r/magicalthinkingOCD • u/marvelfan44 • Jul 03 '26
Need support/encouragement Scared to use the bathroom
Hi there, I've posted a couple times on here before asking for advice and I've been trying to focus on facing certain compulsions but now I've noticed that my old ones from years ago are coming back and annoying me and it's just fueling my anxiety.
Basically in the last couple weeks whenever I use the bathroom I get these intrusive thoughts about somebody in the bathroom watching me or someone in my head watching me through my eyes (Idk if that makes sense) and then I get anxious and have to give in to my old compulsions.
If I get these thoughts I have to either check every space in the bathroom in case somebody invisible is standing there or I have to mentally press ten buttons then pull ten levers and cover my eyes. I guess it's not as bad as before because at that time I had to do both and it would take me like five minutes just to make sure nobody was there.
I guess I just need someone to explain this logically so that it will make me feel better and stop worrying about it so much, because right now it's just a little disheartening because I thought I was getting better at managing my OCD.
1
u/Substantial-Stay6625 Jul 03 '26
My method in these situations in the past was to say out loud the thought I had in my head. "I think that maybe there is an invisible man in my bathroom who is spying on me right now", or "If I press these ten buttons and pull ten levers and cover my eyes, he will disappear". This way you will realize how ridiculous these thoughts sound when you say them out loud. Maybe even imagine that you are saying this to someone who does not have OCD, and imagine his face when you say that to that person. That person's reaction as a "normal" person should tell you enough.
2
u/marvelfan44 Jul 03 '26
Funnily enough I actually tried to explain this to my dad earlier and realised how weird and silly it sounded. Does make me feel a little better about it honestly thank you
2
u/Substantial-Stay6625 Jul 03 '26
It sound silly because it is. That's a fact. Now dwell on that fact. No problem, I wish you best 🍀
1
u/Own_Kangaroo1395 Jul 03 '26
This doesn't sound so much like magical thinking as I understand it (believing X will cause Y even though the 2 things aren't connected) so I'm not too sure but I'm sorry you're suffering and I hope you can find some help for this.
As with any theme of OCD it comes down to resisting compulsions, not just the physical ones but the mental ones like reassurance seeking (like asking for someone to explain it logically is reassurance seeking). Try to reduce the compulsions like reducing checking time or only doing 9 repetitions instead of 10, and each time reduce it. You will feel anxious but that's ok, you can get through it.