For some of us, OCD can be like the wind. The intensity varies from day to day. Some days are worse than others. I have a particular recurring theme where I am afraid of being held responsible for harming a child, including knowing about potential harm and going to jail over it. By the way, as a disclaimer, OCD makes us believe that we are everything that goes against our values. We actually would not harm children, etc.
Anyway, these are not great days. I get hit with big triggers that fall into gray areas that can be open to interpretation. Some days are more like a freight train that takes longer to recover from. Others aren’t quite that bad. On those days, I can limit the rituals to just about three or four outward ones. I can also distract myself more from the mental ones. With the outward rituals, I ask for reassurance or check notes, etc. The mental rituals are a lot of analysis over the situation. On bad days, it can take a day or so to recover (and store it to bring up to my therapist at my appointment.).
This is one that I still need to work on. I am well into recovery, and it doesn’t take as many whole days in my mind. I have exposures that I do related to this theme, and they change depending on what’s bothering me at the time. I can actually push myself to get through the day and do what I need to do. Recovery is possible, folks!
Until next time… The RealOCD Girl
The RealOCD Girl 