love your videos and your laid back personality. ☺️
I find that if I weaken one obsessive thought that I move onto the next intrusive thought. Been struggling with this for a while now. As soon as I seem to accept one another theme pops up. I believe that because I've just left the forces the heightened anxiety of uncertainty. You're videos have really helpt me but would you say that I maybe suffering because of GAD and once that has settled so will the intrusive thoughts?
Hi Daniel! Thanks for sharing your experiences. That sounds so frustrating. This is actually pretty common with OCD. I see it as a toddler throwing a tantrum. When you stop giving it attention it will try anything to get to connect back to an intrusive thought. Typically staying with uncertainty and treating them all the same tends to slow down the intrusive thoughts. Usually when I see GAD individuals feel anxious about anything and everything. Often not even knowing what is causing the anxiety. I hope this was helpful! 😃
@@ocdandanxiety this is the problem I dont know what starts the anxiety up its these thoughts that go against my core values which intense the anxiety. I feel like a broken record. But what scares me the most is destroying my relationship and life that I have. It's almost as if i dont want to be happy because of being hurt
Daniel Worthington I think OCD can be a part of GAD. Like there’s a general sense of uneasiness, which I think is the case for OCD, and then a theme pops up, or multiple themes pop up. Maybe GAD alone is more vague without specific themes. And I don’t think that finding out what the “cause” of the anxiety will help. It doesn’t really matter what started it, or even the theme, the idea is to not seek reassurance in any way, and like he keeps saying in the videos, it’s like a whole paradigm shift of being okay with the unknown. Pretty much every fear and anxiety has that as a big aspect of you really look at it.
One OCD specialist that I went to would tell me sort of the opposite. Like whatever it was I was afraid of he would make me say and he would be saying how all the worst possibilities were probably going to come true right then and there. There was no acting like I wasn't terrified, he wouldn't want to see that. He wanted me to be as terrified as possible because he said that taught my brain the most and if I were acting like I wasn't terrified than I was doing a compulsion somehow? But I find I handle exposures much better if I'm in a more calm mindset, sort of like you're saying.
I love that you brought this up! I have heard different styles of doing these exposures. I like the idea of accepting the thought which causes that terrifying feeling and anxiety and adding the mindset of being the boss and acting like you really just don't care. Your brain still learns that you went through the anxiety and fear and at the end still survived. You also added confidence that you are awesome. I have talked to a specialist once that believes you must feel and act terrified to feel all the feelings so that your brain learns from this. My opinion is that both ways can be effective; it depends on which the person prefers. I wish you the best!😃
@@ocdandanxiety I've tried both and have found so far I can also cope much better with your way of doing exposures , so hopefully I will keep having small breakthroughs 😊.
People often suggest the obvious to me ("Just go get a pill"), and seeing as SSRI's generally cause people to gain weight (40 pounds seems to be the average, but some have gained around 70), I already know that it isn't going to improve my life (especially my work life where I am expected to move at a rapid pace). Some have even restricted their calories more than they were supposed to and worked out vigorously, only to find out that they still couldn't fit into the clothes that they used to. I had been constantly worried that my OCD would cause me to become late for work, and therefore fired. But I have grown sick of worrying about this and have decided if that happens to occur, I should just create art, print copies, and sell them online. I have known of people who have chronic major depression who eventually discovered that they will probably never be able to work for someone again, because of their dehabilitating episodes. I could press on legal action, telling my job that they can't fire me over having a mental illness (I have records of it from therapists and doctors), but I am not sure if I would want to continue working there, even after winning a lawsuit (feeling resentment from my employer). So I have decided, "Yes! One day I should try working for myself and see what happens! I may even consider doing that while having a job". 🙂
My Therapist just quit and I only had one session with him. I feel even more discouraged now😞😥 My hands are peeling soo bad from over washing them. I can peel loose skin off of them and I feel like a freak of nature😥.
Oh no! I'm so sorry. Don't give up. See if you can find someone on iocdf.org - they are dedicated and can helpfully help you! You're not a freak of nature! You're amazing!😃
I did it but I got Cs through most of it. I think I was so uneducated about mental compulsions and how they can manifest and my therapist's way of treating them was by telling me "don't interact with the thoughts!" I had no clue I was checking my emotions, levels of disgust, if the thoughts were still present. I would say "this is just OCD" a whole plethora of things that I thought were not interactions with the thoughts!!! Once I had to stop doing all of that it got much more real, much more scary, and much more therapeutic although I'm frustrated because I feel my recovery is taking longer than both my therapist or I expected it to.
Do you offer international treatment? I find the way you talk is calming my nerves. During one of my worst OCD hit, I watched your video and it started to calm down.
Can you help me please? I have contamination ocd, but also with the Corona virus, I think, but I think just the thought that everything is dirty, also because of the mouthmasks, like, my Landlord, wears the same Mask over An over, it looks dirty! Then he sticks the Mask always in his pocket of his coat, and always Puts his hands in it! So gross! Yet, I am tired of the constant cleaning, I can't keep up anymore, he comes to clean the appartment Hall and stairs etc, And doing ERP with this is extremely hard! Because I find the bacteria on the Mask super gross! But, ERP is really difficult with this, because I have the fear that I Will spread it all along over my stuff, anxiety get's so bad, I end up crying, I don't know how to overcome this :( Can you help me?
There's a girl I feel in love with. She'll be away in a different country for 2 years. We're not "official", but we both confessed our love to each other. I have the thought of "unless I stop chatting with her I'll suffer for the rest of my life (because I don't know if I want a relationship with her even though I feel I love her)". How do I do ERP with that? Like, when does it end? I keep talking to her, but the thought never goes away (plus the anxiety of watching her pictures and this idea that I cannot SUSTAIN in time this situation). What am I doing wrong? Am I not disregarding enough? The feeling of suffering is so scary (and that's what it's actually happening: suffering).
I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, is the problem that you and this girl are staying in touch via messaging and messaging with her makes you anxious? Or is it that you don't want to stay in touch?
Hi Nathan could you pls make a video on perfectionism ocd. I feel like there aren't much videos on that. It bothers me so much to the point that even in my exposures I want to be perfect so I feel really hopeless.
@@ocdandanxiety I have seen that one . I am really struggling with this,it's totally out of control, I am super depressed also as a result of this. I'm seeing a therapist but I'm unable to follow what she says. She had asked me to write down the things from lowest to highest level in terms of anxiety. Forget the list, I am having this issue of having a perfect beginning to my recovery, like I take a deep breath and promise myself I won't do any compulsions and that is my compulsion. And then I end up doing the compulsion again. I have also divided my life into phases as pre-ocd, ocd and recovery phase and I'm unable to enter the recovery phase as I think that recovery phase would mean i won't do any compulsions. I don't know if you're gonna read this or understand this but it's a long shot. As I find your videos really helpful. Pls help.
Also I feel that my ocd demands certainty and wants me to be ideal. I think this video of being an actor with my ocd might help so I'm gonna try this.I am also unable to give time to my 6 month old child.It really pains me, it truly is the worst disorder in the world.
If you had to act like your OCD has no power how would you do it?
I'd do nothing. OCD has no power if I dont engage with it. I would try and continue with my day.
can u make a video how to sleep with ocd...nights are sleepless
OCD makes me look up all the scary possibility about life, and that gives me panic attack, but I keep looking up, coming to scary conclusion for 7 to 8hours Straight.
I guess not looking up answers about life would show OCD has no power
I'd try to put myself in a mindset of "I'm back in [insert environment from before OCD showed up in my life], like college or something.
You are good human being.
Thanks so much my friend! 😃
I’m an OCD veteran with over 30 years of experience in managing It. Being an actor comes with training and experience. I consider myself an academy award winning actor when it comes to OCD. However, being cool and acting like you’re not afraid etc, is not generally possible at the beginning of a diagnosis, relapses and in particular relapses with new fears.
After a few exposures practiced successfully though, by all means, knock yourself out by cuddling up to the ball romantically and drift off to sleep.
why does your channel have low views?! you are so insightful and helpful!!
It's getting higher! We'll get there! Thanks for the support!
Wish I could see you for therapy privately. It's so difficult to find a good OCD therapist in the UK
The best OCD advisor 100%
Good analogy! Be an actor with your ERP!
Thanks so much Antonio! 😃
Hey Nathan,
Could you do an episode on the fear of going crazy? I know many people in the OCD struggle with the fear of schizophrenia or psychosis, and I see it discussed very rarely. I think it would provide people with a sense that they’re not alone.
Hi Carl. Thanks for the suggestion. You are so right. This is very common but not discussed very often. I will create a video on it! 😀
Can i just say how amazing yojr channel is! You never fail to shock me with hie you can always break through to me. It's ike i am snapped bsck to reality and can see from a different perspective. I just become present. I think it's that you have so many different topics about OCD that are hard to find elsewhere and the way you explain things but I have to say when you said " boo you're scared!' i laughed 😂really hard
Nice one Nathan.....that was a great tip . Good analogy! Be an actor with your ERP!.
I really enjoy your videos. They are very helpful. Would like to see more videos on religious, just right, and magical thinking ocd. Thanks Nathan. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much!! I will make more videos on religious, just right and magical thinking. I believe the next video is the treatment for Scrupulosity. 😃
Yes, I'd like to hear more about religious topics, specifically fear of dying or fear of going to hell.
Thankyou so much Nathan sir ❤
Thank you so much for this 🌹
I’ve been working on rewiring my limbic system which has been in stress mode since childhood due to domestic violence. I have legit health issues including food sensitivities. I want to to reintroduce foods that I’m afraid of and avoid but they do give me real reactions. What would you suggest? Thank you. Love your videos and your laid back personality. ☺️
This is a brilliant idea, thank you
Once one accepts, or stops being afraid of uncertainty, do you see some people who then become depressed? Is that treated separately?
I typically see the opposite. The hopelessness of their anxiety and OCD is now reduced so depression symptoms sometimes reduce as well.
I had this question too ! I have been trying to do exposures for a few months now and I feel like I’ve made progress in a lot of areas.
I find that if I weaken one obsessive thought that I move onto the next intrusive thought. Been struggling with this for a while now. As soon as I seem to accept one another theme pops up. I believe that because I've just left the forces the heightened anxiety of uncertainty. You're videos have really helpt me but would you say that I maybe suffering because of GAD and once that has settled so will the intrusive thoughts?
Hi Daniel! Thanks for sharing your experiences. That sounds so frustrating. This is actually pretty common with OCD. I see it as a toddler throwing a tantrum. When you stop giving it attention it will try anything to get to connect back to an intrusive thought. Typically staying with uncertainty and treating them all the same tends to slow down the intrusive thoughts.
Usually when I see GAD individuals feel anxious about anything and everything. Often not even knowing what is causing the anxiety. I hope this was helpful! 😃
@@ocdandanxiety this is the problem I dont know what starts the anxiety up its these thoughts that go against my core values which intense the anxiety. I feel like a broken record. But what scares me the most is destroying my relationship and life that I have. It's almost as if i dont want to be happy because of being hurt
Daniel Worthington I think OCD can be a part of GAD. Like there’s a general sense of uneasiness, which I think is the case for OCD, and then a theme pops up, or multiple themes pop up. Maybe GAD alone is more vague without specific themes. And I don’t think that finding out what the “cause” of the anxiety will help. It doesn’t really matter what started it, or even the theme, the idea is to not seek reassurance in any way, and like he keeps saying in the videos, it’s like a whole paradigm shift of being okay with the unknown. Pretty much every fear and anxiety has that as a big aspect of you really look at it.
@@natatattful what a great answer u have back thanks 😊
One OCD specialist that I went to would tell me sort of the opposite. Like whatever it was I was afraid of he would make me say and he would be saying how all the worst possibilities were probably going to come true right then and there. There was no acting like I wasn't terrified, he wouldn't want to see that. He wanted me to be as terrified as possible because he said that taught my brain the most and if I were acting like I wasn't terrified than I was doing a compulsion somehow? But I find I handle exposures much better if I'm in a more calm mindset, sort of like you're saying.
I love that you brought this up! I have heard different styles of doing these exposures. I like the idea of accepting the thought which causes that terrifying feeling and anxiety and adding the mindset of being the boss and acting like you really just don't care. Your brain still learns that you went through the anxiety and fear and at the end still survived. You also added confidence that you are awesome.
I have talked to a specialist once that believes you must feel and act terrified to feel all the feelings so that your brain learns from this. My opinion is that both ways can be effective; it depends on which the person prefers.
I wish you the best!😃
@@ocdandanxiety I've tried both and have found so far I can also cope much better with your way of doing exposures , so hopefully I will keep having small breakthroughs 😊.
People often suggest the obvious to me ("Just go get a pill"), and seeing as SSRI's generally cause people to gain weight (40 pounds seems to be the average, but some have gained around 70), I already know that it isn't going to improve my life (especially my work life where I am expected to move at a rapid pace). Some have even restricted their calories more than they were supposed to and worked out vigorously, only to find out that they still couldn't fit into the clothes that they used to. I had been constantly worried that my OCD would cause me to become late for work, and therefore fired. But I have grown sick of worrying about this and have decided if that happens to occur, I should just create art, print copies, and sell them online. I have known of people who have chronic major depression who eventually discovered that they will probably never be able to work for someone again, because of their dehabilitating episodes. I could press on legal action, telling my job that they can't fire me over having a mental illness (I have records of it from therapists and doctors), but I am not sure if I would want to continue working there, even after winning a lawsuit (feeling resentment from my employer). So I have decided, "Yes! One day I should try working for myself and see what happens! I may even consider doing that while having a job". 🙂
My Therapist just quit and I only had one session with him. I feel even more discouraged now😞😥 My hands are peeling soo bad from over washing them. I can peel loose skin off of them and I feel like a freak of nature😥.
Oh no! I'm so sorry. Don't give up. See if you can find someone on iocdf.org - they are dedicated and can helpfully help you! You're not a freak of nature! You're amazing!😃
Thanks!
I did it but I got Cs through most of it. I think I was so uneducated about mental compulsions and how they can manifest and my therapist's way of treating them was by telling me "don't interact with the thoughts!" I had no clue I was checking my emotions, levels of disgust, if the thoughts were still present. I would say "this is just OCD" a whole plethora of things that I thought were not interactions with the thoughts!!! Once I had to stop doing all of that it got much more real, much more scary, and much more therapeutic although I'm frustrated because I feel my recovery is taking longer than both my therapist or I expected it to.
Nice one Nathan.....that was a great tip 😊
What an awesome channel!!! Subbed in. Erp with purpose is key I agree...so many times we do it just to " get through it"
Helpful thanx ♥️
Do you offer international treatment? I find the way you talk is calming my nerves. During one of my worst OCD hit, I watched your video and it started to calm down.
I wish I could. My license only allows me to work in the state I’m licensed in. That’s why I created my online program. www.OCDandAnxietyOnline.com
Can you help me please?
I have contamination ocd, but also with the Corona virus, I think, but I think just the thought that everything is dirty, also because of the mouthmasks, like, my Landlord, wears the same Mask over An over, it looks dirty! Then he sticks the Mask always in his pocket of his coat, and always Puts his hands in it!
So gross!
Yet, I am tired of the constant cleaning, I can't keep up anymore, he comes to clean the appartment Hall and stairs etc,
And doing ERP with this is extremely hard!
Because I find the bacteria on the Mask super gross!
But, ERP is really difficult with this, because I have the fear that I Will spread it all along over my stuff, anxiety get's so bad, I end up crying, I don't know how to overcome this :(
Can you help me?
I get what you mean by being an Actor or Actress, but what does the ball represent? Am I supposed to replace it with whatever upsets me?
The ball is an exposure that I'm doing. You replace it with whatever your OCD theme is.
How do you know if you have ocd because I think I have ocd but sometimes it feels like it’s not ocd and it feels like my thoughts are true
This helps a lot
There's a girl I feel in love with. She'll be away in a different country for 2 years. We're not "official", but we both confessed our love to each other. I have the thought of "unless I stop chatting with her I'll suffer for the rest of my life (because I don't know if I want a relationship with her even though I feel I love her)". How do I do ERP with that? Like, when does it end? I keep talking to her, but the thought never goes away (plus the anxiety of watching her pictures and this idea that I cannot SUSTAIN in time this situation). What am I doing wrong? Am I not disregarding enough? The feeling of suffering is so scary (and that's what it's actually happening: suffering).
I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, is the problem that you and this girl are staying in touch via messaging and messaging with her makes you anxious? Or is it that you don't want to stay in touch?
Let’s get an A
Does that work for pure o?
@@ivez5067 can u give me an example please
Hi Nathan could you pls make a video on perfectionism ocd. I feel like there aren't much videos on that. It bothers me so much to the point that even in my exposures I want to be perfect so I feel really hopeless.
I need to make a longer one. I can't believe I haven't done it yet. I do have a "short" on it. ruclips.net/video/ImO5HD3Om3Q/видео.html
@@ocdandanxiety I have seen that one . I am really struggling with this,it's totally out of control, I am super depressed also as a result of this. I'm seeing a therapist but I'm unable to follow what she says. She had asked me to write down the things from lowest to highest level in terms of anxiety. Forget the list, I am having this issue of having a perfect beginning to my recovery, like I take a deep breath and promise myself I won't do any compulsions and that is my compulsion. And then I end up doing the compulsion again. I have also divided my life into phases as pre-ocd, ocd and recovery phase and I'm unable to enter the recovery phase as I think that recovery phase would mean i won't do any compulsions. I don't know if you're gonna read this or understand this but it's a long shot. As I find your videos really helpful. Pls help.
Also I feel that my ocd demands certainty and wants me to be ideal. I think this video of being an actor with my ocd might help so I'm gonna try this.I am also unable to give time to my 6 month old child.It really pains me, it truly is the worst disorder in the world.
I had a set back.
The audience is like "Boo! You're scared!" lol