Anyone else do this? I constantly go through lists in my mind of things I need to do, in different categories. I usually do it with the intention of not missing a single item, repeating over and over to make sure I remember, thinking that this will somehow get me to take action on my goals.
What I get instead is so much pressure, that I exhaust myself and end up avoiding much of what I want to do. It's a constant battle. I can't live like this anymore.
My motto seems to be all or nothing. Everything, all the time, all at once. It's killing me. HELP! I'm trying to tell myself that "something is better than nothing" but this is a really tough one for me. Total OCD. Thanks for any ideas.
Perfectionistic Re-Checking of Mental Lists
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Guest
I'm working on my own OCD issues, so know first that you are NOT alone!
I think a big part of our problem is that "everything at once attitude". We want it right here, right now. But life doesn't work that way.
I've found that being patient with myself and trying has helped, no matter the outcome. It's hard to not want to get upset with myself, but I seem to be getting to a point where I can congratulate myself for staying with it, and I'm actually feeling LESS stressed now.
Patience and compassion towards ourselves are key, I think.
I think a big part of our problem is that "everything at once attitude". We want it right here, right now. But life doesn't work that way.
I've found that being patient with myself and trying has helped, no matter the outcome. It's hard to not want to get upset with myself, but I seem to be getting to a point where I can congratulate myself for staying with it, and I'm actually feeling LESS stressed now.
Patience and compassion towards ourselves are key, I think.
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Guest
I also used to do this with the lists, ItsOkay. I tried to prioritize but everything remained a number 1 priority. the funny thing was, I would get paralyzed reviewing it over and over, and so I would go do something that wasn't even on the list, contributing to my failure!! A counselor once told me she thought I might be a "bit" obsessive and I was so insulted. Well, I guess she was right! 
I overcame it before starting this program, but the program definitely reinforces the solution. Live in the moment. If I don't do X by tomorrow, the world will NOT fall off its axis. I actually decided one day to throw away the list on my kitchen counter and NOT make a new one until I had this under control. Cold turkey. I struggled emotionally with it for about 3 days, but eventually I realized that my days were really going no different. I know what I need to do and when. No list was needed to pressure me or punish me if I didn't complete it. Now, I make a list but as a game, I choose at least one item that I will NOT do today! And I celebrate at the end of the day what DID get done. All the best!
I overcame it before starting this program, but the program definitely reinforces the solution. Live in the moment. If I don't do X by tomorrow, the world will NOT fall off its axis. I actually decided one day to throw away the list on my kitchen counter and NOT make a new one until I had this under control. Cold turkey. I struggled emotionally with it for about 3 days, but eventually I realized that my days were really going no different. I know what I need to do and when. No list was needed to pressure me or punish me if I didn't complete it. Now, I make a list but as a game, I choose at least one item that I will NOT do today! And I celebrate at the end of the day what DID get done. All the best!