OCD Set Free

We love combining self care and exposures because it’s a great way to stick it to OCD while showing yourself some love and compassion. This week’s self-care exposure is going to bed early even if OCD is afraid of intrusive thoughts or scary dreams. Those who suffer from OCD may have difficulty getting ready for bed, whether it’s due to sleep compulsions or excessive bedtime rituals, fear of insomnia and obsessions, or worries about nightmares. We encourage you to nurture your...self and get under OCD’s skin tonight by grabbing a sleep mask and your comfiest pajamas and turning in an hour early. What’s your favorite self-care act that also shows OCD who’s the boss?! Let us know in the comments! . . . #ERP #ocdtips #actualocd #selfcare #ocdhelp #ocdrecovery #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdsetfree #ocd #exposuretherapy #favoriteexposurefriday See more

When clients first start going to therapy for OCD, they often suffer from symptoms they may not initially realize are side effects of their OCD. These symptoms might include trouble having conversations, brain fog, and difficulty completing tasks, among others. OCD makes them feel like they’re walking around in a fog! After going though treatment for OCD, which may include Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), medication, and/or othe...r treatment methods, clients in recovery often feel that the cloud has been lifted. They are able to engage in better conversations, think more clearly, complete tasks more productively, and overall enjoy life more. Has going through OCD treatment lifted any clouds from your mind? Let us know in the comments! . . . #ocdsetfree #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #exposuretherapy #pureocd #acceptancecommitmenttherapy #acttherapy #ocdcommunity #ERP #ocdproblems #setfree #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthhelp See more

As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality. Albert Einstein . . . #uncertaintytuesday #ocdsetfree #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #anxietysucks #selftalk #uncertainty #mentalhealthquotes #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthaadvice #ocdinspiration

This Mythbusting Monday, we’re talking about another way that OCD affects the way you think. OCD causes erroneous thought patterns called cognitive distortions. While everyone experiences some cognitive distortions, there are a few distortions that heavily affect those with OCD. Today we’re talking about Moral Significance of Thoughts. Those with OCD often believe themselves to be immoral or abnormal because they suffer from unwanted intrusive thoughts. If they experience... an intrusive thought related to a taboo topic like harm, they may believe they are a bad person and should be locked away before they hurt someone. They may begin to police their thoughts with mental compulsions/rumination, as well as their actions, avoiding anything that could trigger a taboo thought. They may even engage in external or physical compulsions when unwanted thoughts occur. Attaching your self worth and morality to intrusive thoughts leads to guilt and shame. Accepting your internal experiences means: -Recognizing that everyone experiences unwanted intrusive thoughts -Allowing the thoughts to be present -Realizing that having a bad thought doesn’t make you a bad person! What kinds of cognitive distortions has OCD caused in your life? . . . #cognitivebehavioraltherapy #ocdisnotajoke #ocdsetfree #scrupulocity #scrupulocityocd #MoralSignificanceofThoughts #mythbustingmonday #OCDhelp #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocd #cognitivedistortions #pureo #pureocd

OCD doesn’t want you to practice self care or be present with your thoughts, so it tries to fill quiet moments with stress and compulsions. It may tell you that you’ll miss out on something crucial if you’re not constantly checking your notifications. As part of exposure therapy, we often encourage our clients to engage in intentional acts of self care, like enjoying an unplugged evening even if OCD forcefully says it’s imperative to stay locked to their devices. As always, t...he goal with exposure is to be fully present in your self care activity while resisting the urge to engage in any checking. Drop your favorite self care activities below! . . . #ocdawareness #ocdrecovery #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #exposuretherapy #favoriteexposurefriday #ocdsetfree #ocd #ERP #ocdrelief #realocd #selfcare