Living With OCD – Can You Ever Escape It?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - OCD is ruining my life! – Have you ever heard this before and wondered how OCD can ruin a person’s life?

Do you or someone you know currently experiencing OCD that has got you or that person in a serious state of despair because the OCD is interfering seriously with your day-to-day activities and ruining your life?

If yes, don’t worry because we have got you covered and we will clarify your doubt and answer all the questions you might have concerning this topic – “OCD is ruining my life”.

Living with OCD is like living in a chaotic world. Everywhere you look some thoughts and images are just too much to handle. It feels like there’s no escape from the chaos, and it’s completely overwhelming.

If this sounds like your life, you’re not alone. OCD is a very common disorder, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. In this blog post, we will discuss what OCD is, how to tackle it, and why it can be so difficult to live with. We will also provide some tips for getting through each day.

This article also shows some experiences from past and present OCD sufferers, how the OCD affected them, and how they coped with it to become hale, sane, and hearty again.

My article covers how OCD can ruin your life, and what to do to recover from any damage OCD caused.

Let’s Proceed.

About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a mental disorder that causes people to have intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that are difficult to control. These thoughts and images can be so distressing that they cause anxiety and even panic attacks. For many people with OCD, the only way to relieve the anxiety is to perform certain rituals or compulsions.

These compulsions can be anything from hand-washing to counting to checking and rechecking things. The problem is that the relief is only temporary, and the OCD thoughts and images soon return. This can lead to a never-ending cycle of anxiety and compulsions that can be very difficult to break out of.

It is important to understand that everyone experiences OCD differently. Some may have very severe symptoms that interfere with their daily life, while others may only have milder symptoms that are manageable. However, all forms of OCD can be equally distressing.

OCD is constant unwanted repetition without conscious of your conscience. The thoughts, images, or urges get in the way of what you want to think about. The obsessions are usually anxiety-inducing and can be about anything that causes worry.

For example, someone with OCD might be afraid of dirt and germs and obsessively wash their hands several times a day. Or they might be afraid of making mistakes and obsessively checking and rechecking things.

Compulsions are the actions that people with OCD take to try to relieve their anxiety. As we mentioned before, the problem is that the relief is only temporary, and the OCD thoughts and images soon return.

OCD makes the person accede to unwanted whims and wants, and the person tends to lose self-confidence. People end up saying ‘OCD is Ruining My Life’.¹https://www.quora.com/Why-does-it-feel-like-my-OCD-is-ruining-my-life

OCD is Ruining My Life! – How is This Possible?

OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a mental disorder that causes people to have intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that are difficult to control. These thoughts and images can be so distressing that they cause anxiety and even panic attacks.

For many people with OCD, the only way to relieve the anxiety is to perform certain rituals or compulsions. These compulsions can be anything from hand-washing to counting to checking and rechecking things.

The problem is that the relief is only temporary, and the OCD thoughts and images soon return. This can lead to a never-ending cycle of anxiety and compulsions that can be very difficult to break out of.

I will be dropping some experiences people had with OCD which will show how this disorder can put you in a bad place and to further attest to this statement: ‘OCD is ruining my life’.

• Kristina Basham Experience

As someone who has suffered from debilitating OCD throughout my life, I can completely understand. It is a vicious cycle. The invasive thoughts are the worst. And the more you try to ignore it the stronger it gets, it seems. At one point I felt I couldn’t longer handle it. I just wanted the thoughts and compulsions to end. I even begged my doctor to give me ECT therapy (shock therapy). I was at my wits end. I tried so many drugs that I can’t even name them all. Sometimes they would help but only marginally. And most had side effects that were intolerable at times. Some of the drugs actually made the OCD worse. I would get nightmares. I would go to bed with dread, and wake up with dread. It’s a constant state of fear that unless you suffer from OCD you could not understand. So let me tell you I understand. It is incredibly lonely mental disease to have. If I had a dollar for every time somebody said to me “ just think about something else “ or “Do things to keep yourself busy” etc… I’d have a huge stack of dollar bills. Explaining OCD to somebody who does not have it is like trying to explain color to a person who has never had sight. Even doctors don’t understand. All they can do is tell you what they learned in a textbook, and based on what they have experienced with other OCD patients.

My OCD is always going to be there and I have accepted that, but it’s just a matter of managing it and trying to get the most quality out of life as possible.

This would be my plan of attack:

First of all, accept that OCD is something that you like we will have to live with just as diabetic people have to live with diabetes. There is no magic cure for OCD, and really no drug that treats it.

You also need understand that you are not your brain. You are completely separate from your brain. You are not your thoughts. You are the unmanifested consciousness that resides in your body. Your brain is merely a tool. That’s really all it is. You are the watcher of the projections and thoughts that come from your brain. You are not putting these thoughts and compulsions into your brain, it is the other way around. Your brain is actually putting these thoughts into YOU. I know this sounds crazy but I like to think of my brain as a bratty kid who constantly wants attention. The more I pay attention to it, the more it will act up because it knows it will get a reaction out of me. stop and think for a second of how you really should treat a bratty child that is spoiled and trying to get your attention. The best thing to do is not to engage. ingnore. I know it’s hard when there’s a screaming bratty kid in your head and you just want to shut it up, but you have to trek through the tantrums. You have to trek through the thoughts that it’s pushing into yourself. More power you have over your mind the less power it will have over you. Remember on the other side of all the screaming in your head there is peace. Behind all noise there is silence. You have to find that silence beyond all that noise. You can get there, but it takes practice. You need to be the watcher of the bratty kid that is your mind. When a bad thought projects from your mind, observe it as a third-party. I have found that separating myself from my brain has been the only real relief for me. And it is the kind of relief that is long term and the relief is stronger and stronger as I get more power over my brain.

I highly recommend reading “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. It goes into this far more deeply.

Sometimes my brain will still try and throw little tantrum‘s (OCD thoughts) here and there. And you want to know what I do? I roll my eyes! I don’t fight with it ( remember it wants a reaction out of you ) . I quietly observe it, and the feelings it brings along with it. Then it fades away.

Just remember, things will get better. They will. Especially if you don’t engage. Remember your thoughts are not who you are. Your consciousness is far more powerful than any thoughts could ever be!

Most importantly don’t lose hope! Don’t ever lose hope!

• OCD affected My Life by Nikita Baylis

You wake up, the same as every morning at 7:00am. Check your phone, think of what you have to do today, then begin getting ready for the day.

You touch a door, better wash your hands, and not just once, at least for half an hour, to make sure they're clean. This is then repeated when you touch the packaging that food is in, when you brush your teeth (in case someone else touched the toothpaste), when you go to the toilet, get dressed, pet your dog/cat/animal, if you have to pick something up of the floor, tie your shoelaces etc. etc.

So it's now around 9:00am and you've already washed your hands 32 times and for a total of around an hour.

Now, in the two hours you've been awake, you've checked that your phone charger is turned off multiple times, that every light switch is off, everything that could be turned off or on is off. This takes up a lot of time because you have to check every few minutes, and turn the switches off and on a few times each check.

Time to leave the house, so you proceed to leave the house, but oh no, you touched the door handle. Hand washing time again. After you've washed your hands until they're ‘just right’ you leave again, this time using your sleeve to open and close the door. Time to lock it, which takes longer than the switches, can't hqve anyone getting in now can you? So lock, push door, unlock, lock, push door, unlock, repeat repeat repeat until it's just right.

It's now around 10:00am and you haven't even started your day yet.

OCD wastes a lot of time, you know that your hands are clean after one wash, you know that the switch is off, that the door is locked, but it doesn't help, ou still MUST preform these compulsions.

OCD affects someone's life so much, it can cause depression, further anxiety problems, not to mention that the risk of suicide in OCD sufferers is 10 times higher.

• Madhvendra Gives Her Own’ OCD Ruined My Life Experience’

I was sufferring from OCD since 2012 August and started my treatment in 2015 after rigorius struggle of 3 years and taking medicine from that time. I was on sleeping pills for two years. I am still undergoing my treatment and feel nuch better now. But one thing i regret is i am almost 5 years behind in my studies as my friends are employed now but not me. Our neighbour asks my parent, what is he doing in all these years, but you can answer to some but not to all.

My family member laughs at me and treat the symptoms of OCD as joke because there is very little awareness about mental illness in India as we know mental means mad. It is not something that i can show , look i have fever, but only feel it within myself. Still, My family except my father belives that i had nothing because with them i was good.

That was a horrible experience and i used to weep when i think about it in hindsight. But there is nothing in this world which has the capability to break me.

• What do people with OCD constantly feel everyday? How unfortunate and bad is it to have OCD? – Read what Liam Fullarton-Ward have to Say on this

I’ve reached a stage at 26 years old where I can no longer even be bothered to fight the jarring compulsions that cause extreme anxiety, daily panic attacks and force me to wash my hands until they’re split, swollen and bleeding. I have no mental energy. My OCD has become a part of me and it’s like a gremlin sitting on my shoulders and being my puppet master. I HAVE to do what it says and attempting to fight it is like being tortured. If I don’t fight it I know I can eventually just get things done. I write, I read and I game to deal with it. It’s hard having a child with this type of OCD but she makes this monstrous suffering worthwhile. I can literally feel my OCD reacting in my brain like a nuclear power plant exploding and I sit there sighing knowing what’s going to happen.

CBT sent me on a rapid decline and the multiple doctors and psychiatrists and nurses I spoke to eventually discharged me because I was getting worse and they said treatment was putting me in decline. I even tried multiple strains of cannabis, high in both THC and CBD and I ended up with a substance abuse problem and sleeping no more than 2 hours a day due to extreme panic attacks that never stopped.

I stay inside my house because going out leeches so much energy it leaves me in a vicious, nasty mood. I’m so anxious and jittery and can’t touch anything anyway. I can’t use door handles. I have a panic attack if people get too close to me. I don’t enjoy being around people anyway and combine this with gender dysphoria and for me it’s not even worth my time to go out.

• Another Sad OCD Story

I am a 76-year-old married man and have had intense and ongoing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) since the age of 13.

My father was killed in the second world war, just after I was conceived. When I was six, my mother remarried; the marriage soon became unhappy and tense. My mother was a strict disciplinarian and hit me frequently when she felt I had been naughty or cheeky. She often told me off; I don’t recall her showing me much affection or praising me.

When I was 13, the rows between my mother and stepfather became more frequent and violent. One night, she attacked him with a hammer and broke two ribs. My maternal grandmother and I pleaded with her to desist. I feared she might kill him and be hanged. My grandmother, stepfather and mother all died by the time I was 35.

As a child, I had a rich fantasy life, full of reading and history. From around that time, however, I began to suffer from various nervous tics. I prayed a lot and developed recitations to still the fear and anxiety I felt. I have tried to conquer the OCD using yoga, meditation, research and simple willpower, but it is so strong. I eradicated it briefly for a year when I retired. But after that, the pressures built up again and I began to repeat the stock reassuring phrases I had invented, and to give in to the absurd tics.

The OCD pressure is worse when I am with people. I do not want to discuss it with my wife – I don’t want to worry or burden her – and don’t see how she could help. I have considered professional help, although Covid has made me reluctant. I don’t know how many years I have left, but it would still be wonderful to escape from this daily, almost lifelong affliction.

Watch the video below to see the reality of the 'OCD ruined my life' experience:

OCD Ruined My Life - OCD Really Affects Relationships

There are ways through which OCD affects a relationship, even ruining it, further attributing to why people say; ‘OCD ruined my life’ or ‘OCD is ruining my life’. You can even compare the time before your partner had OCD to after they were diagnosed. It’s not unusual for a person with OCD to become more withdrawn and less communicative.

If your partner is dealing with intrusive thoughts, they may be afraid to tell you what they’re thinking in case you judge them. This can make it difficult to connect with your partner on a deeper level. As there are different types of OCD, in the same way, the impacts of OCD in a relationship will also differ.

People with Contamination OCD

If your partner has contamination OCD, they may be constantly worried about germs and dirt. This can make them withdraw from physical affection as they may feel that they’re dirty and don’t want to contaminate you.

They may also avoid going out as they don’t want to come into contact with germs. This can greatly impact your social life as a couple and can be very isolating.²https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/aug/27/ocd-has-plagued-me-can-i-ever-escape-it Moreover, they may constantly be cleaning and this can be very frustrating for you to witness. So, this type of OCD affects relationships in various ways.

People with Checking OCD

If your partner has checking OCD, they may have compulsions around making sure that things are safe. For example, they may check the oven is turned off multiple times or they may lock and re-lock the door several times.

This can be very frustrating as it can cause arguments and make you feel like your partner doesn’t trust you. They may also avoid going out in case they can’t check everything before leaving the house.

People with Relationship OCD (ROCD)

ROCD is a type of OCD where a person becomes obsessed with whether or not they are in the right relationship. They may constantly doubt their feelings and question whether they are really in love with you.

This can be very hurtful and confusing as it can make you feel like you’re not good enough. ROCD can also cause a person to withdraw from the relationship as they don’t want to face their fears.

People with Unacceptable Thoughts OCD

The unacceptable thoughts are usually sexual or violent in nature and can be very disturbing. If your partner has this type of OCD, they may worry that they will act on these thoughts. They may avoid being around you in case they lose control and hurt you. This can make you feel like you’re not safe and can be very distressing.

In addition, this can lead to your partner wearing protective clothing, such as gloves, in order to avoid contact with you. In this way, it can be really tough to have a healthy relationship when OCD affects relationships.

Seeking Excessive Reassurance

This OCD affects relationships the most. One will constantly seek reassurance from their partner that they are still loved, or that they did not make a mistake. This can be incredibly draining for the partner who may feel like they are never good enough. It is important to remember that this need for reassurance is coming from the OCD and not from the person themselves.

These are some of the ways in which OCD affects relationships. Therefore, it is important to be understanding and patient if your partner is dealing with OCD. It can be a difficult and frustrating condition to live with but there are ways to manage it. With the right support, your relationship can thrive despite OCD.

Can You Ever Escape OCD?

The first step in tackling OCD is to understand that you are not your thoughts. Just because you have a thought does not mean that it is true. It is important to remember that your OCD thoughts are not reality.

One way to challenge your OCD thoughts is to ask yourself whether the thought is true. For example, if you are afraid of contracting a disease, ask yourself whether you have ever actually contracted a disease from the activity you are worried about. If the answer is no, then it is likely that your fear is not based on reality.

Another way to challenge your OCD thoughts is to expose yourself to the things you are afraid of. This is called exposure and response prevention (ERP). For example, if you are afraid of germs, you might expose yourself to a doorknob or a public restroom and then not allow yourself to wash your hands for a certain period.

This can be a very difficult task, but it is important to remember that the more you expose yourself to your fears, the less power they will have over you. Don’t give in to yourself by saying that ‘OCD is Ruining My Life’.

These ways might be helpful

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy is another to tackle OCD: This type of therapy can help you to change the way you think about your OCD and learn new coping strategies.
• You cannot rely upon your intuition in deciding how to deal with OCD: It is a very sly and powerful opponent. People with OCD often seek reassurance from others in an attempt to ease their anxiety. For example, a person with OCD might ask their partner to promise that they will never leave them. While this type of reassurance can provide temporary relief, it ultimately reinforces the
• Practice mindfulness to manage stress: Stress is a common trigger for OCD. Learning how to manage stress can be an important part of managing your OCD. One way to do this is through mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present at the moment and accepting things as they are. There are many ways to practice mindfulness, but one simple way is to focus on your breath. For example, you might close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. As you breathe, pay attention to the way your chest and stomach move. You might also want to focus on the way your breath feels as it enters and exits your body.
• Get plenty of exercises: Exercise can also help to reduce stress and improve your overall well-being. It is important to find an exercise that you enjoy and that you can do regularly. OCD is a difficult disorder to live with, but there are ways to manage the chaos. With treatment, it is possible to lead a relatively normal life.
• Sleep well and enough: Getting enough sleep is also important for managing stress. If you are having trouble sleeping, there are several things you can do to improve your sleep habits. For example, you might try establishing a regular sleep schedule or avoiding caffeine in the evening.
• Avoid nicotine and alcohol: Nicotine and alcohol can also lead to anxiety and should be avoided if you are trying to manage your OCD.
• Reach out to family and friends: Family and friends can be a great source of support. It is important to let them know what you are going through and to ask for help when you need it.
• Relapse is a potential risk that must be guarded against: Just as with any other chronic illness, there is always the potential for relapse. This is why it is so important to continue to practice the skills you have learned.
• Surrender is also a potent treatment for OCD: You might find it helpful to surrender to your OCD. This means accepting that your OCD is a part of you and that you will never be rid of it completely. It is important to remember that even though you cannot get rid of your OCD, you can still live a happy and fulfilling life.

Understanding Chaos and OCD

Chaos is something that people with OCD try to avoid. It can be anything from a messy room to a cluttered desk. For many people with OCD, the idea of living in chaos is simply too much to bear. The thought of not being able to find something when they need it or of having to wade through a pile of clothes to find a specific item can be extremely anxiety-provoking.

OCD can be very chaotic as it makes a personal slave of its demands. However, it is possible to find ways to manage the chaos and live a relatively normal life. One way to do this is to create a system for organizing your belongings. This might involve using labeled storage containers or color-coding your clothing. Having a place for everything can help to reduce the anxiety that comes with living in chaos.

Another way to manage the chaos of OCD is to set limits on how much time you allow yourself to spend on compulsions. For example, you might give yourself five minutes to check the locks on your doors before you leave for work. Once the five minutes are up, you must leave even if you don’t feel like the locks are secure. This can be a difficult task, but it is important to remember that your OCD thoughts are not reality.

OCD is not an illusion but it creates an illusion in your mind making you believe that you need to do something over and over again. It creates a never-ending loop that causes people to end up saying; ‘OCD is Ruining My Life.’

Is It Possible to Ever Be Completely "Cured" of OCD?

Yes, You Can, And You Will Because You Have To. It might take some time, but you can be cured completely - 100%, This is my promise to you.

I talk to people who suffer from OCD, and I have seen people getting cured entirely and doing even better than the normal ones. Even the standard taboos which everyone has to vanishes in the process of getting cured of OCD³https://mantracare.org/ocd/about-ocd/ocd-is-ruining-my-life-living-with-ocd/.

But the requirement is that you must have the fire inside you to get rid of it completely. Going to a doctor and taking medicines are essential, and with that don’t just rely only on the medication.

Add two more important things with Medicines: ERP (exposure and response prevention) & CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy).

With these; Exercise for at least 1 hour, start eating two bananas every day in the morning, get yourself educated about OCD by reading Books on OCD, i.e. Brain Lock and others, and see BBC documentaries and Videos on OCD like BBC’s Extreme OCD Camp, Eat Healthy Food, Drink more water, Cut White Sugar, Stay Busy but make sure you are on a mission to vanish it.

And after some days, doing all these will be FUN for you. Seeing yourself getting improved daily is the best thing in the world, and then one day you will find that it is no longer bothering you.

After talking to some people, I got to know that some shitheads are posting nonsense & illogical stuff on the internet that OCD can’t be cured completely. Who are these people? Have they ever met those people who got cured completely? I don’t think so.

Without having any proper knowledge of OCD and experience of talking to and understanding people with OCD, how can they decide that? Just because their friend did not get a cure completely or they still are suffering from it, or they have heard about it?

Don’t ever believe the bullshit that you can’t be cured completely; I have met numerous people who got cured entirely and are doing Fantastic in their Lives.

Reassurance and OCD

Reassurance and OCD go hand-in-hand. People with OCD often seek reassurance from others in an attempt to ease their anxiety. Reassurance is similar to healing a wound. In OCD, the wound is not always visible. It is the anxiety and fear that are bothersome. The act of seeking reassurance can temporarily ease the anxiety, but it does not get rid of the underlying problem. It can make the problem worse in the long run.

Reassurance seeking is a common symptom of OCD: People with OCD often seek reassurance from others in an attempt to ease their anxiety. Reassurance is similar to healing a wound. In OCD, the wound is not always visible. It is the anxiety and fear that are bothersome. The act of seeking reassurance can temporarily ease the anxiety, but it does not get rid of the underlying problem. It can give you the power to help yourself in battling OCD.

Living with OCD!

Living with OCD is an invisible battle with visible triggers. You are not your OCD. Remember, you are so much more than your mental illness. Repeat, I’m enough, I’m worthy, and I’m deserving of love and happiness. Just because you have OCD does not mean that you are destined for a life of misery.

There are things that you can do to manage your OCD and live a happy, fulfilling life despite your mental illness. One of the most important things you can do is to educate yourself about your disorder. The more you know about OCD, the better equipped you will be to manage it. Many excellent books and websites can provide you with information and support.

You should also seek out professional help if you are struggling to manage your OCD on your own. A therapist who is experienced in treating OCD can help you to develop coping strategies and work through your fears. If you are considering medication, please speak to a doctor or psychiatrist about the risks and benefits.

OCD can be a very isolating disorder, but it is important to remember that you are not alone. Talk about it, create awareness, and let your voice reach people suffering from it or those who have lost all hope.

OCD is Ruining My Life! Why?

OCD is Ruining My Life: Living with OCDYou might ask yourself this question repeatedly. This answer lies with you. If you give in to your OCD, then it will ruin your life. However, if you fight back and take control, you can live a happy and fulfilling life despite your OCD. It is important to remember that even though you cannot get rid of your OCD, you can still lead a normal life.

If you think OCD is ruining your life then you’re giving it the power. Yes, OCD is overwhelming but you can live your life on your terms. You have the power to decide what is best for you. You can control OCD and not let it control you. People end up saying OCD is Ruining My Life: Living with OCD.

We hope this article was of some help in understanding what OCD is, how it affects people, and why it is important to seek treatment. Remember, you are not alone in this fight. Many people understand what you are going through and who want to help you get better. Seek help from a mental health professional, support group, or trusted loved one. With the right treatment and support, you can live a happy and fulfilling life despite your OCD.

What No One Will Tell You but Healthsoothe Will

Your mental health — your psychological, emotional, and social well-being — has an impact on every aspect of your life. Positive mental health essentially allows you to effectively deal with life’s everyday challenges.

If you think OCD is ruining your life then you’re giving it the power. Eventually, it all comes down to you and your belief system. You can control OCD and not let it control you.

It’s important to remember that even though you cannot get rid of your OCD, you can still lead a normal life. With the right treatment and support, you can live a happy and fulfilling life despite your OCD.

Additional resources and citations

• 1
  https://www.quora.com/Why-does-it-feel-like-my-OCD-is-ruining-my-life
• 2
  https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/aug/27/ocd-has-plagued-me-can-i-ever-escape-it
• 3
  https://mantracare.org/ocd/about-ocd/ocd-is-ruining-my-life-living-with-ocd/