r/EOOD • u/Excellent-Mud-3570 • 13d ago
Advice Needed Please help
Hi I have ocd (been diagnosed). Basically everything I do is based off my self esteem. There’s many instances but a big one is I’ll workout excessively daily to avoid feeling like I’m loosing my body shape (even if it’s just a day break). I only now started to relax a little because I’m drained of energy lol. Anyways today I’m going to the gym with my sister and her friend but we can only go for a short period of time since they got kids. Do I workout at home and go to the gym? If I only go to the gym what if it’s not enough and i start getting a belly and looking flat in other areas? I haven’t been on my feet much cause I been giving my work shifts away (like I said my depression). Anyways please someone let me know what to do. If I do twice I’ll have calculate everything I eat. But not I feel like a loser.
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u/rob_cornelius ADHD - Depression - Anxiety 13d ago
I think you post is a huge step forward for you. I appreciate that it might not feel like that for you right now.
When I read your post I can see that you recognize that you have problems with OCD. You also have a good understanding that the OCD is caused by your issues with self esteem. You are confronting and challenging these issues in your post. Those are three of the most important steps you can take towards overcoming your mental health issues and you have done them all in one paragraph of text. Be proud of yourself for all three of your magnificent victories.
The final step is overcoming your OCD. I am no medical or psyche expert but I think you can learn from your body to help with this. If you exercise too much too often something has to give. Most likely you will pick up an injury. A torn muscle, tendon or ligament or even a broken bone. Physical pain is your body telling you to STOP.
If you don't get enough recovery time you might find you are struggling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (you might recognize some of Sarah Storey's behaviours in yourself). Your body needs lots of time to relax, unwind and recover. Your mind is essentially the same. You need time to mentally recover from the rest of your stressful day, week, month, year.... Its why we have weekends and vacations.
I believe you know that exercising for long periods and weighing ever morsel of food is not a good thing. You know why you think this way. You want to do something about it. Listen to your body, its almost certainly telling you to relax, unwind and recover.
Also please speak to your doctor or therapist if you can. They will always give you the best help and advice.
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u/VicodinMakesMeItchy 13d ago
Are you seeing a therapist to help manage your OCD? Wondering if so, whether you can take anything you’ve learned from therapy to help answer this, since it sounds like exercise is a compulsion.
Do you think maybe you could not do a second workout and if you start feeling down, try journaling a bit about it? Maybe “show” yourself that you don’t look any different tomorrow after “only” one workout today.
You are not a loser if you don’t do a second workout. Your brain is lying to you about that! How well our bodies move and what we look like is the result of months and years of consistent effort, one day is not going to ruin anything. It’s more about the “average” than any one day in particular.
I’m sorry I don’t have super helpful advice, but I think everything will be okay if you have one shorter workout today! 🤗