how do explain to others?

mrsworry · Post by **mrsworry** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:55 am

one more thing to add from my earlier post. How the hell do you explain to other people about your scary thoughts? Like i said i know everybody is supposed to have these thoughts but they dont ruminate on them they just get on and dont even think about them etc, but when u have been stressed and have obsessive thinking you go over and over them and that in turn opens up a whole new can of worms, but how do u explain to friends and family when they have not experienced that type of thinking??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:51 am

Mrs. Worry...I don't think it is necessary to explain your scary thoughts to those who don't understand....They are your thoughts, and you own them...You can choose to change this scary negative thoughts into more realistic positive thoughts...It really is hard for others to understand, if they have not been there...I have been there and I can tell you that I didn't feel that I owed anyone an explanation for my way of thinking...Totally understand...God Bless

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:33 pm

Hi Mrs. Worry,

I attended an Obessive Compulsive Foundation conference this summer. A therapist did a great exercise to illustrate to people withOUT OCD, what people with OCD go through.

He had each audience member write the name of someone they loved on a piece of the paper. Then, he told everyone to write, "I hope (the name they selected previously) dies a horrible violent death." Even though people didn't mean it, they could not write it because the thought casued severe anxiety. He used that exercise to illustrate the fear and suffering that people with OCD go through.

You'd be surprised at the number of people who have scary thoughts (including Igantious of Loyola and Martin Luther). It is not anything to be ashamed of.

Wishing you the best,

Rob

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:59 pm

Rd,
I don't know if you still will find this reply but that seminar you described is one of the most accurate ways I have ever heard of describing what goes on in me or anyone else suffering from this disorder! Thank you for sharing...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:14 am

Hi all I have to agree that the way RD terriers discribed is very effective. My finace is so understanding and supportive but I never reallynew if he knew exactly how it worked.
I explained it to him in the past as this...

I said
Ya know when you something that your anticipating and worrying about. Passing a big test, a settlement, waiting on a loan.

He said Yeah

I said- Its that feeling but its over something completely made up and ridiculous that I knwo in the back of my head is irrational but I cant seem to shake. Its also something that consumes my mind for hours at a time. The main differnce though is that these thoughts are scarey, always negative and I dont want to think them

he said- that sucks im sorry baby.

People get it because I have found that it is a lot more common thenyou may think. I was at a bbq last weekend and one of the woman there said something in the middle of her onversation that only someone with anxiety would catch and undertsnad. Two minutes later we were having a full conversation about it and had a lot of the same symptoms. When I told her I had it she said wow you dont look like you would have this. You seem to upbeat and carefree. I said I am upbeat but not carefree at all.
Fake it till you make it!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:37 am

Clearsky your explanation really helped me put into words how to describe scary obsessive thoughts and anxiety, also the bit about how you appear to be upbeat and carefree, well that is me but like you say upbeat but NOT carefree and also how you were talking to that lady at the bbq and only someone with anxiety would catch what she meant, I am always looking for people to share this anxiety with!