Poll of the Day > How do you deal with a have to rush mind set?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm in an OCD, panic disorder, and anxiety IOP virtual exposure thing, due to being trapped in fight or flight mode for over 3 months, hyper arousal.

One thing I want to work on which I haven't gotten an answer to, which I believe is also intrusive OCD related is the need to rush from the moment I start the day, like I'm causing unnecessary anxiety and stress by not taking my time when I have all the opportunity to take things leisurely.

Like I feel like I need to get everything done ASAP to get to the games, and with games its the same thing I feel like often I want to rush to beat something. I'm pretty sure its intrusive because I get thoughts like gotta be quick, gotta be fast, or want to finish something by the end of the weekend.

If this is part of the intrusive OCD thoughts one thing I learned in this program is to say I don't have a response, I don't know what's going to happen, and we'll see what happens. If you've answered intrusive thoughts enough just let the thought sit there while doing nothing about it. So wondering if the usual friendly posters have some ideas.

I feel like I'm getting better in ways with OCD learning you can't control what pops in your head, but your response matters, especially not having conversations in your head with them only answering neutral like the Idk type responses or shrugging seldomly. Or nothing.

Just don't know how or when the adrenaline from hyper arousal plummets. Was told it's not forever though but this great lady I'm working with said she don't want to give me an estimate in case I dwell on it.

RJP_X posted...

Just don't know how or when the adrenaline from hyper arousal plummets. Was told it's not forever though but this great lady I'm working with said she don't want to give me an estimate in case I dwell on it.

Then you shouldn't ask for an estimate because you're just going to end up dwelling on it. As you're being trained to do, consider that question, and say "I don't know what's going to happen, so I'll just wait and see."

I will tell you that, from what I know of OCD therapy, you're on the right track with the advice you've been given. I won't give you an estimate for how long it'll take to work because it's not my place to undermine your therapist (I also just don't know, but that's secondary), but it will eventually work, so just keep plugging away at it and reminding yourself that you don't need to make topics like this. It will happen when it happens.

Rushing is pointless.

adjl posted...

Then you shouldn't ask for an estimate because you're just going to end up dwelling on it. As you're being trained to do, consider that question, and say "I don't know what's going to happen, so I'll just wait and see."

I will tell you that, from what I know of OCD therapy, you're on the right track with the advice you've been given. I won't give you an estimate for how long it'll take to work because it's not my place to undermine your therapist (I also just don't know, but that's secondary), but it will eventually work, so just keep plugging away at it and reminding yourself that you don't need to make topics like this. It will happen when it happens.

That's only on the hyper arousal piece, and yes this likely means no more reassurance topics either or looking things up for diagnosis's/answers. Not sure if this topic falls under reassurance as I'm mostly looking for some advice on how to tackle that part of me that is in a rushed mind set and...

SunWuKung420 posted...

Rushing is pointless.

Yeah, basically lol, like what you said the last time stuck with me in my last topic.

Been working real hard on myself and its beyond brutal, sometimes feel like this is some test, this broke me to my lowest and I feel change and stronger, feel like I could potentially come out better than I was when I'm out of fight or flight just hope something tragic don't happen as my mom's health has had some real terrifying ups and downs and she's all I have.

RJP_X posted...

over 3 months, hyper arousal

Hate when that happens. Mine typically lasts 3 minutes tho

Far-Queue posted...

Hate when that happens. Mine typically lasts 3 minutes tho

Has nothing to do with sexual arousal, it means being in fight or flight mode for that long. Actually due to my bodies stress response I actually haven't received a natural erection in that time.

Hyper arousal is a truly terrifying thing, never knew it even existed. It's basically being in a constant state of high panic where everything causes severe anxiety, and you can barely sleep if at all due to feeling so wide awake, even no sleep or little causes you to still be in a wide awake state rather than tired and miserable and everything feels frightening as fuck all the time. Its usually related to PTSD but a state of severe anxiety and stress can cause it which is what I feel caused it more.

Been coping a bit better with it the last week or so, from the program they're forcing me to bring on panic attacks like doing hyperventilating with a timer so I can sit with them while telling myself things sparingly like, I've felt this before I can handle this, or Idk what's going to happen, I will see what happens. So far its been seeming effective and feel like I could be on the road to recovery, I'm still in the state of fight or flight but its going to take time. When I'm finally past it, I think I may cry tears of joy it's been hell and a half.

Well for feeling rushed?
I remind myself that I don't really like everyone else. There is 2 people I need to please, my wife, and myself. Everyone else can go fuck themselves.

It also helps when enough bad things happen that you sort of stop worrying. Like I have been fired before. Called the president stupid to her face in a meeting. And I am over it. Fired me for calling her stupid, so I guess she proved my point.

tom sawyer or limelight, maybe closer to the heart.

never play Stardew Valley I can tell you that much. that is like have-to-rush The Game but it never ends

RJP_X posted...

That's only on the hyper arousal piece,

They're related. Hyper-arousal, anxiety, and feeling like you can't take your time all go hand in hand, how you handle all three are affected by your OCD, and all of the above will be helped by this approach of training yourself to accept things as they are.

RJP_X posted...

Not sure if this topic falls under reassurance as I'm mostly looking for some advice on how to tackle that part of me that is in a rushed mind set and...

The answer is to keep doing what you're doing. There's no easy answer for how long it'll take or how bumpy the road will be (nor would an answer actually help you), but your therapist has you on the right track and you'll eventually get there.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/351c011c.jpg

Don't treat anxiety with alcohol. That's a very bad idea.

adjl posted...

That's a very bad idea.

it does seem like a really awesome idea at the time, though.

Its pretty easy to never feel rushed when you have next to no responsibilities

I recommend it

adjl posted...

They're related. Hyper-arousal, anxiety, and feeling like you can't take your time all go hand in hand, how you handle all three are affected by your OCD, and all of the above will be helped by this approach of training yourself to accept things as they are.

The answer is to keep doing what you're doing. There's no easy answer for how long it'll take or how bumpy the road will be (nor would an answer actually help you), but your therapist has you on the right track and you'll eventually get there.

Yeah, I get to do some other cool shit for homework for like an hour every day like forced hyperventilating for up to 10 minutes and each of those minutes setting a timer to record my panic attack level. Then after sit with it for 10-15 minutes.

Also I have to say phrases to myself and record my distress every 5 minutes for up to half an hour like the new one I got today,''If one of my devices breaks and I can't replace it, I might not be able to handle it.''

Today has been a much harder day for me, I mean I am not sleeping much at all for over 3 months due to the hyper arousal I felt like I was getting somewhere with the anxiety piece but its hit me harder today because I instantly obsessed on the phone draining battery faster, sometimes it drains really fast or much slower, I am unlikely getting another phone unless it breaks. As mentioned before my mom handles my disability and never worked so that's part of the distress for electronics, it's really hard to face uncertainty in scenario's like this but I'm really trying the best I am able.

Also I mentioned before how I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2, when originally diagnosed with Asperger's. Both inpatient and this program do not see Bipolar 2 at all but my original diagnosis of Asperger's so all these misdiagnosis's have fucked me up too. A real severe case of OCD however, scored near highest on a test.

It's pretty normal to find that it gets worse before it gets better, with this sort of thing. You're essentially training yourself to live with a baseline level of anxiety that you find tolerable and can manage without it impacting your life, and that's going to involve playing with your limits and occasionally pushing yourself too far. It's also normal to have occasional bad episodes just because you get worn out from constantly fighting it.

For what it's worth, the way you've been talking in this topic, I already see an improvement in your OCD. I'm sure most of that is just that you're specifically trying to stop yourself from expressing the level of obsessive behaviour you usually do, but the fact that you're able to do that at all means it's working. It's unpleasant, but you will eventually start to feel better about everything. Keep it up.