#ocdsupport

I haven't drawn my oc Powerline in a while and felt like doing so. He suffers from OCD..grammar and spelling related OCD. And so do I. He's the sidekick of my villain oc High Voltage who isn't good at spelling, so when she shows him a new sign she made for her lair his urge to correct it becomes unbearable, and his anxiety goes through the roof.

He's seen many things, but none are as scary to him as a sign with so many errors...

it’s not all about lining things up and washing your hands

it’s about the convincing yourself you’re something awful.

compulsions that are time consuming and draining.

it’s the constant worry you’ve done or said something to offend someone.

it’s the co morbid disorders like trichotillomania, misophonia and more just draining you more.

it’s the constant “just rights”.

it’s the permanent engraved intrusive thoughts that are constantly replaying.

it’s the constant seeking reassurance.

it’s about living in fear because you’re so scared you’ll act out on an intrusive thought.

it’s the constant dread and anxiety.

so so many more.

why, what and how would you want this disorder

From years of experience, here are the techniques that have helped me the most! TW: Skin Picking

1. Band-Aids! Creates a physical barrier between nails and the picking spot. Seals in the wound to help prevent infection, and is a great reminder to let yourself heal. 

2. Short Nails! I know that long nails can be beautiful, but for those of us who suffer from skin-picking compulsions, they make it easier to dig a deeper wound. Added bonus: Short nails help with typing!

3. Fidgets! I love a good fidget, find one that suits you! I really love fidgets that are disguised as jewelry, like spinner rings and bracelets, since they are both helpful and aesthetic!

4. Moisturizer! When skin is moisturized, it becomes soft and unsatisfying to pick at. This will also help heal old problem spots (do not put in open wounds).

5. Positive Self Affirmation! I cannot stress this one enough. Skin Picking can get better, do not lose hope! Even larger and deeper wounds will heal. There is nothing wrong with your scars, they are a sign you have let that spot heal. If you’re bothered by them there are plenty of options from creams to lasers. You are not alone! Celebrate those little victories!

All these tips are from experience, I'm not a professional but as someone who has had OCD from a very young age, these are some helpful things that i use to fight intrusive thoughts. I will post a different helpful tips for intrusive memories, which are a separate but related issue. 

1. Distraction! My first step when experiencing intrusive thoughts is to distract myself. Focusing on the thought only makes it stronger, so redirecting my attention to something positive helps stop it in its tracks. Some distractions that work for me are reading, video games, or drawing. Find what works for you!

2. Remember the facts! The intrusive thought is not a part of you, it was generated by a random sequence in the brain that has nothing to do with your personality or identity. The thought you have AFTER the intrusive thought, the ‘Wtf was that thought?’, that is you. 

3. Don’t ruminate! The questions you ask yourself like ‘Why would i think that?’, ‘Is something wrong with me because of that thought?’ and ‘Is this thought part of my subconscious somehow?’ - are not helpful. Intrusive thoughts can be extremely distressing, remember tip #2 and don’t spend time feeling bad for having them. 

4. Remember that you are not alone! Most people will experience some form of intrusive thoughts at some point during their lifetime. People like me with OCD and a variety of other conditions experience them all the time. I promise that it can get better.

5. Find an anti-intrusive thought to repeat! For example, when i experience intrusive thoughts i purposefully think ‘Wow brain, that was a weird one’. Because the thought is not me, it is a randomly generated combination of stimulus, memories and general knowledge. I get plenty of random thoughts that are actually pleasant, but of course being random, some of them are disturbing and thus intrusive. “That thought is not me” is another great anti-intrusive thought. I’ll also add “Nope, don’t like this thought one bit” and the dramatic “I BANISH this thought from my brain castle!”

YOUR

INTRUSIVE

THOUGHTS

DONT

MAKE

YOU

A BAD PERSON!

Here’s another addition to my series of helpful tips! I am not a professional, just someone who has struggled with OCD and Anxiety Disorder related symptoms like Social anxiety for many years. Here are some practical tips that have helped me along the way, i hope this helps!

1. The Fake Eye Contact Trick! I have been using this trick since i was 6 years old, and it works! If you want to appear as if you’re making eye contact, look at the space between a person’s eyes. I still use this tip every single day!

2. The Shared Interest! This is a great way to make friends. If you’re in a class with someone, ask them a question or bring up a topic from that class! See someone with a t-shirt with a band or movie or artist you like? Tell them it’s cool! Not all small talk is going to lead to friendship or even a second conversation, but if talking to people more is a goal of yours- this is a great way to start.

3. Don’t fear rejection! Now I realize this is way easier said than done. Talking to that potential new friend, asking your crush on that date, sending in that job application- these are all super stressful for those of us with Social anxiety. It makes it even harder when things don’t work out because of all the effort it took to even try. Respect the other person’s decision and move on- be proud of yourself for taking a chance! You are worthy and valuable and nobody’s rejection can change that. 

4. Ignore Popularity! This is more for the younger readers, because once you leave high school/college, being popular doesn’t matter one bit. Before i was an old lady of 25, I was a very shy and confused teenager who thought that it mattered how many people liked me. It doesn’t. All we need in life is one good friend, and a good friend is always better than many bad friends. Spend your time being who you are and doing what you love, that’s the time you’ll remember being worthwhile.

5. The Calming Ritual! Find a small ritual you can do in stressful situations. If I'm overwhelmed at a party or event, I'll step outside even if it’s super cold- just to take a break from the noise and overstimulation. Some other ideas include the extended bathroom break, keeping a fidget toy in your pocket, bringing a water bottle to sip on, and in some situations- just leaving when you need to.

6. The Practice Round! The most common questions i get asked when people first meet me are - What’s your job? What town are you from? What school did you go to? and How do you know (Insert event host name)? I already have an answer ready for these, and practice them to myself sometimes. This is a tip from public speaking class! Have answers ready, even if the answer is “Fuck off don’t ask me that”- practice makes perfect!

7. Self Love! All people have value, all people deserve love and acceptance. We all make mistakes, we all have embarrassing moments, we all have things we don’t like about ourselves that make us feel unworthy. Assuming you are not a racist, sexist, murderer etc. etc., you should know there is a place for you even if you haven’t found it yet. There will be people who love you exactly as you are and for who you are, i promise. All our various ‘imperfections’ are actually what make us beautiful. Keep snorting when you laugh, Keep wearing that sweater grandma gave you, Keep insisting on karaoke Thursdays, Or whatever it is that makes you, you!