Thursday, December 1, 2011

Relapse and Progress At the Same Time?

Lately I've been feeling like I've relapsed. I think it's due to all the time spent thinking about my neighbor's garbage (which will likely continue to be a "problem" pretty permanently due to our new garbage system).

But I also feel like I can really see the right path ahead of me: the one in which I face a little extra discomfort now in order to avoid a lifetime more of discomfort.

It's a testament to the power of OCD that even so, I'm still tempted to do the compulsions. But so far, I'm holding out, and I sure hope I continue to do so.

4 comments:

  1. Interesting. I am kind of shocked to hear this. I am curious to hear what your plan is to keep yourself from slipping more. Do you plan specific ERP?

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  2. It says a lot about where you are and your strength that you know you are struggling and you know why yet you are willing and able to endure the discomfort rather than giving in to the compulsions. You should be proud of yourself!

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  3. Ann,
    I have waxing and waning of symptoms, and maybe that's what you are experiencing. Times of anxiety can make it worse too. But give yourself a lot of credit--you are recognizing it and dealing with it.

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  4. Holding out on our compulsions is the maintanence we need to work on everyday! My OCD is bad some days and not on others, this is just a fact of our lives that we have to deal with. I don't consider these relapses so much as more of days where I have to work a little bit harder. Sometimes they last a few days, sometimes not, but yes, like you said, I have to face a little discomfort to get to the other side.

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