Morning; Distraction

[peacefulocean]

Hello, I've had OCD for years and I was wondering if you could answer my questions.

1. I feel so much better in the morning.
In the morning, my OCD is under control (unless something happens that triggers my obsessions.) I was wondering do you guys feel that way? Do you know why OCD is more manageable in the morning? Is it because my brain relaxed for hours? I've read in this forum that OCD is actually a reaction in my brain. Maybe my brain is more relaxed in the morning and that's why my mind is calm.

2. Distractions.
Someone wrote in another thread to keep distracted. I tried doing that and at first it works, but eventually I always find something to obsess about from my new activity. Do you feel that way? How do you cope with this?

If these points are similar in your situations, please share. Thank you. God bless.

 

[Gloriousdestiny]

o my..i can totally hear you on the "finding something to obsess about in your new activit"...yup! at first...it's ok, I think or have found, because it's "new"....but once you do it a few times, you can see things in the activity or suddenly think "o...bla...bla" whatever the thought was...and obsess over it!

as far as waking up a little better.....hmmm I actually don't, so I don't know that I can be of any help there....

I actually struggle with the opposite. sleep is a huge trigger to me because of PTSD, so....ugh...it seems to be a struggle and as I am awake throughout the day and can be "affirming" myself.....but it takes sooooooooo much work, I seem to be able to get a little better throughout the day, and then around bedtime, things seems to get started up again...

 

[Bananagator]

That's interesting, actually. Due to a strange series of events that I can only refer to as divine intervention, I basically have my OCD under firm control. But I occasionally, uh, 'relapse' for lack of a better term, and the only time that really happens to me is right after I wake up. By the time I actually start my day I'm usually okay again.
But I wonder why it would be the opposite for you? Maybe it has to do with how the OCD manifests. If you have repetitive, compulsive tendencies then maybe your brain being relaxed has something to do with it? Especially if you normally feel happy in the mornings.
Mine are more of the intrusive thoughts variety so maybe I dream about them, causing me to panic after I wake up, and I just don't remember. I'm also not a morning person
But I'm not going to pretend I'm an expert on brain chemistry, this is all just speculation.

As far as distractions go, they generally worked for me hahaha. When I was at a point in my life were my OCD was pretty bad, I had a little song I'd sing in my mind every time a thought would pop up. Sometimes I'd have to internally scream it but it actually worked for me like, really well
This might be situational too though.


OCD isn't an easy thing to deal with. I hope you find the information and support you need from here

 

[peacefulocean]

Thank you. Your posts are really helpful. This week I did a few new things and I feel much better and my head is calm:

1. A new promise to God.
I often fear that if I draw something and a bad thought is in my head, then this drawing is from the Enemy and it will cause suffering. I made a promise to God that I'll use my creativity for His glory. I feel better now drawing and writing. I should mention that I have struggled with vows before but this one feels different as I didn't promise a particular project.

2. Praying in a journal.
I need to say repetitive prayers to God and if I say them in my head I can't fully finish them as my ocd drives me crazy. So I started writing them down in a journal. If my ocd starts again I look and quickly say what I have written down or I don't have to say since I see I prayed about it a minute ago.

Also, I guess writing or drawing while praying calms me down and distracts me.

3. Less praying.
I keep praying repetitive prayers to God that are prompted by my OCD rather than my heart and what really is happening. Sometimes, I feel my life is completely wasted as I waste so much time worrying about OCD and praying because of OCD instead of fully enjoying the life Jesus died so I can have. I miss out on talking to God, having a real prayer, because of it.

But since I started writing down my prayers I spent less time saying them over and over again and my head is calmer. So the thoughts are not as powerful and I can continue doing other things without being so bothered by them.

4. I watch my language.
I promised to God I'll be more careful with what I say back to people and I'll try to be more understandable and to appreciate others. I feel my OCD is better maybe because I do not respond back to things that people say and I'm less angry. You know that bad words only attract more bad words.

5. Christian writers
I started reading what Grantley Morris wrote on OCD and it has been so helpful.

So these are my things. Please share if you have other ways to deal with OCD on a daily basis.