Why logic doesn't work with OCD

We've all tried to challenge our thoughts with logic and rational thinking. This is why it only works for a small period of time, then OCD comes back stronger. Has this happened to you before?

[christophermahoney]

Really good message. OCD questions need to be refused an answer. Let them go.

[mcricks]

I have ocd and anxiety and it’s caused major driving and social anxiety. Horrible to live with…. I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone. No one understands that you can’t just rationalize it… or use logic, my brain doesn’t work that way. I wish it were that easy. I wish I could just stop. I wish I just tell myself I’m being dumb and that everything is fine, but it just doesn’t work like that. It is nice to see videos out there like this to help bring awareness for hidden illnesses.

[Jbbbb-ks]

Thank you for this - the "what if" thing really hits home. And the more I think about extremely unlikely scenarios, the more real they become in my head, and then they seem much more of a threat than they actually are

[guialmeida]

It's like your brain tells you something, and you believe the opposite, but even if you use logic, it never turns off, it keeps banging you in the head saying "this will happen, this will happen, this will happen...."

[YamnayaSintash]

Its so weird discovering what has been torturing me all these years, making me write essays to myself..

[timtebowfan]

Feeling loved or cared for has always helped my OCD. Having a support system is extremely important for one with OCD.

[mystiquemystique]

I always tell myself something like this: this is just a thought and it is natural to have them even repeatedly. I imagine a stream of water going by in a beautiful setting with trees, a beautiful sun set and I take the thoughts. Then, place them on a leaf and let them go down the stream. Sometimes I have to put the same thoughts on separate leaves and set them down the same steam. It reminds me that if I keep obsessing over these thoughts I will never be able to really enjoy the view relaxing by the stream. ☺️

[camelkingofthemediteranean]

I needed this. This is the same for me.

I am religious and spiritual. My OCD tells me "I am god and if you do not go along with me, you will be punished" and i say "Your order contradicts the laws in my religion islam therefore you are not god" but then another "what if comes".

I can do whatever i like....OCD does not shut up

[martlinx]

I understand this and it makes sense but the part that gets me and I struggle with is being able to distinguish intuition from fear based OCD thoughts. Like my mind will come up with these thoughts of “what if” but it feels like fate sometimes and like a “sign” to do that thing and then I’ll do it and then have thoughts and fear of “oh crap did I do it again? What if this was the wrong choice? But it feels like the right choice…I think”

So it feels like I constantly can’t really trust myself with anything and that eventually my OCD will ruin things for me again, like relationships, jobs, family matters, life choices, etc

[glitchblck]

I can’t sleep every night because OCD. I forget that some times life is already perfect. And doesn’t need an excuse to a terrible thought. This reminds me to not answer it.
And to think about what I already have that’s perfect.

[triplejazzmusicisall]

Thank you. I have chronic OCD and my partner has mentioned how much of a powerful imagination I possess. So this helps.

[NoUserUsed]

Honestly tysm for the vid . I thought I was just fucking weird and that the logic thing worked for everyone but me . I once did a month research on why I should suppress some thoughts and it worked but only for a short amount of time. I was so relived but then it came back worse because my brain was like trained to my comebacks and had worse ones. It’s like a virus, it comes back stronger each time you catch it.

[ddv]

Best sollution to it, well spoken. Just let it be there get OK ( it’s just there) with the discomfort. Reset your focus on not other things and do not get into rumination. This to shall pass.

[michaelarojas]

Always get thoughts of things that I didn't have control over or something that's already happened

[simonjones]

While complex, OCD is essentially caused by reprogramming the lizard part of our brain when we spot danger. With OCD we have the trigger (danger) -> ritual to protect for said danger -> nothing happens = re-enforcing the belief system that enacting the ritual is what’s keeping you safe. Cognitive behavioural therapy alongside exposure therapy helps to fix the aberration caused in your brain, it’s very affective but requires the patient to be willing to put in the work throughout therapy and beyond.

[zhisu]

One my things that affects me the most is my feelings of actions, thooughts and objects being bad luck. I know it's B.S I'm aware of it but it's so incredibly difficult to get out of it because I still have that fear that something is going to happen if I I use a certain t-shirt on the wrong day and it has me feeling so paranoid and nauseous to buy something because I have this fear that its gonna be a bad luck item

[mothiurNCL]

I rationalised over many years. It worked largely, however, required mindfulness, contemplating about the future, my religion in particular and finally got rid of the doubts and intrusive thoughts. It pops up here and there, however, the dangerous thoughts are eliminated.

[etherealsoulgazer]

Thanks. Having some trouble with my ocd tonight and this helped!

[hoopajoop]

Thank you for explaining it so simply. I have OCD and anxiety and I feel understood.

[AvarieGross-hwph]

Thank you for speaking about this❤ I learned this recently and I’m so happy I did because if I didn’t, I would be stuck trying to use logic as a solution to my problems, when really that drives it more