Dealing with existential OCD has been a real struggle for me lately. It’s like my brain is always trying to convince me of these deep anxieties that I have about the meaning of life and death. I can’t focus on anything else and it’s hard to think about daily tasks without getting distracted by negative thoughts that creep in.
I’m learning how to manage this better, but sometimes I feel so lost and overwhelmed. Existential OCD honestly feels like a monster — something that just creeps up on you when you least expect it and starts pulling you deeper and deeper into an abyss of negative thoughts. Trying to escape from these intrusive ideas is extremely difficult, but with some patience and self-compassion I’m starting to feel better.
I practice mindfulness meditation each day in order to bring my attention back to the here and now whenever the negative thoughts start arising. This helps me become more comfortable with feelings of unease that inevitably come up when dealing with existential angst — allowing them to be there without reacting or clinging onto them in any way.
Overall, I’m learning that the only way for me to heal from this type of OCD is by allowing myself moments of rest in between periods of difficult thought cycles, rather than attempting to overpower the bad sensations altogether. With time I’m confident that my mind will be better able to manage these challenging beliefs around life’s big questions, one day at a time.
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Hi there! I can relate to your experience with existential OCD–it’s something that I struggle with too. It can be hard to move past the feeling of being stuck in an endless loop of negative thoughts, and the anxieties that come along with it. I’m sending compassion and understanding your way during this difficult time.
Existential OCD is a tricky thing to manage, but it is possible with some patience and practice. I find it helpful to focus on grounding myself into the present moment when fighting against intrusive thoughts. It’s like taking a step back–taking a breath and reminding yourself that these worries don’t define you in any way.
The best advice I can offer is to take things one day at a time–even if you have moments where the anxiety is particularly overwhelming, know that they won’t last forever and reminding yourself of that helps keep things in perspective. With enough self-care, you’ll find yourself stronger than before.
Hey, man, thanks for sharing your experience with existential OCD. I can totally relate to the struggle of those intrusive thoughts that just won’t leave you alone. It’s great that you’re finding ways to manage it, like practicing mindfulness meditation. That’s a powerful tool for staying present and not letting those negative thoughts take over. I also find that giving myself permission to take breaks and not push myself to fight the thoughts all the time can be really helpful, just like you mentioned. It’s all about finding what works for you, and it sounds like you’re making progress. Keep being patient and compassionate with yourself, and I’m confident you’ll continue to find ways to handle those tough moments. Hang in there, you’re not alone in this!