You're doing these but don't know it

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Mental compulsions are super common. Many don't even know if they are doing them. Let's go over what a mental compulsion looks like in OCD and anxiety.
- - - Disclaimer - - -
For information purposes only. Does not constitute clinical advice. Consult your local medical authority for advice.

[@ocdandanxiety]

What mental compulsions do you do?

[@therealb888]

Watching YT videos right now. And my form of OCD if I have it is mental compulsions. Overthinking & problem solving, ya I think you're a mirror to me lol

[@Lolalee87]

Every time I check something I have to go over it several times in my head until it sounds just right, It drives me crazy sometimes 😔

[@Lolalee87]

Is going over & over text messages a few times a form of OCD?

[@therealb888]

​@@Lolalee87It's definitely a trait. As he explained the underlying intention matters. For example, is it anxiety & you're actually forgetting the text? Is it a lack of focus & distractions or you're not focusing due to feeling low? or is it an obsessive compulsive fear of forgetting or not being thorough? How many times do you do it? I feel there can be quite a few layers of analysis & experimenting to differentially diagnose it.

[@hiphiprenae]

Ruminating and trying to figure it out.

[@doctor_who5203]

Thank you, I have a really hard time watching TV and Movies due to mental compulsions. I will constantly check on myself and my thoughts to make sure I'm fully paying attention, I will get anxiety about watching something because I'm worried I will ruin it, my compulsions actually do end up ruining it because I am constantly checking up on myself and it's a really hard spiral to break. Videos like these really help me understand how to combat how I'm feeling, and I'm glad we are talking more about mental compulsions because although they are invisible, they are just as life destructive. Thank you again

[@dannykay125]

Woah I'm not the only one 😮

[@karinau7217]

Same!

[@cerealis_5432]

they can be debilitating at times, and extremely frustrating. Wishing all of us a speedy recovery

[@chitosemizue8077]

YES I feel like the movie thing is one I haven't had a lot of people relate to. I think for me I am always checking too to make sure I am truly "enjoying" the movie, like I wanna make sure I'm not wasting my time

[@doctor_who5203]

@@chitosemizue8077 I guess because it's rare and people don't realize how debilitating it is to never enjoy the things you used to, it's not really a "subtype" like other types of OCD, but that makes it stronger because I second guess myself lol

[@marie13579]

I do literally all the compulsions you mentioned except for mental blocking. My brain tells me I can't relax until I "solve" or "figure out" my intrusive thoughts and I'm pretty used to spending hours daily trying to find the "solution" for my thoughts, so trying to do nothing about them is exasperating 😅 OCD recovery is hard guys, but we're so strong 💪❤

[@arturoestrada6803]

Me too, Ive literally missed sleep because my compulsions kept me up

[@msaipriyatham]

I am from India suffering from OCD,you have no idea how much your videos have changed my life,Thank you so much

[@learnopediaplus9086]

Me from India too.

[@akhileshpatil3040]

Same here

[@second5952]

All the indian bros gathering here

[@PrintPrint-en8ix]

that's good to know

[@mahinshahrier7716]

this is so important. if you have OCD, and it’s getting worse, you’re doing compulsions. This is the easiest and most accurate model that will ever be created.

[@TheRealRCSparks]

You are a gift to this profession, and the audience

[@soundscape26]

4:24 - Nice piece of editing there Nate. 😂

[@ocdandanxiety]

Haha. I thought it was fun!

[@williamhartman9]

Commitment to not figuring it out is the answer. I have this type of ocd and others . One common denominator is I always problem solve and try to figure it out . I always think I need to take action. I will work on applying your advice. Thank you for the free education.

[@nerdbamarich2063]

This is exactly the problem I have whenever I have physical sensations of anxiety they turn into problem solving over and over in my head.

[@Mouse-bk5rd]

yeah and i've long had the problem that it feels like i'm "copping out" or being "lazy" if i don't problem solve, which has made it hard to stop

[@user-ef8we7gy8s]

hi! ive had ocd symptoms since i was 9 but only realised what it was now. i feel so much comfort in knowing the things i do/did are relatively normal. your videos help me so much and help me get through.

[@poompoosiri1652]

With OCD it's like, if you try so hard to fight it, no matter how hard, you'll lose. Because they come and they go, unless you keep holding them with any type of compulsion.

[@HughTube-ni6kb]

It seems like a mental 24/7/360 game of whack-a-mole you can never leave.

[@lnna8303]

Does anyone ever obsess over whether or not they're being abused or betrayed by the people around them? I tend to become extremely anxious about it. Like if my significant other comments about how beautiful a dress looks on me, i would overanalyze what he said and think that he's just using me for my body, which then will lead to me being indifferent towards him or going online to look for reassurance and google "signs that my boyfriend is sexually abusive" It also happens with friends. I observe their behavior and if they say or do something "I don't like" I immediately feel the urge to cut them off or google "signs that i'm in a good friendship" It's really really hard to deal with

[@lindaraesmutz4929]

YES!!!!!

[@emilyarnold8978]

This is exactly me! I over analyze every relationship I’m in. Recently a friend who left came back in my life and they did something that made me question our whole relationship. I was up late looking up covert narcissism and was like yes she must be this. (She’s not) Instead of just understanding our relationship is different now and people change I decided to question everything. It is crazy what obsessions come up.

[@devishortridge9932]

Oh. Uhhhh yes actually but I didn’t realize it until just now

[@parkourmaster4526]

This has been the toughest year I’ve had to deal with. I’ve been getting these weird dizzy symptoms since the beginning of the year such as dizziness, brain fog, dimness of light in my eyes (kind of), weakness in my arms and legs etc… and it’s made my anxiety a lot worse. The doctors still don’t know what’s causing it, but it might be vestibular neuritis or dysautonomia. It’s been 5 months now and I still haven’t gotten back to how I was before these symptoms happened. Every time I get a negative thought about what I could have (even though it’s not based on reality at all) I always try to use my mental energy to push the thought away, but it take so much energy to the point where I just feel exhausted. I just hope these weird symptoms go away because my thoughts feel louder and more visual which is probably just my nervous system reacting to my thoughts more if it is dysautonomia and has to also do with the brain fog. Either way, I just want to get better and hopefully I will.

[@learnopediaplus9086]

I'm embarrassed with counting rituals in my head . I count numbers in my head. During stressful situations, it happens more. I have also perfectionism. Thank you very much. You are helping millions of people like us to recover from this sort of mental health issues. Love from India.

[@jurajkostal1821]

this is pure gold!❤

[@BoilingOboe]

LOL this is both hilarious and helpful :) Editing is great. I think seeing the humor in things and being able to laugh about my anxiety helps. Thank you !!

[@nerdbamarich2063]

Thank you so much for sharing this is something that I really needed to hear.

[@Werner6278]

You’re the best!

[@arizonazapratski]

Thanks for your help. you're awesome.

[@imthebiggesthitonthisstage_]

LOVE THE EDITING AT THE LAST CLIPS 😂

[@petephillips6494]

This is absolutely correct. Really good, comprehensive explanation of mental compulsions or ruminating. Couldn’t have explained it better myself.

[@cafjkldsgmkl]

I loved the editing in this video, it made me smile. Thank you for another helpful video! :)

[@heidighomi6489]

Thank you for showing a way out of this darkness, the darkness I have been captivated by for years and years ❤

[@carlaalmonte6788]

Nate!!!! Thank youuuu for this video!!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 this is it for me ! Most of my compulsions are mentally done

[@zoya889]

Thank you so much :( this helped me immensely, it’s so amazing that you’re doing work that is could literally turn someone’s life around completely - bless you, I hope you are happy and loved today

[@simoneoelias]

Hey! I saw your video at the OCD conference in SF this weekend and I just want to say that the work you are doing is so so so needed and welcome. We need people like you to spread the word about our community. The people who were doing the conference also believe that--I think you know them? Chris, Liz, etc. They're so cool and the work you both are doing is wonderful. Sending you hugs! 🥰

[@KaifArslan]

The video was so funny 😄. Nice Editing

[@ML-jr1nf]

I just love you, man! ❤

[@kristofergustavsson7171]

Thanks for the video.

[@TheEmpressNyx]

Thank you Nathan! You’re the best. I wish you were my therapist.

[@priyankalahiri7760]

This video really helped me knowing that I'm not alone with this problem....im really crying out loud to get rid of this awful habit of mental compulsions...Please post more videos on this and if possible can we have one-one-one discussions?

[@dkk1404]

Thank you bro, you helped me calm down, I have so similar situation with the mental compulsion, god bless.

[@FlamingSwordful]

Great video, could you please consider recording a video about relationship between ocd and maladaptive daydreaming? I have both ocd and this phenomenon so its get quite confusing to undertand whether MD is obsession or compulsion or completely separate thing, one thing for sure MD is intrusive.

[@yesno9386]

hello im from indonesia,, all the videos you made really helped me in reducing OCD. OCD is excruciating when it comes on suddenly. pardon my bad English.

[@danielocsai36]

Wow. Your videos are improving :)

[@jacquicatalano3494]

These videos always get me back on track!

[@bruceorozco777]

Yes it's like a friendly reminder to stay on track 😺

[@JonnyE86]

If I'd have seen this video when I was 6 my life would have been very different. I'm still working on untangling the helpful thoughts from the compulsive thoughts.

[@ladybaabaa3294]

Is there a fine line between over-thinking and trying to figure out something, and ACTUALLY trying to figure out where the fear / thought came from (ie, early trauma) so you can move on and let it go?

[@vintorez9145]

Do you analyse a lot? Then this message might be for you. From my experience: thinking only helps you so far to understand your emotions, thoughts and trauma. Getting some idea where it is all coming from is fine (Usually something in your past). Better is to just feel the emotion without labelling them. The raw sensation of it, without the mental commentary (this may take commitment and a lot of repetition). Observe the thoughts coming and going without judging them, whatever their content. You are the watcher of them. You are like the sky within which there may be thunderstorms or nothing at all. Neither affect the sky. Thoughts only affect you if you believe them. A part of 'my' trauma is always trying to understand it. While there is really not a lot to figure out mentally. Hope this helps, Maik

[@ladybaabaa3294]

@@vintorez9145 Yeah, I do analyse a lot. It's how I've managed to figure out as much as I have so far. But you're right - knowing the why, what, who, when, where and how, etc of the trauma hasn't helped me feel better NOW. So I continue to analyse, but now it's my CURRENT thoughts, feelings and behaviours, to try and work out why I am how I am NOW, and how I can help improve how I feel, even just a bit.

[@iinferuslunitaa3169]

​@@vintorez9145Hey, I wanna ask if it is possible to be physical sick and you are scared and have panic attacts and you use these methods to ease your nerves and triggers so will it work? I am not in best health and worries me alot now and scared it will lead to something dangerous so will this somehow help me?

[@vintorez9145]

​@@iinferuslunitaa3169I think you are blessed with a great opportunity to try out ERP. So you're not feeling too well, it happens, you're human. If there aren't any clear signs that you are in immediate danger, then what I would do is: 1) be compassionate for yourself - I can image you feel scared. What would you say to that little guy/girl (you) that is feeling scared? 'Oh I totally understand why you feel this, it's okay, I'm here with you. I'm not young any more, and I can handle and feel this emotion. It's totally okay to feel it, even if it may feel uncomfortable'. 2) check to see if there are any unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more realistic ones - Am I making conclusions about my health based on guesses? Do I know for a fact something dangerous is going to happen? I think your brain is used to giving you all sorts of ideas in an attempt to solve them, so that you don't deal with the underlying 'problem' (usually in my case it is an emotion). - See clearly that the thoughts and emotions are not the problem. 3) do something healthy/fun - can be things like playing a videogame, going for a walk, doing a meditation Good luck!

[@joaobaka8404]

My intrusive thoughts initially feel unwanted and I immediately try to get rid of them but later I feel like I had the thought because I wanted to.

[@billegr]

Very good!!

[@michaeldaso7495]

Nathan can you do a video on OCD and body dysmorphic disorder and what ERP or CBT would look like with that mix? Love your videos!

[@salmaeisa3351]

Yes i need this too

[@nicetomeetyou3790]

That is exactly what I do. And often it leads to physical compulsions. That is something I had to learn.

[@stefanmolnapor910]

Thanks Doc

[@chiatte135]

Actually one thing is, this kind of thoughts come into your mind in question form ? Like, what if? How do you know ? Are you sure ? Is it %100 and no answer can satisfy them. I have HOCD. While everything is going natural with a girl every HOCD thought come to my mind in question form ? This was the biggest difference for me on the journey. When the thought come i say myself respect your sexuality and keep going on without answering these questions. I am still in healing process but that helped me a lot

[@trinity5842]

Thank you!

[@gabryelsohle6627]

1. These videos are very helpful, thank you. 2. I love your editing style.

[@ocdandanxiety]

Thank you soooo much. That really means a lot and provides motivation to keep going. 😄

[@mesCheerios]

@@ocdandanxiety the humour helps with the anxiety im sure we are all feeling. thank you

[@theletters9623]

its wild how I figured out the "just have a phrase for the thought as a response" thing on my own. Technically mine isnt a phrase so much as a cartoon bonk noise but like. Works just as well

[@LS-wp2me]

Thank you. Can you do a video on responsibility OCD?

[@Godfirst2354]

I replay a past series of events that I did. I feel ashamed and guilty for doing them and I know it hurt the person I did them to. Definitely a challenge to deal with. I was a child as well when these actions occurred, now 20 years later it showed up to torture me.

[@elijhv]

what a nice guy

[@whyy0000]

please make a video on ocd constantly changing themes/topics! because for me my themes change in literally minutes, not even days or months. it's so frustrating 😥

[@stayathomecichlidmom3579]

I was diagnosed by a team of doctors with OCD and GAD when I was 11. I'm 46 now and have been on ssdi for 12 yrs now. That was a time when they really had no clue. I had 3 psychologists excuse themselves to go ask fot advice because when they asked me "Whats an average day for you" I ended up speaking about an intrusive thought and then analyzing until they got lost, which is apart of just trying to get up to get ready, which Also involves checking how I feel, do I want to or not, am I tired ect.. while I'm screaming in the background "Just get ready" on a good day this takes about 2hrs, just to move. Once I'm downstairs in the kitchen it turns to going over what I need to do which leads to me cleaning my house because it's making me feel gross. (I know in reality it's a way to avoid thinking about having to do things that cause me to have panic attack. Which then leads to checking checking the time and telling myself "okay 10 more min then I've got to go" of course I hit snooze, sometimes until it's nighttime and to late to get anything done, which leads to me obsessing about how to stop my intrusive thoughts, pondering the meaning of life and of course then the guilt and regret that runs through my head for wasting so much time locked inside my head. I don't know what it's like not to be this way. As far as I can remember, I had rituals that I had to do inside my head before bed. Checking, counting. It was when I began asking my mom repeatedly every night for reassurance and cleaning my siblings bedrooms that my parents realized I need help. My OCD has changed day to day and by age. I don't have any advice but take advantage of the knowledge they have now, I know I wish they did back then.

[@Qey6723]

I have this thing where I feel like my head is stuck/locked. I feel like my head is going to give out and that I'm going to forget how to even think! Its been 5 weeks of severity with this now, and maybe sleep deprivation has finally caught up to me. Sighs... I do not know what's wrong with me anymore. I do have generalized anxiety disorder and clinical depression. I would go on to say that I have OCD as well because I never knew the obsession of being aware of my own breathing and trying to control my breaths to make sure that I'm still breathing is actually ocd! I really wish I could understand this mess with my head.

[@cartoonsownmysoul]

YES I have so much trouble with this and they make me want to go and do acutal physicla compuslisons

[@walterl322]

If using logic can be a compulsion, THEN HOW DO I DEBUNK MY INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS

[@aylsanti4287]

I didn't think I had OCD at all. Until the ROCD video and I had those thoughts and I just don't know how to stop my anxiety and compulsions

[@smashy_smasherton]

It’s very difficult to get my mind off of the theme of health anxiety when I’m actually injured and in an endless wait for treatment.

[@nerdbamarich2063]

Same here. Body symptoms cause me to ruminate. The worst thing ever.

[@user-bz7yn2vu3m]

I think yesterday I was doing some complusions , doing monologue or counting.

[@zwangsweise_zwangsfrei]

Nate? I love you.

[@loveshreya]

Nate I thinking I have anxiety. Few weeks ago it all started. Now I can say I'm on the recovery journey, but still having some problems. I sometimes got intrusive thoughts like I'll harm my close ones, or in public places I would scream or do something wrong for no reason, or may be some evil is behind me or better to say will possess me and make me do bad stuff. Please reply that it is anxiety, and I'm not going crazy or mentally unstable. Please! It'll help me alot...

[@ivanvukoja7654]

Checking my thoughts usually always same one its my biggest problem

[@Justfun-xx6xe]

They turn into a song inside my head lol 😂

[@valne5627]

Hey guys. I have rocd and my worst mental compulsion is reviewing my past interactions with men to make sure i've not cheated. I know it sounds crazy, but it happens to me!

[@AhmadHauwau-ok2lj]

I totally understand you

[@AhmadHauwau-ok2lj]

Do you want to talk about it?

[@JaymeeT_]

Maaaann, one of my worst mental compulsions is that I “draw” the dotts, commas etc. in a sentence that someone says. When I am watching a movie for example, I will write the sentence in my head with the dotts and commas and all that. It’s SO annoying

[@Memepoint.]

How to overcome existential fears?

[@jesse8737]

What if you don’t even do mental compulsions? Allowing and accepting the thoughts but none of it will go away.

[@chaicrimes]

Is excoriation disorder linked to this?

[@bneum]

But what if you actually did leave the stove on?? Wouldn't it be good to check that? Isn't that actually dangerous? Or are you saying that you did turn off the stove and did already check once but it still keeps coming back AFTER you've already checked once and then to not give into it then??

[@handyman1016]

What if its a PTSD related memory that you habitually call upon that is guilt and shame based ? What should my reaction be? Just do nothing?

[@jeffhappens1]

What about counting meditations?

[@PeteV80]

Man, I do all of this.

[@meltherecafe2394]

I could not clear my entrance exam in my country due to this problem. I wud come up every 30 seconds and cud complete only half the paper.

[@ujjwaladiya2471]

how to know if i am thinking about it?

[@nierhana]

would you say this approach applies to symptoms too? for around 3 months I've had this new visual disturbance that isn't medically explained and it really affects my enjoyment doing activities and I ruminate about it all the time,, should I still just stop trying to figure it out, stop googling, and just try to accept it the best I can? I get so many thoughts that it's going to last forever, I will never be okay with it and it'll ruin my life

[@LottaMerikanto]

Of course it does. Symptoms may be just another form of anxiety. Vision problems are typical for derealisation. Leaving them alone is the best solution.

[@nierhana]

@@LottaMerikanto thank you for the advice :) ❤

[@nerdbamarich2063]

I get the same symptoms of physical sensations with anxiety. I hope you get to feeling better

[@nierhana]

@@nerdbamarich2063 thank you, same to you!

[@Mardonsan]

❤

[@user-cn7oe7fh2m]

But what if you don't recognise that the reason you have suffered extreme anxiety and constant melt downs because the job you applied for and got isn't the job you applied for and got? Basically, after 4+ years of not being able to let go of the fact I'm not doing the role I was hired for, my boss involved HR and referred me for therapy and it was only then after talking it through I was told it's my OCD which I was diagnosed with in 2001, I didn't know that OCD took on so many forms, dictates so many aspects of our lives and is literally debilitating 😪

[@sanjananirjona048]

My brain always be like Checking checking checking every single stuff I do in my daily life I am fed up 😭

[@GU__NI]

Remember that coming from a background where we are beleiving in superstitions people will have rituals in asian cultures these may spread into OCD forming your own rituals.

[@ujjwaladiya2471]

editing style😂😂😂

[@johnrainsman6650]

Internally apologizing toGod too much. Yes, mental compulsions. Irony: I'm aware it's OCD, but I do not stop the compulsions; I feel apologzing is good as a Chris tian. But I think it has given me a headache before. Usually I apologize for offensive intrusive thoughts, or doubt of His plan or ways, or what I think might have been dishonesty or excuses "to" God (from inside my head). I would think, "For [whatever the fauIt]," which is short for "I'm sorry" or "I apologize" or "Please forgive me". Example: "Ooh, for disrespect to check this womna out" or "Iying to you at all." ("At all" is what I would say to represent "I'm not sure" or "if"). ITs exhausing

[@amanuelfitsum7095]

very cool brain

[@justangel2014]

💪💪💪💪💪💪

[@henryzhao4622]

Stems from a version of FOMO!

[@parkourguy4567]

Kinda don’t believe there’s any hope for me

[@mesCheerios]

i feel like that too. But when i see someone else write that i feel "no of course there is hope. It's just extremely extremely difficult and painful"

[@dhayalan86]

@ocdandanxiety Can I have 1:1 Theraphy with you through Skype or something?

[@ocdandanxiety]

I can see those in Texas or Utah. 👍

[@dhayalan86]

@@ocdandanxiety I am from a different country. Can I have a Skype session? How much will be per session?

[@mesquitegirl2013]

❤️

[@jiyounghwang9437]

❤