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How to deal with irrational worries about an event from my past?
Hi,
I'm a volunteer at an animal shelter and a big animal lover. About 2 weeks ago, a staff member at the shelter found a frog in there, and she invited me to come with her as she went outside to release the frog. She put the frog near a puddle and went back inside the shelter, but since I have OCD, I felt like I had to stay there a few more moments to make sure the frog was okay. After staring at the frog for a few moments, I started walking back to the shelter, but I kept looking back at the puddle, just to be absolutely sure.
At some point when I looked back the frog wasn't there anymore. I went back to puddle to take a closer look, but the frog was nowhere to be seen, so I just went back to the shelter.
Even though I can tell with almost 100% certainty that the frog simply jumped into the puddle when I didn't look, I still can't get over the idea that I accidentally stepped on the frog when I went back to puddle to take a closer look. This idea makes no sense because the closest I got to where we put the frog was a few meters away from that spot, and also, if a frog had been crashed under my foot, I would have surely noticed.
Unfortunately, I cannot reason with my OCD, and even though I keep telling myself how irrational my worries are, they just don't go away.
Any advice on how to deal with this trouble?
I'm a volunteer at an animal shelter and a big animal lover. About 2 weeks ago, a staff member at the shelter found a frog in there, and she invited me to come with her as she went outside to release the frog. She put the frog near a puddle and went back inside the shelter, but since I have OCD, I felt like I had to stay there a few more moments to make sure the frog was okay. After staring at the frog for a few moments, I started walking back to the shelter, but I kept looking back at the puddle, just to be absolutely sure.
At some point when I looked back the frog wasn't there anymore. I went back to puddle to take a closer look, but the frog was nowhere to be seen, so I just went back to the shelter.
Even though I can tell with almost 100% certainty that the frog simply jumped into the puddle when I didn't look, I still can't get over the idea that I accidentally stepped on the frog when I went back to puddle to take a closer look. This idea makes no sense because the closest I got to where we put the frog was a few meters away from that spot, and also, if a frog had been crashed under my foot, I would have surely noticed.
Unfortunately, I cannot reason with my OCD, and even though I keep telling myself how irrational my worries are, they just don't go away.
Any advice on how to deal with this trouble?
Well you are one step ahead of most people in that you are already seeing a psychologist. That's great! Are you learning how to deal with the thoughts i.e., replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, controlled breathing, self-coaching, etc?
1 Comments
No. Where can I learn this?
I agree that you would know if you stepped on a frog. The problem here is that I am giving you reassurance and reassurance will make you feel better for all of 30 seconds and then you will be back at this scenario or on to a new one.
You said you have OCD...you were formally diagnosed? If so, how long ago? Therapy?
You said you have OCD...you were formally diagnosed? If so, how long ago? Therapy?
1 Comments
I don't remember when exactly I was officially diagnosed with OCD. I go to a psychologist once a week, but I don't have a therapist specifically for OCD.
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