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.

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Stuck in my own thoughts!

Kacey1228
Kacey1228
O.K. This is kind of hard to write about but here goes. I didn't know whether to post this in the anxiety or OCD group. I've started having this problem. It started with daydreaming, fantasizing. It's a good fantasy but I find myself into it way more than I should. Now I'm afraid I'll lose touch with reality even though I know it isn't real. I find myself wishing it was real. But now, when I pull myself out of it I feel anxious. Basically, I'm trapped in a daydream and I'm worried I'm losing my mind and it's no longer good, now it's causing me anxiety. Does this make any sense to anyone?
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi!
Even though I don't have the same thing going on, It makes perfect sense because it sounds like OCD. A lot of people who have OCD tend to be afraid of losing their mind and losing their touch with reality. I know I'm terrified of losing it! But one thing to remember, when someone is 'losing their touch with reality', they don't know it. You're becoming anxious, therefore you're FINE.
daisy78
daisy78
Look up maladaptive daydreaming. I've been doing this on and off since I was a kid. For me, it starts out as just being fun, but then it gets pretty intense. I can be inspired by a book I read, and pretty much rewrite the whole book in my head, and the obsession with it won't taper off until I've tried every possible scenario I can think of. It can get pretty obsessive, but it's never gotten to where it interferes with my functioning and social life. I have worried before that I would lose touch with reality, but when I looked it up I must have found enough evidence that I won't because I'm not worried about that anymore. Now I just feel a bunch of guilt, like I'm cheating on my reality. :/
deleted_user
deleted_user
It makes sense to me but im not sure if ive experienced this myself, i have however experienced the fear of losing touch of reality, it usually comes on because your anxiety is so high and you're hypersensitive.

Basically i think its just a thought that happens when you have an overload of anxiety. Just try to remain calm, you questioning these thoughts makes you in control of your mind and therefore you are not losing touch of reality :)
Kacey1228
Kacey1228
Thanks to you all for your comments. It's comforting to me. I feel like I'm not alone in this. Thanks!
fizzgig3000
fizzgig3000
Very interesting reading everyone's posts on this! Since I was very young ideas and stories would just grip me to where I turn them over and over in my head continuously. It's not so bad when they're nice ideas, but when they're unpleasant it can be distressing. This may sound kind of funny, but I remember when I was really young watching a bit of Columbo where this lady killed her husband and being disturbed by that for days. Of course, that scene seems very mild now : ) Maybe it's normal as a kid to be disturbed by those things, but I think with my OCD it would just replay everything so vividly that I feel like I'm there.