Self Harm/Harm/Pure O OCD

Hi everyone,

I'm brand new to the forums and I'm hoping someone can help ease my mind. I have general anxiety disorder and OCD. I have been dealing with an anxiety episode for the past few months and at times when my anxiety gets high I get dark, intrusive thoughts. These thoughts don't agree with the kind of person I am nor do they represent things I want to do (i.e. Harm myself) but they make me even more anxious. My question is can this type of OCD Be brought on by high levels of anxiety? The thoughts are distressing and I had contemplated checking myself in somewhere until I read about this type of OCD on the internet.

Anyone else have experiences like this? I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Happy New Year!

J

Anyone?

jjtuck wrote:My question is can this type of OCD Be brought on by high levels of anxiety?

for people with OCD and high levels of anxiety, yes. they are intrusive thoughts. people who want to commit to these kind of things have desires and impulses, not just thoughts. also, they tend not to be frightened of them, or see them as not being a part of their personality.

Thank you otter! It's very comforting to know. The first time I had a thought of self harm it put me into a tailspin. I never have thought this way before and it's scary. I was spending hours last night trying to affirm myself that it is harm OCD and not real ideation...I guess that's one of the rituals that many do?

J

yes, for those of us with OCD/anxiety, a process of "checking" and "assurance" occurs after we have been triggered by intrusive thoughts that escalate to a fear that something is true about these thoughts.

sometimes checking and assurance can be good. it helps to know what we are up against, and if others are having the same problems.

however, checking and assurance can turn against us, when they become part of a vicious circle that actually makes our anxiety worse.

this happens when we don't fully buy into the information, or doubt it. So we continue to check and check, and it never really resolves, because we cannot get 100% assurance from anything. but it isn't really about knowing 100% - it's really the anxiety that over-rides everything with "doubt"

Thanks again Otter! I appreciate your response.

I've had anxiety/OCD all my life but it has never manifested this way. I am relieved to learn that the thoughts are purely OCD, no matter how real they seem.

Any suggestions on how to cope? I know CBT is ultimately the best way to help, but is there anything you say to yourself to keep anxiety down when these thoughts come up? For me, they start when my anxiety is high and then it makes it even higher.

J

I was out of control until I got meds (which I am not saying you need). But I needed them, because it help lower the anxiety, so I had some ability to "work" on my own thoughts.

I have never had CBT. I probably should have tried. I took the long way around.

But there are things I do:

- I don't check.
- I don't argue/ruminate with intrusive thoughts (internal dialogue).
- I occupy my time with things that divert my attention away from ruminating.
- I make sure I don't have excess stress in my life.
- I stay away from too much alcohol. I eat right. I sleep good (this one is important).
- I do not perform compulsions (I used to waste hours a day on them).