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.
I have worked as a waitress for almost two years. All of a sudden within the last few months I developed a sudden fear of serving alcohol to anyone, I worry that when IDing someone I will mistake a birthdate or look at the picture wrong and somehow mess up and serve someone alcohol like a minor.
I panic and get the worst anxiety and thoughts as I worry about being in trouble, messing up, and worst of all I imagine myself going to jail for it and terrifies me. It makes me not want to go to work and when I do go I am anxious and very panicked the whole time when someone asks for alcohol.
I never was like this before and the last few months I got a sudden fear and obsessive thoughts with it, I have compulsions to try to find ways to recheck peoples IDs or to try and find a way later to seek reassurance. This is among other OCD situations I am having but it is my worst right now.
Does anyone have advice? I have not yet sought help from a professional and am feeling crazy for thinking like this.
I panic and get the worst anxiety and thoughts as I worry about being in trouble, messing up, and worst of all I imagine myself going to jail for it and terrifies me. It makes me not want to go to work and when I do go I am anxious and very panicked the whole time when someone asks for alcohol.
I never was like this before and the last few months I got a sudden fear and obsessive thoughts with it, I have compulsions to try to find ways to recheck peoples IDs or to try and find a way later to seek reassurance. This is among other OCD situations I am having but it is my worst right now.
Does anyone have advice? I have not yet sought help from a professional and am feeling crazy for thinking like this.
The best here will be to talk to a therapist about it. It's a tough one to handle. I can relate to your anxiety and fears. The big thing here is that you can't avoid the triggers and have to take them head on. And your reaction is quite severe at this stage. A few tips to help you control the anxiety... make an effort to get enough sleep. Sometimes when we not well rested the triggers do their damage. The BIG step you can take here is to listen and feel your reaction to the trigger. When we react in a calmer way, the trigger loses its intensity. But this takes practice and time to do efficently. Do you know the book Brainlock by Jeffrey M Schartz. It's 4 steps to handle these thoughts in a way that it doesn't effect your physical reaction.
I hope this can help.
J