Learning bad news when it’s connected to your health can be new, heavy information that, as you can imagine, can cause a lot of trouble for an individual suffering from OCD.
Basically, my LDL cholesterol is off the charts (really high), and some other parts of my blood count are way out of order as well. Each specific part of my blood count that is out of order can mean something different. The abnormalities in my blood count indicate possible problems with my heart and liver.
The likelihood of atherosclerosis, which leads to heart attacks and strokes, is so high that I have only one option right now—to get better. I need to get better soon.
The doctors want me to take medications, which, as we know, can help with one thing but make you sick with something else. That’s not what I’m looking for.
So, I’m making radical changes to my diet. That’s the path I’m choosing.
As you can imagine, it’s been rough since I received this news. My OCD is working hard to get to me, but I’m working just as hard as my OCD to stay calm, breathe, and look forward to my body becoming stronger. I need to be more physically active, eat well, and get a good night’s rest. These are my objectives.
Today is the first day of fully committing to my new lifestyle.
The intrusive thoughts I’m experiencing right now are not easy to cope with. They are full of death and scary consequences. I’m trying not to give in. I really am.
One thing I’ve learned from having OCD is that keeping myself busy helps. Do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Find that last drop of energy that can ignite your engine and go do it.
Keeping busy by doing the things you’ve been putting off is a good coping mechanism. At least, that’s what I’ve learned, and I believe in it.
Once you start doing things you enjoy, you won’t have time to think about OCD. It will be a weak voice somewhere in the back of your head, quieter and insignificant.
Another thing that definitely helps is breathwork with breath retention and affirmations. This is something that initially helped me with my obsessive-compulsive disorder. Breathe in for 2 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds. Repeat the cycle for at least a couple of minutes. Then take a full breath in and out and hold your breath as long as you can. While holding your breath, you can start with your specific affirmations. Be very clear with your affirmations. Keep them as simple or detailed as you like. It’s up to you. Just don’t lose focus. Repeat the entire session a couple of times if you have the time. Every cycle is a big help to our body and mind.
There are many breathwork sessions and meditation practices you can find online. I personally do the specific 2:4 breathing to calm down my nervous system. I’ll talk about meditation and breathwork some time in the future. I believe it’s one of the most powerful ways to cope with OCD, as well as other illnesses and anxieties.
Be Physically Active
I started boxing a couple of weeks ago, and I LOVE IT! It makes me feel good afterward. I simply follow a guide on YouTube. It takes 20 minutes for you to get into the rhythm, and you finish the workouts drenched in your own sweat, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
I used to work out a lot in my twenties, but that changed after turning 30. I got caught up in corporate work without much time for myself or my body. I’ve been searching for the drive I had when I was younger. I’ve wanted to be healthy again for some time now. The facts that slapped me in the face with the bad news about my health are finally getting me back on track. I’ve always been looking for the energy to start working out properly again, but without success. Until now. Now, I don’t have a choice.
People say there’s this thing called motivation. Once you’re motivated—a noble sign from the heavens that strikes you once in a while—you’ll start doing the things you want to do.
I call BS on that. You have to take action first, and then you get motivated. Because after taking action, you can see the results to some degree and know if it’s worth it. If it is, you’ll enjoy it, and that will motivate you to do more. It’s not the other way around. I just heard this from Struthless’s Cam on YouTube (a very funny guy who speaks the truth, check him out), and he got it from the bestselling book “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k,” where Mark Manson (the author) states something very similar. Motivation comes second to action.
So here I am, “motivated.” Nah, I’m just taking action first. I have to. It would have been better if I had taken action when I didn’t have to. But here we are.
By sharing this, I want to tell you that the same principle applies to dealing with our OCD. We have to take action first. Don’t overthink it. Just say “enough” and do what you need to help yourself in the moment. Say to yourself, “I won’t act on the obsessions this morning. I won’t give them a chance.” It may sound cheesy, but hey, whatever works. You’ll come up with more thoughtful ideas, for sure. I’m just putting my thoughts down on paper right now. You know, I’m taking action.
The “here and now” and “taking action” approach seems to be working. It’s simple but not easy. However, it’s worth it.
Please let me know your coping mechanisms that help you. Let me know even if you don’t have a coping mechanism yet. We can figure something out together.
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