dougie11
02-19-2003, 08:55 AM
I'm new to this board.....I'm just looking for people with similar experiences to share with!
Lately, I've been perceiving average, everyday occurences as REALLY WEIRD. then I obsess about them and think that they have some DEEPER MEANING. example - three times in the past week, I've gotten stuck behind this same Volvo driving very oddly and very slow while I'm on my way to work. Under normal circumstances, and with a normal mind, just an annoyance. But I can't get it out of my head that IT MEANS SOMETHING. I KNOW it's absurd, but so so hard to banish the thought from my head. Now, when I see any Volvo at all, it makes me a little anxious. Again, I know in my heart it's NOTHING, but it's just the fact that I think it that BOTHERS ME SO MUCH!!
ARGGGHHH!!
Lately, I've been perceiving average, everyday occurences as REALLY WEIRD. then I obsess about them and think that they have some DEEPER MEANING. example - three times in the past week, I've gotten stuck behind this same Volvo driving very oddly and very slow while I'm on my way to work. Under normal circumstances, and with a normal mind, just an annoyance. But I can't get it out of my head that IT MEANS SOMETHING. I KNOW it's absurd, but so so hard to banish the thought from my head. Now, when I see any Volvo at all, it makes me a little anxious. Again, I know in my heart it's NOTHING, but it's just the fact that I think it that BOTHERS ME SO MUCH!!
ARGGGHHH!!
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dougie11
02-20-2003, 08:39 PM
hey....can anyone relate to this obsession of mine? ie, getting a ridiculous thought in your head and not being able to let it go? (even tho you know it's ridiculous)
i just want to know if there are people out there who relate.
i just want to know if there are people out there who relate.
Kathrin74
02-22-2003, 05:17 AM
I haven't been to the board in a while.
Have you been diagnosed with OCD? These thoughts do sound like obsessions.... and you say you KNOW they are ridiculous, that is a pretty good sign that they are obsessions and NOT delusions (that would be if you really really believe something that just other people see as ridiculous. You see the difference? I hope I understood you right?)
Obsessions can take so many forms... typical for them is that they, as you say, seem to be just "stuck" in your brain somewhere, and you want to get rid of them but they are pretty persistent!
Do the thoughts disturb you? That is another typical feature of obsessions.
Kathrin
Have you been diagnosed with OCD? These thoughts do sound like obsessions.... and you say you KNOW they are ridiculous, that is a pretty good sign that they are obsessions and NOT delusions (that would be if you really really believe something that just other people see as ridiculous. You see the difference? I hope I understood you right?)
Obsessions can take so many forms... typical for them is that they, as you say, seem to be just "stuck" in your brain somewhere, and you want to get rid of them but they are pretty persistent!
Do the thoughts disturb you? That is another typical feature of obsessions.
Kathrin
dougie11
02-25-2003, 12:39 PM
I've never been officially diagnosed with OCD, it seems to be a "symptom" that manifests itself most aggessively when I am having a lot of trouble with anxiety (which is now). Otherwise, the obsessions I have generally do not interfere with my quality of life.
But, YES, you hit the nail on the head. The thoughts are very disturbing to me. It's like I get mad at myself for having them. I have no doubt that there is nothing "weird" about a Volvo, it's the fact that I GOT OBSESSED about seeing them that bothers me. I'm upset about having even had the thoughts -- punishing myself for them.
A few years back I had a horrible obsession about license plates that had the numbers "666" on them. And then it got to the point that if the number on the license plate was anywhere NEAR 666, then I was freaked out. Again, I knew it was absurd, but was SO disturbed by the fact that I was having the obsession. It just took time to go away. But, GEEZ, did I feel like I was losing control.
But, YES, you hit the nail on the head. The thoughts are very disturbing to me. It's like I get mad at myself for having them. I have no doubt that there is nothing "weird" about a Volvo, it's the fact that I GOT OBSESSED about seeing them that bothers me. I'm upset about having even had the thoughts -- punishing myself for them.
A few years back I had a horrible obsession about license plates that had the numbers "666" on them. And then it got to the point that if the number on the license plate was anywhere NEAR 666, then I was freaked out. Again, I knew it was absurd, but was SO disturbed by the fact that I was having the obsession. It just took time to go away. But, GEEZ, did I feel like I was losing control.
Anonymity
02-25-2003, 01:18 PM
I am wondering, well, honestly if I should bring this up. Hmm...
Have you seen either of the movies "Final Destination" or "Final Destination 2"? If not, I would not recommend them because your mind seems to work a lot like my mind, and they really *messed* with my mind.
BUT, if you have seen them, let me know, and I will try to relate my similar obsessions to yours.
Confusing post, huh? Geesh, I didn't mean for it to be... If you need clarification, let me know. :)
Have you seen either of the movies "Final Destination" or "Final Destination 2"? If not, I would not recommend them because your mind seems to work a lot like my mind, and they really *messed* with my mind.
BUT, if you have seen them, let me know, and I will try to relate my similar obsessions to yours.
Confusing post, huh? Geesh, I didn't mean for it to be... If you need clarification, let me know. :)
dougie11
02-26-2003, 11:40 AM
Anon -
I've not seen either of those movies. And judging from what I've seen in the previews, they WOULD be the kind of movies that freak me out, especially when I am having "episodes" like I am now.
I saw "Fight Club" a few years back when my mind was in this mode, and the themes of altered reality -- ie, what is real and what isn't -- were very difficult for me to deal with. I've had this thought/obsession (depending on what frame of mind I'm in) for years that I'll "wake up" out of the "dream of life" that I'm living now to find I'm someone else entirely. So, Fight Club was SO freaky for me to watch.
I live in my mind. As a child, I had to -- it was a survival skill in my household. Reality was too scary so I escaped into my head. What I fail to realize as an adult sometimes, is that I am NOT in danger anymore and that it IS ok for me to live in and experience the present moment. I don't need the fantasies to "keep me safe." In fact, they are now counter-productive...
I don't know if that made any sense at all... I hope so
I've not seen either of those movies. And judging from what I've seen in the previews, they WOULD be the kind of movies that freak me out, especially when I am having "episodes" like I am now.
I saw "Fight Club" a few years back when my mind was in this mode, and the themes of altered reality -- ie, what is real and what isn't -- were very difficult for me to deal with. I've had this thought/obsession (depending on what frame of mind I'm in) for years that I'll "wake up" out of the "dream of life" that I'm living now to find I'm someone else entirely. So, Fight Club was SO freaky for me to watch.
I live in my mind. As a child, I had to -- it was a survival skill in my household. Reality was too scary so I escaped into my head. What I fail to realize as an adult sometimes, is that I am NOT in danger anymore and that it IS ok for me to live in and experience the present moment. I don't need the fantasies to "keep me safe." In fact, they are now counter-productive...
I don't know if that made any sense at all... I hope so
LH
03-06-2003, 12:45 PM
Matrix, as much as I loved the movie, really messed with my mind. Talk about definite altered reality.
Have you ever got a new car, like a red car? And then all of a sudden you notice red cars, where you didn't before? Or your friend gets a new car and suddenly you realize just how many there are of those type and color around? That happens to me a lot. Of course I realize that I had just never been looking for them before, I am sure they are always there. No doubt the Volvo was there on your daily commute several times before and didn't draw your attention until they did something that bothered you.
But I do know what you're talking about, and I can relate. It can be very frustrating!
[This message has been edited by LH (edited 03-06-2003).]
Have you ever got a new car, like a red car? And then all of a sudden you notice red cars, where you didn't before? Or your friend gets a new car and suddenly you realize just how many there are of those type and color around? That happens to me a lot. Of course I realize that I had just never been looking for them before, I am sure they are always there. No doubt the Volvo was there on your daily commute several times before and didn't draw your attention until they did something that bothered you.
But I do know what you're talking about, and I can relate. It can be very frustrating!
[This message has been edited by LH (edited 03-06-2003).]
dougie11
03-10-2003, 12:45 PM
LH -
Thanks for sharing. I think you're entirely right. It doesn't take much for an obesssion to get started with me -- but it sure takes a lot to make it go away!
For this particular obsession, it helped me to write it out -- exactly what was bothering me...why I felt weird when I saw that particular kind of car....I even used some humor to help point out how illogical my thinking had become. To see it put down on paper helped me get out of my head for a minute and say "Hey, wait, there really is nothing 'weird' going on here." The obsession has lessened significantly over the past few weeks.
Just another "opportunity for growth" as they say....
Doug
Thanks for sharing. I think you're entirely right. It doesn't take much for an obesssion to get started with me -- but it sure takes a lot to make it go away!
For this particular obsession, it helped me to write it out -- exactly what was bothering me...why I felt weird when I saw that particular kind of car....I even used some humor to help point out how illogical my thinking had become. To see it put down on paper helped me get out of my head for a minute and say "Hey, wait, there really is nothing 'weird' going on here." The obsession has lessened significantly over the past few weeks.
Just another "opportunity for growth" as they say....
Doug
Hedgedive
03-18-2003, 08:36 PM
Hey, has anyone experienced something like this. Has a scene in real life seemed like i have seen wut has happened before, weather it was a day dream or a dream. Its really hard to explain. Heres and
example: (one day i was walking to 711 with my friend mike. Its only about 3/4s of a mile a way. Anyways so were walking up this road to get there, and a truck passes by, it for just a very brief second what i have just seen was like i have seen the same exact scene before in like a dream or something. And after about 10 seconds pass after it happens i just feel like i dont remember that happening. Its really hard to explain but if know wut im talking about it might be easier.
example: (one day i was walking to 711 with my friend mike. Its only about 3/4s of a mile a way. Anyways so were walking up this road to get there, and a truck passes by, it for just a very brief second what i have just seen was like i have seen the same exact scene before in like a dream or something. And after about 10 seconds pass after it happens i just feel like i dont remember that happening. Its really hard to explain but if know wut im talking about it might be easier.