We must stop quitting on ourselves – I got this, you got this, we got this. So often during OCD recovery we quit, even when we’re ahead. I know I’ve done it, you’ve done it too for sure. This shit is hard to overcome, but, you got this. You most certainly do. So here is your reminder.
How does the cycle go again? Oh yeah, Obsessions – Anxiety – Compulsions – Relief. Rinse, repeat, and repeat, and repeat, and repeat, and so on. As a result – Let’s take a look at this in reverse shall we? Relief, eh hmmm, temporary relief actually. Without the relief part, as temporary as it is, we wouldn’t even rely on compulsions. Compulsions too, give them less power and so too goes the power from both Anxiety and Obsessions.
Relief:
Again, this is a temporary relief. For this to be the tail of this cycle is a sucky reward. You mean to tell me I must first go through a crappy obsession, then anxiety, and crazy compulsions first? Just to get some temporary relief? More than likely, I was feeling pretty relieved before any intrusive thought occurred.
It’s not even to restore my relief level I was at previously. What kinda stunt you pulling here OCD? You mean to tell me that my relief level can be 100, and that I’m going to do all this for hopefully a level 95 in return? UGH OCD!
Here’s how I see it – With each compulsion I perform, I’m actually losing 5% from my total relief level. When I obsess, I might drop from 100 to somewhere around a 0. I then get anxious, confirming my level zero. Then I allow OCD to convince me to do compulsions for a best case scenario of a level 95.
So if it takes ten compulsions to gain that tempo-reliefo, I’m now running at 50%. Oh Compulsive Disorder you – You pulled a fast one here and I’m not liking it. This is no reward you dangle in front of our eyes. Your relief has been devalued. Our recovery begins with this realization.
Here is your reminder – You Got This!
Compulsions:
Oh compulsions, here is where the real work is put in. For OCD recovery, the focus is all on the compulsion. It’s the meat and potatoes of this bland dish. You cut out relying on compulsions then power from obsessions are drained. As a result, less anxiety driven from obsession as well.
I know, this is the hardest part. To dismiss compulsions that you’ve relied on for years is a mighty tough task to say the least. But look at what’s to gain here. To obey compulsions means you’re rewarded with that sucky reward – puny ol’ temporary relief. In the moment it’s better than nothing, but ultimately it’s a sucky reward, we discussed this already.
To dismiss means a lot of time spent around that zero level. That too is temporary, but the reward for this eventually leads to more and more maximum relief levels. Maximum relief – That’s gaining back control of your life. Our time right now is spent mostly OC Doing, which, I don’t have to explain how awful that is to you.
Recovery is our ticket to more max levels of – Everything. So we must fight and quit quitting on ourselves. You got this… You really really got this! Even through failures, we have to know this.
Anxiety:
We’ve discussed the reward – blah. We’ve discussed the bland meat and potatoes – insert fart noise. What does anxiety have to offer? Hello, anxiety, we’re speaking to you. We ask you this legit question. What do you bring to this table that is so far filled with yuckiness and suckiness?
Oh, I see, you’re the navigator in this smelly vessel. Without fake relief, and make belief beef, you’re cooking dirty. Nothing but dirt. Sure, you have your compass, but this shoddy row boat at best doesn’t come equipped with GPS. Following the nearest tumbleweed won’t steer you to the next 1 star restaurant.
Ask yourself too, what is anxiety without compulsion and relief? It’s tamable, it certainly becomes capable of being tamed. Remember this when you want to quit on recovery and give into compulsion. You have the ability to crack your own whip – you got this.
Obsession:
Insert intrusive thought – with tamable anxiety – no compulsion – and Relief level maxed already. You’ve just created a new cycle there didn’t ya? That intrusive thought is just a thought, just like any other thought. You don’t obsess, you don’t lose control with anxiety, therefore you don’t give in to compulsion for temporary relief.
OMG… you got this. Do you feel that? That obsession is not mulled over for hours interfering with all of your needs. You’ve regained power in yourself. You did it, because you didn’t give up on your recovery.
What do you do with all that power? Doesn’t that sound amazing? It’s yours, you gained it, you earned this, you… You got this!
You Got This:
What is it that you got actually, or that I’ve got – what we’ve got? What is this ‘this’ to be gotten? It’s the ability to accomplish, the fight to pursue, the strength to be triumphant, the tools to build on, the… the – – alright alright, you get it – You got this!
But in actuality, we don’t ‘got it’ unless we are telling this to ourself too. You, well… you know the rest. Go and get it. And while you’re at it, gif it here too.
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Let me know if you found this helpful. I am curious to hear your spin. Leave a comment or find me on Twitter @UghOCD or Instagram @brentleybigkid.
