Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Support Group
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder, more specifically, an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive (repetitive, distressing, intrusive) thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.
This may sound crazy. I have an almost year old yellow lab. I got her as a puppy and she is literally my world. If anything happened to her, I’d be devastated. I get intrusive thoughts with my ocd/ ptsd. I found a few strands of black hair on her and thought of that as a flaw and can’t get it out of my head, my anxiety tries to make me think “what if I hurt her” and find the flaws in things. I don’t want these thoughts. I know we all have our imperfections but I don’t know why my mind is being so focused on her physical flaws or normal puppy behaviors. Any suggestions on ways to help overcome this? I am literally guilt ridden everyday and am scared to even have her because my mind plays on the fear that I could hurt her. Even though I never would. I love my dog and just want to have normal happy memories with her. I love animals and it seems like my ocd latches onto things I love.
It's the what-if part, I think, that separates us from the non-OCD folks.
I know it's going to be hard to understand this, but please try to remember that there is a difference between thought and action. And the thing that can help you most is, when you have these thoughts, to acknowledge them, but do your damnedest not to appraise them too deeply, or attach meaning to them. Most people have the same weird thoughts that people with OCD have, but the difference between them and us is that they allow the thoughts to come and go, whereas we start pondering what they mean about us as people, whether or not we are capable of doing the things that intrusive thoughts suggest, why we're having the thoughts in the first place, etc. That's when they become obsessions. And I personally believe many of us get scared because we feel we cannot control the thoughts (we can, with lots of effort), and therefore, maybe a day will come where we can't control our actions, either.
That is your disorder lying to you. You always have control over your actions.
And you can control your thoughts. At the very least, you can train yourself to identify an intrusive thought as an intrusive thought and refuse to appraise it or give it meaning.
You can control your responses to your thoughts.
You can control what you say and do.
If you ever need help or just need to talk, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm here for support. :)
i just wanted to let you know that you are not alone...
i have a beloved cat and i don't know what i'd do without him.
i also have OCD and PTSD.
i have had horrible upsetting thoughts about harming my cat that have left me in tears.
i would never never hurt him.
rosecandy gave such good insight into this (Thank You rosecandy) that helped me as well,so Thank You for reaching out about something that is so distressing and hard to live with.
Again.you are not alone.
((((( hugs ))))