10 Pieces of Advice For Somatic OCD 

I don’t think you understand what this video accomplished. I’ve been messed up my whole life with this ocd and the “tics” it causes me. It started when I was a kid and I would be up late every night because I couldn’t stop forcing myself to burp. That completely went away when I was a kid but then in my early teenage years I gained this breathing tic that I can feel in my whole body. I have to take a specific size breath and then I have to brace my stomach like I’m going down for a squat. Then I have to sit in that braced position until my body literally needs another breath. I always thought I was genuinely alone. Ive looked into this forever. It started around the age of 5-6 and I’m 19 now. This video has completely changed my way of thinking. I only just recently came to my mother about this for the first time since I was a kid. Thank you. I think you may have saved my life

i feel like you’re the first person ever to understand what i’m going through, thank you so much for doing thus

about a month ago i developed breathing ocd and this channel has helped me so much. some moments are harder than others (now, for instance), but i'm alive and even though it's very annoying i can live trough it. thanks a lot for the advice!!!

Thank you! You have helped me so much. It really works!!❤

This video made me feel so normal for a change. Are used to think I was such a freak for having this. i’m gonna bookmark and rewatch this whenever I have those moments it’s not about good or bad days because we don’t have those. We have good or bad moments that really hit me haha

Thank you for this video, I always thought this was some strange weird thing that no one could understand or i couldn't explain. This has been something that ive gotten passed before quite fast even when it has happened, but recently most likely down to alot of stress factors ive found myself not able to break away from it as effortlessly as i once was before that only added to my fears. Everything that you have explained about fear is so true, the fear is what is always! missing when its not happening. Its not that I'm not noticing the sensation theres simply no fear there at all even when thinking about it I'm able to continue and move passed it, but the moment theres fear (of getting stuck) that's when i start to feel a little more stuck. That's probably how i was able to break away from it so fast before simply by just getting on with life and continuing with doing things which make me happy and just living life, recently ive been avoiding certain things or ill say things to myself like 'What is the point in trying this sensation will just ruin my time or my life' which keeps me stuck in a cycle until my mind decides to let up.

Thank you. Great video. You know what is so strange. I know of ppl who have gotten over it in a couple of months and then others years. It baffling and so many different strategies.

Thank you for this ❤

What helped me is thinking the fear is good excitement. That was strong.

There are loads of great meditations that doesnt put much focus on breathing exercises. I’ve used NSDR for a long time and it really helped me with making my breathing ocd better. Maybe not for everyone, but meditation has made a huge difference for me

I have had this for 2 years... untreated. It kind of went away for a bit, but it recently got a lot worse. For me, it's the fear of how constantly thinking about it will negatively affect my performance. I appreciate the tips, and the video in general. I'm happy knowing I'm not in this alone.

wow, I feel so understood, for the first time, in 3 years, I've been dealing with this stuck/fear feeling where I am hyper fixed on my breathe, and I got into mindful meditation, thats where it all started. mindful meditation really caused all of my somatic ocd, and I am getting over it. I dont ignore the feeling, I do things everyday that are outside what makes me feel comfortable: doing art, fire-dancing, doing magick, doing shibari, flowarts, art really helps me get out of my comfort zone and conquer this mental problem, when I get anxious, I focus on my breathe and calming myself, honestly, it does not work, because I get hyper-fixated on my breathe, and end up exhausting my spirit from all the heavy anxious breathing all day. You are your environment and habits! be creative, do things that bring you out of your comfort zone, and when u have no access to those things, don't think about your breathe, just remind yourself your a spirit, not a body, focus on your memories, things that make you happy, that you are here to accomplish a goal, a dream, a laugh, to love, you will not die, the universe loves you.

I think this is what I have, did not know there was a name for it. I been haveing ocd most of my life. But this last one I been having for 8 years and I feel I slowly are loosing hope. Because mine is so complicated, as you said in one video most people think they have the hardest one. I totally feel like this. I got this ocd after a traumatic pregnancy where I could not walk on one leg anymore. I am a dancer so I took it very hard, I started to be really afraid of my body, I also already had panicattacks from some years before where I guess now was sensorimotor ocd about my heart. Now after 8 years I am still afraid of walking, moving, standing, cause I am controlling every step I take. Dont know what tension a body should have, how the legs move, my posture, my tunge, my breath, my pelvic floor, my butt ,my chest. I went trough every body part but the worst is that I feel my whole body, all the body parts and I feel so lost in my body that its best to just lye down. My compulsion is to change the tension in my body so my body is way to tense(cant move at all) or to loose, collapsed and that also hurt to move. I dont know how to stop the compulsions cause it feels like I do them uncounsiosly. Maybe because its so related to fear of getting hurt and what will happen if I have to have this the rest of my life. Anybody out there that have the same? Any advice? I am afraid I might have PTSD and OCD cause I am afraid of moving. and the compulsion I do is that something changes in my body so I get pain. I simple dont know how to ground myself when the panic comes to me and then I walk and move very strange.

Sir is pure o and somatic (sensorimotor ocd) the same ? Or are they different types of ocd altogether? I've researched online but to no avail. It's soo confusing, some sources say somatic ocd is part of pure o but others don't mention this part and it feels like it's a totally different type of ocd. Please kindly reply. Thanks :)

I'm having an eye exam tomorrow and apparently I'm getting some sort of eyedrops that are going to blur my vision for quite some time. Strangely enough I was kind of looking forward to it because 95% of my somatic symptoms are visual. However now I feel that I will be more triggered when my vision will turn back to normal. So yeah, fear, it's horrible. Sometimes it feels like my brain is fighting me with this OCD "thing". It's frustrating. I truly wonder what my therapy eventually is going to look like when I will be discussed among the professionals I looked for for therapy, and how things will evolve.

You are amazing

Good Stuff. I tend to agree about the core fears in light of exposures. Curious tho, once you identify some of the core fears, what do you suggest is next, dispute them? Then how, read your list of disputations a few times per day? Tia!

I've been stuck with the "how does our brain control everything" question for a few months now and I'm honestly having a hard time living with it because i feel weird when I lift my hand or walk or get up from my seat etc.. mostly I'm sensitive to movements and stuff and with no consciousness I'll find myself diving deeply into the question how does our brain control everything and then I'll stare at my hands to make sure I can still move them or my leg to make sure I can still control them. FYI I have been already diagnosed with OCD from a licensed psychologist. How do I convince my brain that the answer to the question doesn't matter? if you have any special advice I would be very grateful. Also this is the very first video I watch where it describes how I'm feeling perfectly.. thank you I truly feel seen

Please make a video step by step saying exactly what should be done in a objective and not rushed way

I just hate how it’s the very first thought I wake up with and that’s how I start my day with that fear loop 😢😢 I hate this curse I want my life back I hate these irrational fears for breathing ocd and fear of manual breathing forgetting how to breathe or stop breathing

This video really helped me to understand some of the concepts behind Somatic OCD. I just have a question... I've already been diagnosed with OCD in the past and i learned to cope with some aspects of it, but this for me is something new. I'm starting to notice/being hyperaware of what i'm seeing or any visual stimuli and then experiencing so many obsessive thoughts about it. I feel ashamed whenever i feel distracted or i'm not focused... Like you said in the video, i started thinking that my life was ruined, because well, i work with painting and art. What i'm feeling, still categorizes as Somatic OCD?

The first time this happened. I got over it in 2 months. Now it’s my second time and It’s worse then last time and I’ve hit the 2 month range. Last time it would come and go. Now it’s just constant

Hey Nick I had a question not sure if you will respond but anyone else can feel free to answer. I know acceptance and getting under the fear of “if I have this forever it will ruin my life” is super important. But is it fine to still be hopeful that you will get better? Because I find myself always saying “this isn’t gonna last forever” which I guess in a way is reassurance. Is that harmful? Hope that makes sense.

I have somatic OCD, and it is caused by real medical issues. I really do have heart rhythm issues, however they're rather benign if not scary and very uncomfortable. Because of these issues, sometimes I get trapped in the thoughts of what's wrong with my heart - even on days when my heart is perfectly fine, I spend the entire day checking my pulse, holding my breathe to feel my heart beat, and obsessing over what could _theoretically_ happen with my heart. This OCD and anxiety concoction causes me severe sleep deprivation. I haven't slept properly in nearly 2 months because of it, and the sleep deprivation is only making my mental health issues worse 2-fold. I've conquered this once, 5 years ago, and it took about 2 months - but this time it seems like it wants to stay a little longer.

hi nick , i am haing a weird sensation of legs , arms positioning and all that , and i get stuck

Good afternoon, I am taking hydroxizine and Fluoxetine and I do have somatic OCD is that good/ok? Also I have ADHD would adhd meds Ie increasing my focus be good or bad for me right now? I am 2-3 months into it

I keep biting my tongue on one side which has led to jaw and throat pain on that side also. Is this still an OCD. I am constantly aware of it as it now has caused a hell lot of issues. 😢

How to sleep with the swallowing ocd? I'm not really even anxious that I'm aware of it the loudest in bed when I'm about to sleep. It just gets real annoying when you've been trying to sleep for hours and you keep swallowing. Like, when im about to drift off, my brain seems to go, oh swallow now. And then I'm suddenly awake. Like, I don't feel any fears at the start butthe frustration and the need to sleep cause I'm tired and my head is starting to hurt starts to tick me off and I become wired by then. Hope someone can answer me. This is really annoying. My work requires me to be clear headed, but with sleep depravation which Kickstarts anxiety, I end up with poor concentration and brain fog and can't work properly.

Is itching/skin crawling a form of this? I've had the breathing, eye floaters and heartbeat before...but this one's new for me. I know you scratched your arm at the start but yeah...ocd lol

So nick does erp have much of a place with sensorimotor ocd?

I'm doing almost all of thing for many months u mention in the video 😇 and i'm getting result 🙂 this is all happen bcz of u guys

Does somatic OCD cause pain not just breathing etc ive got it constant

Please help I started to develop some swallowing ocd or something I don’t even know. It feels like I have to manuallly swallow or else I panic I’ve literally never cared about swallowing my own saliva but like now I doooo what do I dooo!! 😢😅 Also I wouldn’t care about this except I feel like people can hear me which is a HUGE ISSUE Worst part now is the morning after I wrote this I am extremely sick and it hurts to swallow but I have an obsession with swallowing so my throat is hurting constantly, I want to go to the doctor to get rid of the coughing but it’s gonna be so hard to explain the OCD since it’s a mental thing instead of like physicallly unwell so I’m stressed and I only got 3 hours of sleep and I can’t sleep since I have to force myself to stop swallowing to relax and sleep. I’m only a teenager and I promised myself I would get more sleep but I really really can’t. Sorry if it’s long but I need advice please. YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE VERY BAD MUSCUS IN YOUR THROAT AND YOU MUST COUGH IT TO SPIT IT OUT, I PHYSICALLY CANNOT STOP SWALLOWING BACK I AM VERY SORRY IF THIS COMMENT IS LONG AND IT SOUNDS EXTREMELY RIDICULOUS TO YOU BUT ITS A HUGE ISSUE FOR ME OK last update if this OCD continues to bother me in a few months then I’ll go to the doctor to get some anxiety pills. I think it started in the classroom and also being an obsessed at home but if I distract myself enough then I won’t really think about it so I’ll try to watch movies during my summer break to stop it. 🙏🤞🤞 And I have just read back my comment and I really do sound like a lunatic but if you are going through the same problem, YOUR NOT ALONE AND IF ITS VERY SERIOUS PLEASE VISIT SOMEONE! Happy 2022 Holidays guys

8 months ago I developed sensorimotor OCD and i need help can someone give me some tips ?

Is there anyone who has different body symptoms caused by sometic ocd..when I was in 10th standard I started having problems with my teeth..I started focusing on my overbite teeth.. constantly I used to see mirror..It continues for four years untill I got white patches in my lips..during my master's I used ask people about my lips.somehow I get rid of this problem..again i started focusing on my thorot.. it fells real pain and sensation..after see a doctor he told me its my mind related issues..again getting admission in PhD program I started having frequent urination problem I become hyperaware the particular body part where I started feeling uncomfortable..what is this plz someone guide me

A little bit of constructive criticism from someone suffering from this. I watched this video because i was having some anxiety and lopking for some ways to deal with the issue and when you mentioned being hospitalized it completely sent me over the edge as that is one of my biggest fears. The other thing that keeps these videos from being helpful is that every video like this lists EVERY autonomous awareness which often triggers ANOTHER one for me. I searched this video because of breathing now im worrying about saliva and swallowing. Also commenters. We are all suffering right now. Thats why we're here. PLEASE try to refrain from the comments about how long youve been dealing with this issue. For months and years and your whole lives. Its drives up the main fear that everyone else is having with this issue. That it will NEVER END (It will). Sorry if i came across as harsh just thought maybe i could help someone avoid the same triggers i just had.

I've been going through something like this. I'm not completely sure if it's somatic OCD or not but the more I learn the more it seems to fit. I've been extremely aware of my breathing for over a month or so now. It's interfering with work because of not being able to sleep. It's interfering with all my relationships. Not sure what caused it. Could have been a Covid scare. This is definitely the most difficult thing I've ever dealt with. My question is should I seek physical proof of it not being something medically wrong before ruling it out and going with somatic OCD?

How do you address the fear

I'm going insane please help me I can't sleep because of this, it left a few years ago but now it's come back stronger than ever like a virus please help

Is it just the sensation of blinking or breathing that people are scared of? Or is it the anxiety of can't stop interfering with it. For example the fact that you can't control your heartbeat makes it more easy to deal with. It isn't a big deal for me. I just accept the feeling. But with my breathing when i "accept" the feeling then it feels like i still have to control the breath. otherwise i get the sensation of holding my breath. So i feel like i have to force myself to supress that sensation. Do other people experience the same thing when they talk about breathing ocd? Maybe someone can give me their thoughts to put me in the right direction here.

Just wondering for somatic ocd is there any medication or supplement or diet that helps out there ?

Nick Anthony, have you ever experienced swallow sensorimotor, + blinking ocd. Like they are fighting, sometimes both are up, sometimes one or another? Dealing with this right now.

Hello , I have hyper fixation on my blinking and breathing at the same times 😅 it’s pretty hard and I hate to manually control my blinking and breathing at the same time if that makes sense. Since I have to control both manually I’ve been following this pattern where I blink once when I inhale and once when I exhale, but I’ve been wondering recently if that’s a compulsion too?

How do you address the fear?

How much do I have to pay for personal sessions with you cuz I will. I can't keep going like this and you actually make sense

I think you went too fast... I didnt understand what i should do now to start recovering. Please make a video step by step

Nick I’m not gonna lie to you man I’ve had swallowing ocd for about 2 months it has completely destroyed my life I’m on the verge of suicide I just don’t get what u guys are saying what do I do how do I acccept it plz help man I’m so scared

were you put on any medications?

Should you swallow if you salivate due to that obsession. Sometimes its just automatic

breathing ocd is so diffcult!!!!!!!

Where’d Nick go? I just see a shaved man

Why its genetic is worth onowing why i have it i niw no i have autism

It’s the one of the worst ocds 😭

am i the only one that has it when speaking? the urge to listen to his own voice? its really annoying