MY OCD MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING

Today, I want to talk about something that might hit close to home for some of you: self-sabotage caused by OCD. “I don’t deserve….fill in the blank” Have you ever found yourself hesitating to pursue something you really wanted because of those nagging OCD symptoms? Or maybe you've felt like you didn't deserve happiness because of your struggles with OCD? Well, you're not alone and I’m going about to show you how to kick these nagging feelings to the curb. In fact, it’s a technique you may not expect.

Self-sabotage is like a sneaky little guy that undermines our own efforts, often without us even realizing it. And for those dealing with OCD, it can feel like you are constantly at war with yourself. You know, that feeling of never feeling good enough or always fearing the worst?
When OCD makes you doubt yourself and question your worth, it's a recipe for disaster.

I often hear people say, I'm not going to go do this activity because I don't deserve it. or, I'm not going to buy this thing because I don't deserve it. or what's even worse, I don't deserve to live because of the thoughts that I have.

OCD can be so horrendous. to make somebody believe that the thoughts and feelings they are having is so completely accurate that they are willing to not even be alive.

But here's the thing: self-sabotage isn't just about missing out on little opportunities. Over time, it can seriously mess with your life and make you feel like you're living in a constant cycle of failure.

And you know what's even scarier? Self-sabotage can even stop someone from seeking treatment for OCD. Yeah, your own brain can trick you into thinking you don't deserve help or that therapy won't work. But here's the truth: there's hope.

That is what this video is all about right now. stop self-sabotaging. well there's your answer, my work is done. no no no no, let me show you what to do.

Exposure and response prevention therapy, or ERP, is a game-changer. By facing our fears head-on and resisting those compulsions, we can break free from the self-sabotage cycle. It's not easy, but trust me, it's worth it.

EXPOSURE THERAPY FOR INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS

Exposure therapy is all about doing the things we don't want to do. to face uncertainties and to face fears. somebody might self-sabotage by choosing to not do treatment or to continue doing compulsions because they feel they're just not good enough. But we’re going to go outside of exposures for this one.

this is what you can do. you might sit down and write down all the things yourself sabotaging with. maybe it's a behavior you want to stop. it could be that you stopped exercising. it could be that you stopped socializing. you stopped going to church. you're choosing to do lots of compulsions. you're beating yourself up in your own mind. you're putting yourself down. you're not giving yourself the credit you deserve.

after you've written all of these items down. we need to figure out a way for you to completely do the opposite. if I stopped socializing, I'm setting up goals for myself to do this multiple times a day. instead of texting somebody I'm going to call them. instead of saying no I'm going to say yes. I'm going to make sure I'm not in my room today and instead be around the family. multiple times a day I might have a timer that goes off that tells me to say something positive about myself. if I stopped exercising, what is my plan to do it today. all of these things are like an exposure in a way.

you're doing something you don't really want to do but over time it helps you realize that you're worth it. that the thoughts and feelings that you have maybe aren't as accurate as you think. another term for this is called Behavioral activation. you are doing things you don't feel like you want to do. you are going to get stronger and realize there's more to life than what you've been doing. it almost like shocks the brain into saying, what are you doing? you don't do this. remember you don't deserve this.

that's a good one right there. anything that says you don't deserve, you go do. unless you're breaking the law or going against your values and morals.

I say put it on a calendar. do it daily. make it worthwhile. it can't be something you have in the back of your brain that you got to do something new or different today. tell other people how awesome you are. focus on the good. yeah we're going to have bad in our lives but there's a lot of good. a side effect of this is that it's actually going to help with some depression as well if that is something you are experiencing.

You deserve to live life on your own terms, and with the right support, you can do it. Stay strong, and remember, you're not alone in this journey. I do have some self-directed online courses that can help with either depression or ocd. you can even check them out for free. I'll link them down in the description.