Experiences of a life with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) & Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Here are the difficulties I face and my struggle to overcome them in order to live a full and happy life in spite of them.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Relapse...
The OCD checking has really got the better of me. I'm not sure if I have become more anxious or more lazy in terms of controlling the thing. It's probably a combination. I realise it's somthing which I must keep a constant eye on. It is so easy to let the old habit of checking slip back into routine. One little check here and there becomes a full on ritual and from there it just continues to grow. I have been reminded of one tip I got from a self help book "Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" which is that carrying out just one quick check just to be on the safe side is a seductive and hazardous route to keep the OCD going. Very true. To be really effective in using CBT and exposure I guess the rule needs to be absolutely no checking. I think the reality is that that is extremely hard and brave. I can but try...
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I know that seductive voice of "just one quick check" to be on the safe side. . .I feel better in the long term if I don't check--I've made tapes of scripts reminding myself of this. No checking is an ideal, but any step in the right direction is good--especially delaying checking.
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