SOVA Blog

by Mindfulbalance

Magical Thinking Isn’t So Magical

January 5, 2022 in Educate Yourself

Magical thinking is a concept that I have been experiencing for quite some time. I remember having thoughts that fall under the category of magical thinking since I was in elementary school. According to Healthline, magical thinking is the idea that you can influence the outcome of specific events by doing something that has no bearing on the circumstances. For example, opening the microwave door before the timer beeps so no one in your family dies. This is an example of how magical thinking has affected me in the past. As I have grown and learned from my diagnosis, these thoughts impact me less, but they can still be bothersome.

Similar to magical thinking, when I am excited for an event or looking forward to something, my intrusive thoughts become more “real” and “powerful.” It’s almost like because I am excited for something, I am afraid the intrusive thoughts I have become real, therefore ruining whatever I am looking forward to. It is a very difficult battle to fight, especially because of how real the thoughts feel to me.

I think during the holiday season, it common for individuals struggling with mental illness and anxiety to be triggered and therefore experience an increase in symptoms. It is important to stay grounded and use the techniques you know help you. I have been experiencing an increase in intrusive thoughts over the past few weeks, but I am doing all I can to not let them control my life. I have been reading, doing puzzles, and exercising as ways to take back control of my thoughts.

Do you have magical thinking patterns? Are you suspicious or have little habits you do that make you feel like have influence on events in your life? How have intrusive thoughts, or these “superstitions,” affect your mental health?

Tags: , , 1 Comment »

by Mindfulbalance

Embracing Your Mental Illness

November 15, 2021 in Be Positive

Obsessive compulsive disorder is something I have been battling for the past three years and it has not been easy. But, it has truly changed my life for the better. Weird right? You’re probably thinking to yourself “how could a mental illness that causes extreme distress and discomfort make my life better?”

The distress and anxiety that I experience has caused me to adapt and look deeper within myself. I now value and appreciate the little things in life much more than I once did. I am more thankful for my relationship and the people I have as supports in my life.

Before my diagnosis I didn’t put much thought into having gratitude or always looking at the bright side. One thing OCD forced me to do was imagine my life as if I lost everything. The intrusive thoughts I battle with allowed me to see a life without everything and everyone I loved.

I don’t see my mental illness as a setback or a weakness, instead I look at how far I’ve come. Struggling with OCD for the past 3 years has shown me how strong I truly am. I am able to see the good in almost any situation. Everyday I am thankful for my people, my pup, and who I am. Without OCD, I wouldn’t appreciate life the way I do now, so I choose to embrace it.

If you have been diagnosed with your mental illness, how did you feel when you first received it? How has your mental illness positively affected you in any way?

Tags: , , 2 Comments »

by Mindfulbalance

You are not “so OCD”

October 27, 2021 in Educate Yourself

Have you ever heard someone say “I’m just so OCD?” Have you ever thought about how someone who is diagnosed with OCD feels when that is said? I can say from first hand experience that it is an uncomfortable situation to be in.

OCD is not just preferring things to be neat and tidy. When I hear someone say “sorry, I’m just so OCD,” my heart sinks. I know that OCD is much more than perfectionism or preferring things to be orderly. When this is said, it takes away from the challenges that someone who is actually diagnosed with OCD  struggles with. For example, my OCD presents in the form of intrusive thoughts. As you may know, everyone has intrusive thoughts, but individuals with OCD ruminate about these thoughts and perform rituals to help prove them untrue. The problem is that performing these rituals only strengthens the thoughts, so it turns into an endless cycle. I perform what is called a mental ritual when I have intrusive thoughts, which means that I will replay the thought in my head over and over (sometimes for days or weeks on end) looking for some concrete evidence to prove the thought untrue. OCD can be debilitating and can impact quality of life in its sufferers.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental illness that is made up of two parts – obsessions and/or compulsions. These obsessions and compulsions can cause individuals intense fear, distress, and anxiety. Obsessions can be things that you may be familiar with such as fear of contamination or symmetry/exactness, but they can also be intrusive thoughts about harming yourself or others.  Compulsions are often what accompany these obsessions and by engaging in these compulsions it only feeds into the obsession more. Compulsions can include checking, ordering/arranging, mental rituals, or confessing.

As you can see, OCD is a distressing condition that is more than just organizing and washing your hands several times. OCD can really impact someone’s life to the point that they are constantly battling the thoughts in their head; it is exhausting. You would never say “I’m just so PTSD” or “I’m just so cancer,” so try not to minimize someone’s experience with OCD by claiming that because you like things clean you are “so OCD”.

What has your experience been like with people who treat and joke about mental health terms and illnesses? Do you know anyone who’s described themselves as “so OCD?” How did that make you feel?

Tags: , , 2 Comments »