Hi, what makes you think you’ll never recover? I don’t think you can be your old self, life experience changes us all, and it’s for the better. Your sessions should make you stronger. You’ll learn how to manage your intrusive thoughts and anxiety, so that they don’t cripple your life any longer. You’ll stop ruminating about the things from the past you can’t control. Once your obsessive thoughts are manageable, your OCD will feel practically non-existent. Isn’t that a good goal?
I have OCD, and I want you to know that it will get better! Do not give up on your therapy. It takes time, and I know that at first it may seem useless. I thought recovery was a myth, I got to the point where I couldn’t even accept the possibility of it being possible. My therapist was not happy with me. It took me months to come to terms with the idea that I can have a fulfilling life regardless of my OCD. My diagnosis was the limiting factor only in my head. Once I accepted this idea, I knew that I can rewire my brain from compulsions and obsessions towards the activities I care about. You absolutely CAN do that too!
I think, like with any mental issue, you can be in remission for many years, and the only way it may affect you again later is during the times of stress. So “fully cured” is perhaps the wrong terminology. You can live with it perfectly well with the help of therapy and / or medications. You shouldn’t dismiss medications because of your fear of side effects. I understand your brain is trying to protect you from the worst-case scenario, but it also prevents you from getting any of the benefits.
@Daniel Thanks. By being my old self I mean the times when I already had those symptoms but didn't know the name for them. They were not evident enough to worry me. Sometimes I wish I could live in blissful ignorance. I'm afraid it will take years of therapy to climb out of this pit I'm currently in. I don't know if I have enough patience...
@AthenaAro Thank you, you make me hopeful. How many months did it take before you felt you were making progress?
@Hilda – It took about 6 months in total (with a small two-week break for personal reasons) before I felt I reached a place where I could ignore my intrusive thoughts and compulsions. We tried several different things with my therapist, and I think it was the combination of them that work. Obviously, ERP. I also had to make major changes to my lifestyle and to work on my perception of myself and the world.
I still have my ups and downs, and on stressful days it may get worse, but overall I can say that my quality of life has drastically improved. There is hope!
@Hilda – Returning to your old self would mean returning to the beginning of your journey. A wholesome life is about progress forward, not backward. You'll become a better version of who you used to be, once you learn acceptance and empathy. Try to look at it as a chance to upgrade yourself
@Veena Choudhary Thank you! Your reassurance makes me feel that I can do it! 🙏
OCD has no cure its true. You can't ignore or stop your repetitive thoughts and behaviour that controls your life. What you can control and do is your decision to get treatment. Going to a psychiatrist for a regular treatment would help. Cognitive behavioural therapy works best. It is type of psychotherapy which will give you tool to think, act and react to your unhealthy thoughts and habits. The goal is to replace negative thoughts with productive ones. Your treatment goal for OCD are to retrain your brain and control your symptoms with or without medication.
Like you said I am scared i can never recover from OCD. It is possible to recover and regain control of life through proper treatment. Once you learn to apply the skills you learnt in therapy, there is practically no way your life won't be better. You will learn various mindfulness techniques and coping skills needed to overcome your pattern of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviour. recovery is not returning back to where you started. It is being able to do things you once thought you will never be able to do.
yes you will have intrusive thoughts about bad stuff, constant thoughts about things that aren't even possible. When you have such thoughts just be kind and patient with yourself. don't fight with these thoughts. write down these thoughts and see these are just thoughts and you cant control them but just start building the habit of acknowledge it without letting them take control. Try to resist the urge to push those intrusive thoughts away. suppression of such thoughts will feel logical but it will only intensify the distress you experience. You just have to acknowledge the thought by writing it down without identifying or analysing or questioning them.
Notice that thinking is a behaviour and that different way of thinking about your experience may make you more or less likely to choose effective behavioural response.