The Irony Of OCD Stress
The Irony Of OCD Stress
An ocd sufferer is all too familiar with life’s ironic contradictions. They are usually very aware that the fears and tendencies they have are completely irrational, yet they feel powerless to control them. They know that life would be so much easier if they could just stop these thoughts and/or actions, yet they feel compelled to carry them out. Even though they usually know in their hearts that these things are not normal they are strangely normal to them. One of the major contradictions for a sufferer is ocd stress.
OCD Stress
The cruel twist of fate with ocd stress is that stress makes ocd worse, but experiencing ocd symptoms usually causes stress. People with ocd know that their actions and thoughts would be considered out of the ordinary by the majority of the population and, therefore, often hide them as much as possible. This causes them to feel even more isolated and alone, which in turn, increases their stress levels.
It can also be extremely frustrating and stressful for an ocd sufferer to wrap his mind around the fact that his ocd thoughts are irrational, but he cannot stop himself from having them. In addition, there is the stigma attached to being diagnosed with a mental disorder. This diagnosis is particularly unsettling to many ocd patients because unlike sufferers of many other mental disorders, the irrationality of their inclinations is so clear to them. This can lead many people to feel discouraged and weak, thus leading to further stress and more frequent or aggressive feelings.
OCD Stress Relief
A good starting point for someone seeking relief from ocd stress is to learn and regularly practice meditation. Learning to systematically relax each of the muscles in one’s body as well as guiding one’s thoughts (either alone or with the help of a therapist) to a positive place can be a powerful technique for relieving stress in an ocd sufferer.
Another technique that can be practiced with the help of a therapist is desensitization. This practice involves exposing the ocd sufferer to the acts that he/she is most afraid of in order to push him/her to see that the fears are unfounded.
To rid someone of persistent, irrational thoughts a therapist may employ a method called thought saturation. During this process the patient is encouraged to completely focus on his/her fearful thoughts to the point that they, hopefully, lose their meaning.
In conclusion, dealing with ocd stress can be a bit of an uphill battle, but it is not a struggle that is beyond hope. There are ways to cope and even to get better.
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