https://web.archive.org/web/20260515113210/https://www.vulture.com/article/social-media-feeds-chaotic-good-projects-clipping.html

Every single person on this planet thinks about dark and taboo things. It's literally the most normal thing in the world.

OCD can exist very physically in the body. A very normal OCD symptom is the groinal response:

Groinal response is a feeling of arousal. It can include swelling, tingling, warmth, moisture, lubrication, tumescence (swelling or feeling of fullness), sensitivity to small movements, partial erection or full erection. A groinal response in OCD is often linked to an intrusive feeling, thought, urge or image. (NOCD)

It's common among people with P-OCD (pedophilia intrusive thoughts), intrusive thoughts focused on incest, attraction to pets and other animals, sexual orientation, or fear of any other unwanted attraction.

People experiencing intrusive thoughts often engage in 'Checking' compulsions. Or repeatedly going over the same information to reassure yourself (NOCD). In this case, the information comes from your body:

You're afraid you're attracted to your brother. When you see your brother, you focus on your body to make sure it's not experiencing any sensations that 'confirm' your fear.

By focusing so intently on the body, Checking can actually trigger the physical response you're most afraid of.

Although not to be confused with pOCD, which is perinatal and postpartum OCD, P-OCD and Harm OCD are common in people WITH pOCD. pOCD may develop both in the birthing parent and other caretakers, igniting terror that they are unsafe and unable to care for their infants (iOCDf).

Understanding OCD is lifesaving information. You are not your intrusive thoughts. Your intrusive thoughts are not your secret desires. Every single person I've ever known with OCD has feared that they don't actually have OCD and that they're the one person whose intrusive thoughts are real.

Spoiler: That wasn't true for any of us, and it's not true for you.

You're normal. Having OCD is normal. Your intrusive thoughts are normal. Best of all, you don't have to live in fear forever.

Recovery is possible. Even without professional therapy. Okay, I love you.

not interested in getting involved in the rest of this discussion, for the most part, but to me this is a GREAT piece of advice that many people these days don't seem to be getting or understanding.

I think you should wear the brace, take the nap, ask for help, accept help joyfully, I think you should use the cane, the chair, you should sit down

I think you should put a cool or warm or one then the other cloth wet and clean against your face and focus on the temperature and if things align to allow it the aroma, and if not, then the cloth, I think you should focus on the weight, the texture,

again

the tempreture

to help

you relax.

I think you should take the ibuprofen. The asprin. The thing that works, for you, when you have this pain, that is available, handy, in your purse, in my purse, in someone's bag, in your bag, in my bag, we hand it to you, fetch you water. You thank me, them, yourself, for the water and manners are lovely and your appreciation is felt even if you do not thank them because

right now

talking is

the

last

thing.

I think you should buy the pre-cut pre-cooked just reheat just warm up just eat as is just sorted and I think you should remove the word "just" from these sentences you say to yourself as this is vitamins and minerals and carbohydrates and proteins and fats and the mechanics of being feeding your body and I think if you can adjust it to make it tastier than you should

salt butter cheese chocolate little snips to help

I think you should understand that most things in this world are neutral. Embracing neutral aids are good, so, neutral positive.

I think you should accept the weight of your feelings and scribble and draw and yell and sing and cry and howl and then sit and rest and watch a movie or listen to a song or read a book or read a blog or read a story and allow the cold comfort of the anger and angst

and think the weight of the unfair and cruel burning in you powering the furnace should be allowed a winter's night's chill

and then allowed to quiet as the sun rises again

funny, that, the sun, it rises on days of horror and days of sublime

i think you should wear the brace, actually, because your wrist hurts, and it is a brace, it is metal and fabric and velcro so some kind of plastic

it is not a crime, that you got away with, that haunts your steps, will they catch you, wearing the brace, you've lived twenty years since needing a brace, you're sure to be caught now, sheriff on your heels, the law just around the corner, everything bound to be ruined, soon as they find out

i think you should wear the brace because it is a brace and it will lessen the pain and you are in pain

and

justification is not needed

this is reason

alone

i think i should say that again

justification

is not needed

this is reason

and it alone

is more than enough

i think you should wear the comfortable clothes and you should wrap tight the comfortable blanket and open the windows to let in the comfortable air and i think that you should take a measuring cup and figure out if a few hours of sleep or gaming or reading or art or just being alive quietly would help you and if it does then dip the cup into the pool of time and i think you should drink it, allow it to settle, and experience it

i think you should experience softness

as often

as possible

i think if the pre-sliced single orange costs as much as the bag of oranges but the pre-sliced single orange allows you to dig your teeth into this freshness, this preserved sunshine

then the monetary cost is the cheapest price on this earth

i think you should wear the brace

and embrace the neutrality of things

i think you should be comfortable

i hope you are comfortable

i hope as i pass i can run a single finger along the length of your arm to remind you i hope you are comfortable

and

that

i am here,

for you,