Recurrent Episodes

Always Worried · Post by **Always Worried** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:22 am

I was wondering if anyone else has times when they feel pretty good, and then all of a sudden, their anxiety and OCD act up again. Sometimes, I'm afraid I'll end up in the hospital again when I feel so bad. I don't have any nearby family to support me, so it even makes it harder to deal with these episodes.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:44 am

Hello Always Worried,

I do understand how you are feeling. I will have 2 or 3 great days and feel like I am on my way to being recovered from the depression, anxeity, and OCD and then all of the sudden I will have an intrusive thought and instead on relableing it I will dwell on it and then I am right back where I started 2 or 3 days before. Then comes the feelings of guilt, for allowing myself to crawl back down in that hole. It is a sad cycle.

Just know that you have had GREAT days and you know that there will be many more ahead of you. don't dwell on the negative day that you have had look forward to the Great days that are around the corner. Also prayer helps. I dont know if you are a spritual person, but praying is wonderful.

I will lift you up in prayer.

Many Blessings

I will say a prayer for you. Many Blessings

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:20 am

I feel the same way, seems like I have good days where I am not introspective and focused on my anxieties then I have days like today where I wake up irritable and anxious. But I am finding that these days pass and I am having more good days now then bad now that I am using my new skills.
So today I am going to watch a funny movie, try an read an encouraging book, Hangout with some friends, do some work, lift my feelings up to God. And by surrounding myself with positive stuff itll make the hard days a little easier.
Just know that bad days pass and there is always going to be a tomorrow full of exciting new things.
God bless

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:03 am

I feel like I am having more good days than bad ones. I just got back from the store. I was grocery shopping and when I was in the store I started getting scary thoughts. I almost ran out but I stayed in the store and continued shopping. I guess on our road to recovery we have set backs. I am tired of recurring episodes but I have faith in this program and God.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:02 am

Thank you everyone for your input. It made me feel a little better.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:09 am

I've found that it's very common to have up/down days. Every day, we face different levels of stress, and stress causes us to seek more "safety" by doing our rituals. Although it's uncomfortable, not to mention discouraging, the truth is EVERYONE, whether they suffer as we do or not, has good and bad days, with more stress/less stress. In other words, you're human! =)

I recently read an article by a prominent specialist in OCD treatment, and I found encouragement in the science of OCD. We feel guilt, because we feel that we should not have these thoughts or desires. The truth is, the same area of our brain that causes anxiety is the same area of the brain that causes OCD! Why is this important? Because that area (the ambyglatta) is a NON-THINKING part of the brain. It is the part that reacts to the Fight or Flight Syndrome. In other words, it has NOTHING to do with our thoughts, and EVERYTHING to do with our brain's automatic reaction to perceived danger.

So there's NO NEED for us to feel guilty about it! We can't control our brain's overactive fear center any more than we can control the part of our brain that keeps our heart beating.

We then have the choice of either allowing ourselves to go through our rituals, or use the coping techniques of the Attacking Anxiety program to put fear into the proper perspective.

You can read more here: http://www.ocdonline.com/definecbt.php

I'm hoping this not only helps me, but helps you as well!