"The Doubting Disease"? - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

fm5 · 02-06-2004, 01:25 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.

WizardPhrog · 02-06-2004, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fm5

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?

fm5 · 02-06-2004, 01:59 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"?

Duner · 02-06-2004, 04:23 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

NoonBlueApples · 02-06-2004, 07:25 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.