Eternal Suffering: Searching for similar cases

[jhgil26]

Hi!

I am a person with obsessive personality disorder with various OCD, but among them from the group of mentally tormented.

I have believed in the philosophy of reincarnation for quite some time and the obsession that has robbed me of my life for years is suffering eternally physically in each reincarnation.

I would like to know if there are people in the same situation even if it didn't have the same characteristics.

In this sense, what could be done so that similar cases can be found? Do you have any forum, association, etc...?

I would greatly appreciate the help as I am in a situation of absolute solitude when it comes to this type of problem.

For me it's an emergency.

Greetings.

 

[Daniel E.]

Hi!

Yes, eternal suffering/damnation was my first OCD theme (three decades ago as a teen when my evangelical beliefs intersected with my developing OCD). Basically, my fear was going to hell. Even though I believed I was "saved," how could I know for sure?

As with other OCD themes, there is a sense of urgency and a feeling that one needs to do something about it in order to function and to avoid a horrible outcome. But reacting to such urgency keeps the OCD going, such as with rituals like reassurance seeking (which for me is usually like a research project of sorts, typically involving Google). There is also the frustration with having OCD in the first place, which can easily lead to secondary depression/anxiety. So being more accepting of the condition and one's current limitations can help.

Some therapy approaches for OCD are the 4 steps, acceptance and commitment therapy, or metacognitive therapy. All of those approaches are basically a form of cognitive behavior therapy along with mindfulness -- taking self-downing thoughts less seriously and focusing instead on values/action/here-and-now. Similarly:

The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD

If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you might have an irrational fear of being contaminated by germs, or obsessively double-check things. You may even feel like a prisoner, trapped with your intrusive thoughts. And while OCD can have a devastating impact on your life, getting real...

www.google.com

Besides anxiety (or anxiety sensitivity), another common feature of OCD is guilt (or guilt sensitivity). So working on self-esteem or self-acceptance in therapy helps, even though it may seem like the least of your problems. For example, your fear of eternal suffering may be exacerbated by chronic self-ambivalence ("ambivalence about [one's] self-worth, morality and lovability"), which creates a vacuum for OCD to fill.

If you were raised in a strict/religious household (like I was) where the primary motivator was guilt, then that certainly can underlie what you are dealing with now, including how you relate with others and reality itself. Substitute eternal "suffering" with eternal "punishment" and you may see what I mean. A similar OCD theme is being locked away in prison with no way of ever getting out. I still have the jail/prison theme pop up at times. What makes it worse is engaging with the thoughts. (My husband has bipolar disorder, and I similarly learned the hard way not to "engage" with bipolar-fueled criticisms.)

I also like solution-focused approaches (focusing on what works since "sometimes the solution has nothing to do with the problem"). Like client-centered therapy, solution-focused therapy is very optimistic about human potential. It sees progress as inevitable and happening all the time.

And anything that is good for the brain is good for treating OCD. For example, exercise, music, and SSRIs can all help provide greater cognitive flexibility. Another thing that can help is focusing on relationships. Most people with OCD, anxiety, or depression tend to have insecure relationship patterns, which can increase stress/loneliness. For me, having pets also helps a lot, though initially it was also a source of stress worrying about them.

By far, the most popular organization for OCD is the International OCD Foundation, which also features a listing of group/community resources, including some Zoom-based support groups. I personally like this Zoom group that I used last year:

Pay What You Can Peer Support

iocdf.org

 

[jhgil26]

Thanks a lot. How does that foundation work, through forums or through online therapists?

 

[Daniel E.]

They don't provide individual or group therapy directly but have a directory:

Find Help List of Providers & Teletherapy Providers

A resource of OCD Providers and Teletherapy Providers. Number one location to find help in regards to OCD. You have found the best resource.

iocdf.org

Support Groups & Treatment Groups

There is a sense of community that exists in a well-run support group. It can mean finding others who know how you feel, or being seen as someone with a... Read more »

iocdf.org

I don't think they have their own online forum either, but they do list online groups at the link above.

They do have their own Youtube channel, Twitter feed, Facebook page, etc., and an annual online conference:

2022 Online OCD Conference!

Join us for three days of virtual programming for the entire OCD and related disorders community at the 2022 Online OCD Conference! Get ready to connect and learn with others who understand, and hear from treatment providers, researchers, and lived experience individuals (along with their...

events.iocdf.org

(They also have a Spanish version of their website.)


More info/resources at their website:

About the IOCDF

The mission of the IOCDF is to ensure that no one affected by OCD and related disorders suffers alone. Our community provides help, healing, and hope.

iocdf.org

How We Help

Founded by a group of people with OCD in 1986, the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) is an international not-for-profit organization made up of people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders, as well as their families, friends, professionals and others.

iocdf.org

Living with OCD

If you are living with OCD you face unique challenges. Find information and resources to help manage OCD in all areas of your life.

iocdf.org

Mobile Apps for OCD Management

Learn about all of the OCD apps that have been reviewed by PsyberGuide.

iocdf.org

By the way, one of my favorite points about OCD was made by David (a former therapist/psychologist):

OCD Coping Tips

 

[jhgil26]

I'll try.

Thanks

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Welcome to Psychlinks, jhgil26

Daniel, thank you for those excellent posts in reply to jhgil26's questions. Excellent job!

 

[Daniel E.]

Scrupulosity, Morality, and Intrusive Thoughts

Scrupulosity, Morality, and Intrusive Thoughts by Therese Borchard July 8, 2018 I have said many places that growing up Catholic, for me, was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that my faith became a refuge for me, a retreat where my disordered thinking could latch unto practices...

forum.psychlinks.ca

For anyone prone to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), religion can serve as a trap within a sanctuary.

Almost every anxiety and insecurity I felt as I kid fed into one fear: I was going to hell. Therefore I did everything in my power to prevent that. My bedtime prayers lasted longer than those recited by Benedictine monks; I read the Bible start to finish; I walked to daily Mass; and every Good Friday I spent five hours in the basement praying all the mysteries of the rosary. But it was never enough. Intrusive thoughts stalked me, telling me I was a horrible person.

 

[Daniel E.]

From one of my favorite threads:

​

Let Go of Control: How to Learn the Art of Surrender

Things go much more smoothly when you surrender control—when you let things happen instead of making them happen. Here's how to let go.

tinybuddha.com

The energy of surrender accomplishes much more than the energy of control.​

I suspect it’s slightly different for everyone, but here’s what control mode looks and feels like for me: My vision gets very narrow and focused, my breath is shallow, adrenaline is pumping and my heart rate increases.

My mind shifts from topic to topic and from past to future very quickly, and I have little concentration, poor memory, and almost no present-moment awareness.

In surrender mode, I’m calm, peaceful. Breathing deeply, present in the moment. I see clearly and my vision extends out around me, allowing me to (literally) see the bigger picture.

So the great irony is that attempting to control things actually feels less in control. When I’m micro-managing and obsessing over details, I know I’m in my own way.