Anyone else struggle with existential OCD? I’m constantly questioning my reality or what’s the purpose of us being here…most days I don’t even want to get out of bed or eat…it’s getting too much for me to handle honestly 😣😢
Hey, it sounds like your finding it difficult at the moment. It sounds like through you questioning your reality and purpose your engaging in the compulsions/ rumination’s. This can then leave us feeling extremely anxious and in a never ending cycle of OCD. OCD will latch on to anything that brings anxiety and gives it power! The best thing we can do is allow them thoughts, sit with them and allow the anxiety to decrease. My ERP therapist taught me to challenge the thoughts further by saying to them “yep… maybe we will, maybe we won’t”! This allows the uncertainty to be present and for us to accept the unknown and uncertainty. OCD craves 1000000% certainty so when we challenge that we’re okay not having this then the OCD voice become smaller and smaller. I’ve attached some great links that explore ERP therapy, and existential OCD. Keep fighting, you’ve got this my friend ! What is ERP https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/what-is-exposure-and-response-prevention-therapy https://www.treatmyocd.com/what-is-ocd/existential-ocd
It’s the hardest. I suffer from existential OCD as well. If you ever want to talk you can add me on snap: taylorsheamoon
Yes it’s the scariest thing I’ve experienced.. I’ve def gone thru episodes of not eating or doing anything
@Nicoler0329 Same. It’s like it just freezes you. Because you feel like “ok what is the point? What am I even doing?”
Excellent article. Totally relatable!!!
It’s a daily struggle for me too so it’s nice to be able to talk to people who can relate. It’s scary for sure
Yeah i remember being younger when I’d watch tv I’d think “why r they even alive?” “What’s their purpose?” “Idk what mine is what’s the point?” Like what the heck
@Nicoler0329 it’s very every and what makes it even harder for me is wondering why no one else worries about this stuff. Like how does it not brother anyone that everything is so predictable and we are all kind of the same and life is this weird crazy unknown thing but also predictable at the same time..? Idk? It doesn’t feel like OCD to me when it feels like I’ve discovered the “truth” about existence and everyone is just kind of.. blissfully unaware
Don’t mean to give a sob story. Went to a friend’s funeral service. The preacher made mention about the subject of death. To which his last words were “we just don’t know”! Anyway, for me it reminds me that there are some questions that inherently have no answers. However, I can still live according to how I was raised and use the values I have learned and are dearest to me. Just my 2 cents folks. Stay strong, we got this!!!
@Dee C I think I mostly obsess over the fact that we are all kind of the same. Our emotions, reactions, necessities, desires, etc are kind of all predictable and it freaks me out. Also the fact that we kind of are who we are without a real choice, it’s like everything is automatic so how is it even real if that makes sense? Idk it’s like I’m hyper aware of my own consciousness and think of things the average person doesn’t think of so it makes me feel like I have figured something out and can’t un-know it. Just miss not being this aware. I know everything I’m saying probably sounds absurd
@Tee10 It doesn’t sound absurd at all. I completely understand and experience something very similar almost on a daily basis. Questioning purpose, but also questioning the point of it all. It’s really disheartening to not be able to tell the difference between “have i just figured out the secret to life that nothing means anything?” Or “it’s my OCD brain tryna do the most” - I have yet to figure that one out.
@midimercury Yes, same dilemma here! I just don’t understand how people don’t think or worry about these things. I mean, I do understand because that was me..just living and being in the daily trance of life. but now I feel zoomed out and I don’t know how to zoom back in
Is anyone experiencing existential OCD as well?
Anyone else with existential OCD where you question whether or not you or anything else actually exist?
I really need help. I’m suffering from existential ocd and I want to hear experience from those who are suffering from the same thing. I don’t feel real. I dont feel like I’m really here and if I am I dont really see the point in doing anything if I’m just going to die. I hate this feeling of feeling like I shouldn’t do anything at all because I’m gonna die and it’s gonna be erased anyway. I hate this. I cant stand this and I should be grateful for my life because there others that will never experience it. But it’s becoming dreadful and I feel like I’m going crazy. I feel sick. This feels worst than my other themes. I hate it so much.
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