Stress Center Peer Support

I just wanted to know if anyone has these feelings also. Sometimes I feel like I did the things I worry about, but never have. This causes me to want to "check" if everything is alright, which only makes me more anxious. But, if I don't check, the anxiety becomes even worse. Does anyone know what can help me avoid this "checking" to make sure everything is alright. Sometimes when I'm driving, I even have to go back to make sure I didn't hit someone. I would appreciate any suggestions anyone might have. Thanks!

I would appreciate any posts from people who can relate to my above post. I'm looking for suggestions on how to stop "checking". Thank you!

Dear Always Worried....I learned to just stop checking...This does require a bit of commitment..
Just say, "I am gonna trust myself this one time."
And just do it..Every time I had this negative thought come to my head...I would say, God I trust in you to take care of it, whatever it may be, and this helped me tremendously...Actually, this is just a habit, and habits take some persistence to break....Just begin by stop checking, and you will learn to trust yourself....
That is exactly how I did it....Hope this helps...God Bless...

I'm on session 10 right now and it goes over obsessive thinking. It's very good. Although I am not obsessive/compulsive, I do get thoughts once in a while. I know this session will help you, there are a number of tips and solutions that will help you get through these thought processes.

Hi Always Worried,
I do this all the time, and it can change daily, weekly, monthly. I worry that I did something wrong, usually something really bad and out of character. If you look at my trail on-line, a few weeks ago I was absolutely convinced that when my next door neighbor was robbed, I did it. I tore apart my entire house checking & looking for the items my neighbor told me were stolen, and never found a thing. Eventually I started to obsess over something else and the checkign turned to that obsession. The problem I realize with my OCD symptoms is the inconceivable notion that I did something wrong, need proof that I did not do it (keep thinking I am crazy and did things completely out of character -let's take the neighbor issue, I turned it around in my mind to being crazy, to me going to hell because I am a catholic and the dismay from my friends, thinking I would be a dissapointment to my family, to going crazy). Yikes, a lot to handle!

I started to journal this past month, since I've realized my OCD ramps up with my PMDD cycles (not sure if you're female). I'm experimenting this month with some herbs from my accupuncturist. I will let you know how it goes.

The problem with OCD is that you can get these overwhelming feelings of "doubt," and I also notice that they increase with stress. It's so hard to believe your thoughts are not real, but after years of going to my doctor, he tells me the same thing every time (if you truly did something wrong, wouldn't you know by now)? Unfortunately, I make myself so sick at times about it, I can vomit based just on my thoughts. I've been recommended to take anti-depressants for two years. This is my last pilot test with the herbs before trying meds again. I'll keep you posted on the results.

PLEASE let me know if anything works for you. I could have written your posting a thousand times myself.
Lucie

Always Worried - You will need to take that step that is scary for you. DO NOT CHECK ANYMORE. JUST STOP IT. Yes, you will feel anxiety with this new practice but it will get less and less - and very quickly, I might add. When you "buy" into your thoughts they keep coming around over and over and you get more afraid. You are reinforcing them by constantly checking. (You will never make them come true. Thoughts are never a call to action. You simply reinforce the fear by NOT WALKING AWAY FROM YOUR THOUGHTS.)

Doesn't matter if it's your cycle, doesn't matter if you are feeling vulnerable to begin with. Walk away. Don't check anymore.

When you come back to the forum in a week you will be telling us how much better you feel.

Thanks everyone who answered my e-mail. It was greatly appreciated. "lucie", can you tell me what date you posted the e-mail you mentioned in your reply. I would like to read it, but I can't find it. Thanks!