I really need help, my ocd is too strong, hopeless situation for more than 2 years

[123flower]

Hello everyone,

2 years ago I had this problem:

Help me, I don't know what to do, extreme ocd!

And now it's totally gotten out of hand. I became sick for a few months and therefore forgot about this promise and just kept buying stuff. Actually I cannot recall what happened anymore, it was just so long ago. And I was lucky that because of covid I didn't had to go to parties and buy presents. But now covid is gone and parties are happening again. But that's not what it is about. I just want to be free of this problem. This promise I so called made. I need to throw away my stuff I've bought that I accumulated over 2 years or else I cannot continue with my life. I feel 2 years are already thrown away. I even made an additional vague promise that I cannot cut my hair! I counted a haircut as stuff too for some reason. I did a haircut once (it was too long) but it had to grown to the same original length again because of the promise. I hope it's not too confusing with what I'm trying to say. Basically it's that I have to go all the way back, sort of time travelling, to 2019, throw everything away what I have bought these 2 years and fulfill my promise, which is just a simple prayer, and then I'm done. I know it sounds insane, but I am very sick, my ocd has gotten so out of hand.

Can someone please help me and read my post in the link very carefully to understand what happened 2 years ago. I'm so scared for the consequence and it's keeping me bound for more than 2 years now. I always had ocd my whole life, but this is the first time in my life that my ocd has gotten so worse. I just want to make a new start this year and be free of this problem that started 2 years ago.

 

[123flower]

I just hope there is someone on this forum who can help me. A private message is also okay.

 

[Sabertooth]

Do you have a psychiatrist and go to a church that is good with mental illnesses?

The Church & Mental Illness...

 

[FutureAndAHope]

I suggest you start afresh today. Forget all the promises you have made. The bible tells us that making of such promises is not what God wants for us. God will not be angry with you. Don't throw out your stuff. God loves you more than he is strict. In the OT when the people heard the law they were grieved, or sad, even a little afraid. They thought God would punish them. But what did God say:

Neh 8:10-12 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.

Rest in the grace of God, his love for you, and his desire for you to have joy, not fear. From today on do not make any more promises, promises do not please God.

Pray daily for strength, as Jesus said:

Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Jesus desires you to have joy, and peace, but you must spend time daily in seeking God, and His word. Cast off all fear, and making of promises. Gain strength from God. Don't accept the problems, you have a right to freedom, and God will give it to you.

 

[Petros2015]

This promise I so called made.

You are free of your promise; go in peace.

 

[123flower]

Do you have a psychiatrist and go to a church that is good with mental illnesses?

The Church & Mental Illness...

I don't go to a psychiatrist at the moment. I don't know if my church is good with mental illness.

 

[Tolworth John]

I'm so scared for the consequence and it's keeping me bound for more than 2 years now. I always had ocd my whole life, but this is the first time in my life that my ocd has gotten so worse

First thing is go and talk to your doctor.

Secondly no promise made under duress is binding.
God knows you have a mental illness and he will not judge you because your illness caused you to do something.

See your doc, get medication, take it as directed to start sort your life out.

Third find the Web page, " 25 tips to successfully treat your OCD" read it several times, share it with family, your minister, friends etc so they knowhow to help you.

 

[subtlecollision]

Hi, I read that old post you linked to and this post. I myself have struggled immensely with OCD (almost every type there is) and am finally getting a lot better. (Some minor struggles exist, but it's much more manageable)

First off, just because you said to God "if x happens, then x will happen", I wouldn't consider that a promise. God is the only one who can decide what will happen in response to something. That's just you making up something. Plus, to me, it sounds like a strange legalistic OCD statement that you never intended to make.

That's what OCD does. It makes you afraid you accidentally did something. Anytime you have a thought that you might have accidentally done some horrible thing and you're not sure if you did it or not, give yourself permission to IGNORE the thought. You yourself said in your old post that you're not sure if you made the promise. Since you're not sure, IGNORE IT. It's just a thought. So, guess what? You can choose to think other thoughts. You have the power within you not to give in to this thought.

You'll never "figure out" your OCD thought, so you must accept that it exists, but not think about it or try to analyze it. Deep down, you know your OCD doesn't make sense. Determine that however horrible the thought is or however horrific it makes you feel about yourself, it MUST BE IGNORED. Don't try to fight it. Just calmly start occupying yourself with something else.

When that thought comes, I would suggest you immediately think of something else. No matter how much guilt and fear you might feel. Maybe watch videos of puppies online. My OCD has been helped by taking up new hobbies-- I occupy my mind by playing Sudoko or my favorite word game. Whatever you choose to do, may it be something that truly occupies your mind.

You may also have a temporary horrible feeling of guilt or fear in your stomach or chest that appears with your OCD thoughts. Feel into it for a moment. Then, tell yourself it cannot harm you. It's just a fear response in your body. Caused by a thought that cannot harm you. Every time you notice that feeling, tell yourself it's not important. It's just a feeling.

Before long, if you stop focusing on: 1. the thought and 2. the bodily sensation of fear/guilt, you will start to become desensitized to both of them. You will repattern your thought pathways.

This is taken from the Claire Weekes method. I have not read any of her works in their entirety, but it has seemed to help me a lot.

I would not give your stuff away. That is just giving in to the OCD.

Lastly, tell yourself that you are saved by grace through faith. You do not have to worry about this.

 

[Mari17]

Hello everyone,

2 years ago I had this problem:

Help me, I don't know what to do, extreme ocd!

And now it's totally gotten out of hand. I became sick for a few months and therefore forgot about this promise and just kept buying stuff. Actually I cannot recall what happened anymore, it was just so long ago. And I was lucky that because of covid I didn't had to go to parties and buy presents. But now covid is gone and parties are happening again. But that's not what it is about. I just want to be free of this problem. This promise I so called made. I need to throw away my stuff I've bought that I accumulated over 2 years or else I cannot continue with my life. I feel 2 years are already thrown away. I even made an additional vague promise that I cannot cut my hair! I counted a haircut as stuff too for some reason. I did a haircut once (it was too long) but it had to grown to the same original length again because of the promise. I hope it's not too confusing with what I'm trying to say. Basically it's that I have to go all the way back, sort of time travelling, to 2019, throw everything away what I have bought these 2 years and fulfill my promise, which is just a simple prayer, and then I'm done. I know it sounds insane, but I am very sick, my ocd has gotten so out of hand.

Can someone please help me and read my post in the link very carefully to understand what happened 2 years ago. I'm so scared for the consequence and it's keeping me bound for more than 2 years now. I always had ocd my whole life, but this is the first time in my life that my ocd has gotten so worse. I just want to make a new start this year and be free of this problem that started 2 years ago.

How have you been feeling lately, 123flower?

 

[RenewedHope30]

123flower
---
Please don't throw away the new stuff you just purchased. I would at most go through and get rid of things you really don't have use for. I wouldn't throw away new items you really need or could use.

God tells us about making oaths, and that we shouldn't make them.
Us as humans don't got the power to keep oaths.
We have a forgiving God and He is very compassionate.

Talk to God and tell Him that you're sorry for making promises and breaking them, and to forgive you of making them in the first place. And just be free of this. God isn't sitting on His throne watching you every minute of the hour, waiting for you to make a mistake to punish you.

He is very loving! Repent, and start over be free!

With love < 3