I really needed this today! Intrusive and obsessive thoughts have become increasingly intense for me to the point where I have googled ‘Am I insane?’ and worried that my thoughts will never shut off. From some conversations with friends it feels like this isn’t uncommon but it’s not yet palatable for mainstream mental health discussions. Please keep writing (whenever you feel like it!) - and thank you x
Thank you for writing this. Your writing always speaks to me, you put into words the thoughts I struggle to articulate. Thank you, I look forward to the next one!
P.S. As someone who lost their Grandma a few months ago (my best friend and favourite person), I will definitely be ordering the book you suggested!
Great piece and really reassuring to read that it’s not just me! Thank you!
One of my many usual ‘mini’ obsessions is that when people leave after coming to see me I have to wave goodbye and watch them go out of sight or something bad will happen to them on their way home. It’s ridiculous (as they probably just think I’m clingy or odd and won’t visit again!) but I can’t stop doing it because I feel sick with worry until I hear from them again. This has been an obsession I’ve had for as long as I can remember and just can’t shift - it has only decreased because of lockdown and no one is visiting so now it’s just down to the postman! I feel silly after I have done it but feel so sick with worry if I don’t do it.
Looking forward to the next newsletter- thank you! 😊
I’ve been a worrier all my life, could spend hours looking out of the window waiting for my mum and dad to come home from a shopping trip worried sick that they’d had an accident if they were late getting home. It’s got much worse since I reached the menopause, I’ve retired at the age of 55 from my job in HR because I developed terrible impostor syndrome and convinced myself I was crap at my job. I thought it’d be great not having to go to work and it is but my work worries have just been replaced with home worries. I’ve passed this anxiety on to my son who is 25 and is socially anxious. Thank you for sharing your experiences, just reading your newsletter and putting this reply together has made me feel that I’m not alone or mad.
This made me cry. Currently convinced I’m about to lose my job as a teacher. I expect it with every email I get and I can’t sleep at night as I’m picking through every single interaction and deciding which one will get me sacked. I’ve been here before with other things (spent a long time terrified on dog walks as I kept imagining foxes jumping out of hedges and attacking my dog). I know this one will lessen too, eventually. It’s just hard. This was a good read and I think a lot of people would benefit from hearing about your experiences, for as long as you want to share them x
Found this very helpful thank you. I didn’t realise for a long time that intrusive/obsessive thoughts are also a part of OCD. It can be hard when you feel like your brain is wired to always be thinking about the worst case scenario or worrying about things no one else would have thought about. Especially as sometimes it feels like as soon as you stop obsessing about one thing another thing pops up in its place! X
I just went through a stint of convincing myself I didn't know how to think anymore despite the fact that I think constantly. I have somewhat gotten over it now but have moved my obsession to trying to be mindful all the time which is kind of getting annoying, but ironically it has helped I think.
Thank you for reminding me that I am not alone going through these strange thought patterns!
Thank you for writing this. It not only reminded me that I am not alone in my experience of OCD (struggling more with the obsessive elements rather than compulsive), it reminded me to check myself and identify behaviours linked to my OCD. I think in the buzz of everyday life, I avoid checking-in. Too scared to venture into my own mind due to the torturous whirlpools of obsessions that await there. However, the longer I avoid them, the worse it gets. Thank you!
Great article. Personally I am very fortunate not to suffer in any significant way with my mental health. However, my husband does, although he doesn’t like to talk about it in any great detail. So this article helps me in my understanding.
P.s loved the recommendations at the end! I love nothing more than recommendations. I am an avid listener of the High Low podcast and have a list as long as my arm of books to buy, articles to read, and programs to watch.
That was a really good read and well written. Had a fear of being insane since childhood and this is the first time I have seen anyone else ever express this so feel a bit better and thank you
Thank you. You help to reassure me that I am not insane and comment sections like this remind me it’s not just me who gets these wild and crazy thoughts too. X
I really needed this today! Intrusive and obsessive thoughts have become increasingly intense for me to the point where I have googled ‘Am I insane?’ and worried that my thoughts will never shut off. From some conversations with friends it feels like this isn’t uncommon but it’s not yet palatable for mainstream mental health discussions. Please keep writing (whenever you feel like it!) - and thank you x
Thank you for writing this. Your writing always speaks to me, you put into words the thoughts I struggle to articulate. Thank you, I look forward to the next one!
P.S. As someone who lost their Grandma a few months ago (my best friend and favourite person), I will definitely be ordering the book you suggested!
This is a fantastic read, and it feels like a soothing ehug. Knowing I'm not alone in how I feel is reasuring that I'm not insane! Thank you Bella x
Great piece and really reassuring to read that it’s not just me! Thank you!
One of my many usual ‘mini’ obsessions is that when people leave after coming to see me I have to wave goodbye and watch them go out of sight or something bad will happen to them on their way home. It’s ridiculous (as they probably just think I’m clingy or odd and won’t visit again!) but I can’t stop doing it because I feel sick with worry until I hear from them again. This has been an obsession I’ve had for as long as I can remember and just can’t shift - it has only decreased because of lockdown and no one is visiting so now it’s just down to the postman! I feel silly after I have done it but feel so sick with worry if I don’t do it.
Looking forward to the next newsletter- thank you! 😊
I’ve been a worrier all my life, could spend hours looking out of the window waiting for my mum and dad to come home from a shopping trip worried sick that they’d had an accident if they were late getting home. It’s got much worse since I reached the menopause, I’ve retired at the age of 55 from my job in HR because I developed terrible impostor syndrome and convinced myself I was crap at my job. I thought it’d be great not having to go to work and it is but my work worries have just been replaced with home worries. I’ve passed this anxiety on to my son who is 25 and is socially anxious. Thank you for sharing your experiences, just reading your newsletter and putting this reply together has made me feel that I’m not alone or mad.
This made me cry. Currently convinced I’m about to lose my job as a teacher. I expect it with every email I get and I can’t sleep at night as I’m picking through every single interaction and deciding which one will get me sacked. I’ve been here before with other things (spent a long time terrified on dog walks as I kept imagining foxes jumping out of hedges and attacking my dog). I know this one will lessen too, eventually. It’s just hard. This was a good read and I think a lot of people would benefit from hearing about your experiences, for as long as you want to share them x
Found this very helpful thank you. I didn’t realise for a long time that intrusive/obsessive thoughts are also a part of OCD. It can be hard when you feel like your brain is wired to always be thinking about the worst case scenario or worrying about things no one else would have thought about. Especially as sometimes it feels like as soon as you stop obsessing about one thing another thing pops up in its place! X
I just went through a stint of convincing myself I didn't know how to think anymore despite the fact that I think constantly. I have somewhat gotten over it now but have moved my obsession to trying to be mindful all the time which is kind of getting annoying, but ironically it has helped I think.
Thank you for reminding me that I am not alone going through these strange thought patterns!
Thank you for writing this. It not only reminded me that I am not alone in my experience of OCD (struggling more with the obsessive elements rather than compulsive), it reminded me to check myself and identify behaviours linked to my OCD. I think in the buzz of everyday life, I avoid checking-in. Too scared to venture into my own mind due to the torturous whirlpools of obsessions that await there. However, the longer I avoid them, the worse it gets. Thank you!
Thank you for this ❤️
As always, well expressed, brave & makes others feel less alone, which is always a good thing. Thank you
Great article. Personally I am very fortunate not to suffer in any significant way with my mental health. However, my husband does, although he doesn’t like to talk about it in any great detail. So this article helps me in my understanding.
P.s loved the recommendations at the end! I love nothing more than recommendations. I am an avid listener of the High Low podcast and have a list as long as my arm of books to buy, articles to read, and programs to watch.
That was a really good read and well written. Had a fear of being insane since childhood and this is the first time I have seen anyone else ever express this so feel a bit better and thank you
Such a good read. You narrate such tricky subjects with such ease. A pleasure to read ♥️
Perfect ending. I never think I worry but your second point hit. I’ve even done dry runs for things! 😊
Thank you. You help to reassure me that I am not insane and comment sections like this remind me it’s not just me who gets these wild and crazy thoughts too. X