fm5
02-06-2004, 04:25 PM
Don't you think this disorder is more about doubting ourselves than being a constant barrage of obsessions? I mean, I know we are constantly obsessed, but I believe we are obsessed because we doubt constantly and that we want 100% surety in everything!
Just wanted to hear some fellow ocd'ers thoughts on this.
Just wanted to hear some fellow ocd'ers thoughts on this.
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WizardPhrog
02-06-2004, 04:46 PM
Don't you think this disorder is more about doubting ourselves than being a constant barrage of obsessions? I mean, I know we are constantly obsessed, but I believe we are obsessed because we doubt constantly and that we want 100% surety in everything!
Just wanted to hear some fellow ocd'ers thoughts on this.
Well, I'm not sure I have OCD, but let me offer my opinion.
I'm obsessed with germs and clenliness. Everything has to be clean. How is that doubting myself? Do you mean the checking types of OCD?
Just wanted to hear some fellow ocd'ers thoughts on this.
Well, I'm not sure I have OCD, but let me offer my opinion.
I'm obsessed with germs and clenliness. Everything has to be clean. How is that doubting myself? Do you mean the checking types of OCD?
fm5
02-06-2004, 04:59 PM
I'm obsessed with germs and clenliness. Everything has to be clean. How is that doubting myself? Do you mean the checking types of OCD?
I guess it would mean that part of you - "the rational part of you", and I guess, the "rational part of all of us" knows that doing all of this stuff, i.e, such as excessively cleaning beyond what is considered normal - is, in reality, not rational.
We do these things, because we doubt ourselves, i.e, "Did I clean that spot? Or, "I doubt what others and specialists in this area say about what methods I can use for something to be considered healthy and clean"?
I guess it would mean that part of you - "the rational part of you", and I guess, the "rational part of all of us" knows that doing all of this stuff, i.e, such as excessively cleaning beyond what is considered normal - is, in reality, not rational.
We do these things, because we doubt ourselves, i.e, "Did I clean that spot? Or, "I doubt what others and specialists in this area say about what methods I can use for something to be considered healthy and clean"?
Duner
02-06-2004, 07:23 PM
I never thought of it that way.
At this point I'm very obsessed about germs and contamination. So I always think "did I wash my hands good enough" then I'll re-sanitize. But now that you mention it I constantly doubt myself!!!
When I had intrusive thopughts about my daughters I would always check in with myself " are these really just thoughts or are they desires" even though I knew deep down inside that these thoughts scared the crap out of me. They were not my desires.
Duner
At this point I'm very obsessed about germs and contamination. So I always think "did I wash my hands good enough" then I'll re-sanitize. But now that you mention it I constantly doubt myself!!!
When I had intrusive thopughts about my daughters I would always check in with myself " are these really just thoughts or are they desires" even though I knew deep down inside that these thoughts scared the crap out of me. They were not my desires.
Duner
NoonBlueApples
02-06-2004, 10:25 PM
The doubting makes a lot of sense to me, because a lot of the things I do revolve around the fact that nothing can ever be 100%...therefore you can never be certain of anything...therefore I repeat things over and over again whether it is washing/checking/ or even trying to tell a story accurately....etc...there is always that lingering possibility...nothing is ever for certain.
red16
02-07-2004, 10:18 AM
yep, yep, yep, I read a book that talks about how OCD is all about uncertainty. We try to reason with our obsessions but it doesn't work because we still doubt that it might be true, ie. but what if I really am gay, or what if my hands still aren't clean etc.
Always_Worrying
02-07-2004, 12:04 PM
I think you summed up a good part of OCD, calling it the doubting disease!
Even though I'm married, I'm still really close to my parents. I am always asking my mom for advice, like what do you think I should do? She wised up to me, and now she tells me to make a decision. Just by her saying that, I really realized how much I doubt myself. What if I didn't cook the chicken long enough? What if there are germs on that cart? What if that person is sick?
THe other part of my ocd is with my obsessions. I absolutely hate throwing up. I always get visions of seeing people throw up. Also, I have urges to do things that I would never do, like jump out of a moving car, going down the freeway. :eek:
Good Analogy!! :jester:
Even though I'm married, I'm still really close to my parents. I am always asking my mom for advice, like what do you think I should do? She wised up to me, and now she tells me to make a decision. Just by her saying that, I really realized how much I doubt myself. What if I didn't cook the chicken long enough? What if there are germs on that cart? What if that person is sick?
THe other part of my ocd is with my obsessions. I absolutely hate throwing up. I always get visions of seeing people throw up. Also, I have urges to do things that I would never do, like jump out of a moving car, going down the freeway. :eek:
Good Analogy!! :jester:
fm5
02-07-2004, 02:20 PM
Yes, I definitely do believe that the root of o.c.d. is based on doubting ourselves.
This is why I also believe that the main effective treatment for o.c.d. is exposure therapy more than anything.
The reason why exposure therapy works is because IT FORCES you to see, experience and LOGICALLY look at your obsessions. And most importantly, you are working that "logical side of your brain". I believe, when you continually do this over and over, it diminishes that part of your brain wiring that is continually doubting yourself and your beliefs.
Also, holding off on doing your rituals for 10 or 15 minutes is also an effective means of "going into that rational part of your brain" to RATIONALLY think about what you are doing. I remember reading somewhere where a fellow who had o.c.d had to continually recheck his work over and over (and over and over) until his therapist told him to force himself NOT TO go back for at least 15 minutes. It drove him out of his mind at first, but through time, he got past the continually doubting and checking.
This is why I also believe that the main effective treatment for o.c.d. is exposure therapy more than anything.
The reason why exposure therapy works is because IT FORCES you to see, experience and LOGICALLY look at your obsessions. And most importantly, you are working that "logical side of your brain". I believe, when you continually do this over and over, it diminishes that part of your brain wiring that is continually doubting yourself and your beliefs.
Also, holding off on doing your rituals for 10 or 15 minutes is also an effective means of "going into that rational part of your brain" to RATIONALLY think about what you are doing. I remember reading somewhere where a fellow who had o.c.d had to continually recheck his work over and over (and over and over) until his therapist told him to force himself NOT TO go back for at least 15 minutes. It drove him out of his mind at first, but through time, he got past the continually doubting and checking.
Deborah22
02-08-2004, 05:12 AM
I have extremely severe OCD and mine, at any rate, has nothing to do with doubting myself. If anything, it might be equated with doubting that others will do the right thing. However, the most interesting thing about being mentally ill is that there is no logic behind what I feel; I can't talk myself out of it; can't reassure myself. It's got a life of its own.