I’ve been dealing with OCD and psychosomatic symptoms for several years now, and though I’m managing the best I can, it hasn’t always been easy. It’s taken time to accept the reality of this new normal.
Living with OCD brings on a range of symptoms like intrusive thoughts, excessive rumination, extreme perfectionism, and hypersensitivity. To make matters worse, some of these thoughts manifest physically in the form of psychosomatic symptoms. From racing heartbeat to nausea and trembling, every day is a struggle suffused with fear. But instead of being paralyzed by it all, I try my best to tune out the negative noise as much as possible and focus on positive activities that help me destress.
One such activity has been taking up journaling; any time I’m overwhelmed or anxious, I reach for a pen and paper to express my feelings in writing without judgement or distraction. This exercise has helped me be mindful in a way that nothing else has before - releasing bottled-up tension while encouraging self-reflection and insight into myself and my emotions. It’s also served as an outlet for my weirder worries so they no longer have room to take over my entire life!
It’s not easy managing OCD with all its psychological effects but if there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey is that the power to control one’s own thoughts lies within each and everyone of us!
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Hi there! It sounds like this has been a difficult experience for you and it’s commendable that you’re continuing to build your resilience as best you can. I completely empathize with the mental and physical challenges of living with OCD—based on my own experience, it unearthed so much inner turmoil and yet, despite those hardships, I still feel stronger as a result.
As someone who also struggles with intrusive thoughts and psychosomatic symptoms daily, I know how overwhelming it can be at times. Looking back now, it’s humbling to think of how far I’ve come — from having no idea how to cope; I eventually developed techniques that help me identify the triggers for my mental health issues and work towards better management of my emotions in those moments.
I understand that everyone is different so what works for me may not be the same for others — but if there’s one thing that could be useful based on my experience is journaling. Not only does it give insight into your thoughts and feelings without judgement or distraction, it also serves as an outlet for your weirder worries so they no longer have room to snugly take over your entire life (if you know what I mean)! And if done right,
Hi there! I understand where you are coming from and it sounds like you have been through a lot. It’s tough to deal with psychological issues, and even harder when they manifest physically as well. What has helped me through the whole process is taking time to be kind towards myself and becoming more mindful about my thoughts and feelings.
One of the tools that has really worked for me on this journey has been journaling; taking some time every day to write down what I’m feeling helps me get in tune with my inner voice, explore my worries without judgement or outside scrutiny, and release tension. This exercise can be extremely cathartic, helping ease overwhelming emotions while also encouraging self-reflection that may lead to insight about ourselves and our motivations.
I hope it works out for you as well, because having control over our own thoughts is something that no one else can give us - and that power lies within each one of us. Keep fighting the good fight - I’m here for you if ever need someone to talk to!