OCD, old hag, etc.

i think i have OCD. it's ruining the quality of LDing. i show a lot of the symptoms in waking life*, and unwarranted fear manifests in my LDs. i'm very cautions about what my expectations are because i think something scary to be around the corner, or someone to turn into that thing from the Grudge. even though i'm aware my expectations become "reality" in dreams, i can't help but think those thoughts- it's harder to control my thoughts while dreaming.

the same problem happens before i'm even asleep, while i'm laying in bed in at night, trying to sleep. i "see" (my eyes are closed) grotesque, abnormal faces morphing, and sometimes zooming toward me. these images last only momentarily, and as soon as i perceive them as scary (instantly), they disappear. this happens even when i try to concentrate on breathing, or think about something unrelated: out of the blue i experience a moment of dread/fear then these images appear. it's very unsettling and makes it harder for me to sleep peacefully.

what do i do? i'm not even sure if i have obsessive-compulsive disorder. regardless, i want to know how to fix this.

*mysophobia, body "evenness", unacceptable thoughts

If you want to find out if you have OCD, go see a doctor. Some kind of anti-anxiety medicine might make all the difference for you. Counseling could also be really helpful.

The zooming faces sound a bit like HI, which is normal, and is often scary.

Try to relax and not make more of it than it is.

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Originally Posted by seeker28

The zooming faces sound a bit like HI, which is normal, and is often scary.

Try to relax and not make more of it than it is.

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o, okay then :mrgreen:

Everyone sees grotesque images as they are falling to sleep or as they are dreaming, and many feel disturbed that their mind can come up with such things. I've had dreams that can rival some of the most disturbing horror films.

The key is to just accept it as it is, and welcome it in a loving way. It sounds corny and ridiculous, but it works every time. By introducing love to fear, it transforms the negative qualities of the image into positive. No longer does the 'melting flesh' or 'skeletal' form of the face cause fear, but rather the attractive, loving qualities of the face become the center of attention.

Everything in life can be viewed in two different ways: good or bad, grotesque or beatiful, dark or light. It's all a matter of perspective. For instance, it would be terrible to fear and be disgusted by a person with severe facial deformities. Sure they make look frightening to you at first glance, but once you get to know them as just another person you can appreciate their positive and loving qualities.

There are vitually no truly evil people or entites in this universe. We merely project our fear onto them, which in turn makes them appear evil. Rather, try looking upon the faces you see in a different light. Though they may look like ghoulish images, know that they are probably just a nice as person as you are deep down.

It all sounds very cheesy, but it works. And as far as OCD goes, I used to have symptoms when I was younger (such as continually checking the car doors were locked and never stepping on cracks between tiles or on sidewalks). Eventually I decided I no longer wished to do that anymore, and told myself there's no reason to continue to do so. Every time I attempted to evade a crack or check the locks, I would just stop, and integrate that compulsion into myself in a positive way. It's hard to describe using ordinary language, but when the opportunity presents itself you will understand.

Hope that helps!

I'm curious now, I have OCD (doctor actually diagnosed), and I have had that same problem, but more to the sense of my mind will randomly wander, and when I try to clear it the only natural thing for it to come up with is that something is going to pop out.

I avoided looking at the ceiling the first night I tried to WILD because I kept getting these images of starting to fall asleep, and then something just breaking through the ceiling and um... well, anyways.


When you WILD and they say to clear your mind... if you're thinking about something like "I need to relax" "Just clear your mind, don't talk anymore" "Just relax" almost like you're thinking as though someone were telling you to relax, that's going to disrupt WILDing isn't it?



As for overcoming OCD, seeing a doctor for certain medicines can help as can seeing a psychologist, however a lot of times if the OCD is severe enough, the only real way around it is to live with it.

I know from first hand experience, just saying to yourself "I will stop myself and change it to try not do those things anymore" or even lessen them... doesn't work. Really OCD, trying that is going to lead to anxiety mostly. If it's not as severe, then there's the possibility that the feeling will go away, but the easiest thing I've done is just live with it.


Although on that same though, I'm curious if the slight little insignificant things that run through my head when I'm not thinking of anything are going to distract WILDing.

Hm... looking back, I completely forgot my point x_x

I'm not an expert on WILD, so what I can offer only comes from personal experince. I focus only on my breathing, and if I find that my mind is wandering I just go back to feeling my breathing. I don't count the breaths or thinkg "In. . . .Out" or anything. I just focus on the feeling, and try to empty my mind of words.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ailos

Everyone sees grotesque images as they are falling to sleep or as they are dreaming, and many feel disturbed that their mind can come up with such things. I've had dreams that can rival some of the most disturbing horror films.

The key is to just accept it as it is, and welcome it in a loving way. It sounds corny and ridiculous, but it works every time. By introducing love to fear, it transforms the negative qualities of the image into positive. No longer does the 'melting flesh' or 'skeletal' form of the face cause fear, but rather the attractive, loving qualities of the face become the center of attention.

Everything in life can be viewed in two different ways: good or bad, grotesque or beatiful, dark or light. It's all a matter of perspective. For instance, it would be terrible to fear and be disgusted by a person with severe facial deformities. Sure they make look frightening to you at first glance, but once you get to know them as just another person you can appreciate their positive and loving qualities.

There are vitually no truly evil people or entites in this universe. We merely project our fear onto them, which in turn makes them appear evil. Rather, try looking upon the faces you see in a different light. Though they may look like ghoulish images, know that they are probably just a nice as person as you are deep down.

It all sounds very cheesy, but it works. And as far as OCD goes, I used to have symptoms when I was younger (such as continually checking the car doors were locked and never stepping on cracks between tiles or on sidewalks). Eventually I decided I no longer wished to do that anymore, and told myself there's no reason to continue to do so. Every time I attempted to evade a crack or check the locks, I would just stop, and integrate that compulsion into myself in a positive way. It's hard to describe using ordinary language, but when the opportunity presents itself you will understand.

Hope that helps!

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dude. don't steal my avatar.

not cool

The HI sounds like what I get sometimes, I have to do something to get rid of it, 'cause once it starts its hard to make it go away. If it happens, maybe you could read a book for a few minutes, and then try going back to sleep.

I remember once I kept getting this image of all the skin ripping off of a face layer by layer untill it was muscle, then bone. I had to get up and read a book, but after I read for a while my mind was on the plot in the story so I could get to sleep without further trouble.

Edit: Blah, that sounds like a bunch of run-on sentenses, but I can't think of another way to word it. :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Elis D.

dude. don't steal my avatar.

not cool

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Woah there, 'dude'. Unless you're name is Martin Bland, this is no one's
avatar but his.

And anyways, you have unjustly mutilated his fine artwork with pixelated albeit festive obfuscations which hinder the artistic embodiment of the emotion which he was attempting to capture. Therefore your avatar is no longer the same as mine, but rather a mere shadow of the original work.

Not only that, you put your alias on your sig like its your artwork, which most certainly it is not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ailos

Everyone sees grotesque images as they are falling to sleep or as they are dreaming

Everything in life can be viewed in two different ways: good or bad, grotesque or beatiful, dark or light. It's all a matter of perspective.

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it's been easier see it differently now that i know it's normal. :)

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Originally Posted by weelilhazel

I remember once I kept getting this image of all the skin ripping off of a face layer by layer untill it was muscle, then bone

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thats actually kinda cool. before i knew my experiences were HI, i was so surprised by how vivid they were. while fully awake, i could never have imagined these things in such detail even if i wanted to.

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Originally Posted by VettSage

my mind will randomly wander, and when I try to clear it the only natural thing for it to come up with is that something is going to pop out.

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that's a pretty accurate description of what's been happening to me.

Quote:

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I avoided looking at the ceiling

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lol i never look at anything once it's dark. i watch too many horror movies. i'm terrified every time i take a shower: after washing my face or hair i'm afraid to open my eyes, and i'm afraid of opening the opaque shower curtain when i'm finished. and i always make sure there's no one behind the shower curtain before i go to the bathroom. i run up stairs because i'm afraid of ghosts. i don't think this is OCD tho. it's just stupid shit i'm afraid of.

my biggest problem is when i'm already in the LD. i don't dare try anything grand, for fear of losing control and allowing something really scary to appear. if i do have OCD, i can get by well enough while i'm awake. it's the LDing i'm frustrated about- i was j/w if there was something i could do without medication-- i don't think LDs are worth a psych visit.

edit: is there a thread about why Old Hag happens? why the images are so often scary ones?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ailos

Woah there, 'dude'. Unless you're name is Martin Bland, this is no one's
avatar but his.

And anyways, you have unjustly mutilated his fine artwork with pixelated albeit festive obfuscations which hinder the artistic embodiment of the emotion which he was attempting to capture. Therefore your avatar is no longer the same as mine, but rather a mere shadow of the original work.

Not only that, you put your alias on your sig like its your artwork, which most certainly it is not.

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lol chill. And big words don't make you sound smart at all.

It's called a sig pic, I never claimed it to be mine, it's just a picture that properly ingeminates the incarnation of what emotions I capture when I dream.


plus I've had mine longer, and the Christmas shit is temporary.


so I win




<dancing banana>:banana:</dancing banana>

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Elis D.

lol chill. And big words don't make you sound smart at all.

It's called a sig pic, I never claimed it to be mine, it's just a picture that properly ingeminates the incarnation of what emotions I capture when I dream.


plus I've had mine longer, and the Christmas shit is temporary.


so I win

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Well I wasn't proposing it a competition, but if you truly want to win then so it shall be.

But regardless, I do normally follow the first-come basis when it comes to avatars. Designing my own should be fun anyways.

This is how I normally talk. I find the lack of a well established vocabulary to be the sign of apathy. However, when used bombastically with intent to mock, as with your previous post, it comes across as blatantly rude and unrefined. But I also acknowledge the fact that applying words to any type of entity within or without our universe merely restricts the capacity for complete comprehension of its infinite depth and beauty.

Anyways, back to the topic at hand:

Mrs. Jones, in order to become truly comfortable and in control of your LD's then you must realize the fact that the entire scene is taking place within your own mind, and that the identity which you refer to as "me" or "myself" is not separate from that of the dream you are experiencing. Therefore it would be silly to think that anything could either hurt you or become out of your own control, since it is you who controls your dream, not the other way around.

And if it helps any, you can always think to yourself that nightmares and ghoulish imagery/experiences within dreams are merely your subconscious getting rid of the extra baggage which may be weighing on you. Thus, fretting about it merely prolongs its negative effects, whilst accepting it and integrating it into your own self in a positive way helps you.

Cheers!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by seeker28

If you want to find out if you have OCD, go see a doctor. Some kind of anti-anxiety medicine might make all the difference for you. Counseling could also be really helpful.

The zooming faces sound a bit like HI, which is normal, and is often scary.

Try to relax and not make more of it than it is.

---

No medicine, it will only prevent some symptoms. It will also bring side effects, very rarely does medicine work in the long run. Take my advice, be in the moment. I know this because I have OCD, not extremely bad, but enough to know your frustration. Try being in the moment, it helps you concentrate on things that would normally bother you, so you wouldn't need to do them again. It also helps you take your mind off of it, and make your own free choices instead of going along with everyday routine.

At least try my advise. Medicine is not always the answer, and will most likely make your life hell. I don't normally post on these forums but I thought I should see if I could help you. OCD is hard to overcome, but anyone with willpower can do it or get by at least. Chin up! =D

Be in the moment brother. =) Look it up if you need further information.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Splitter X

Be in the moment brother. =) Look it up if you need further information.

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A book entitled The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is a great read if you wish to know more about staying in the present. It is indeed the cure-all for much of the world's problems.

I've not been diagnosed, but I am seeing a doctor. I think that everyone thinks that my OCD is mild, but I'd say it's more inside of me.

If you just want to cure some symptoms, just knowing about them sometimes helps for me. I'm more concerned with the biological problems associated with OCD.

I don't think your OCD is causing the hallucinations - it's just causing you to obsess over them, which is causing a problem. ;)

Hopefully like you said, now that you know that they're natural, you'll be able to breathe easier.

I have those kind of faces with ET things :?:?:?:shock::eek::embarrassed:

thx guys. i've been trying to "live in the present" for about 3 months and it's helped.

hey i used to have OCD it makes everything 10 times as hard and i can see why it would effect lding... i started off pretty normal and just had little voices in my head telling me to step on this or that but it escalates quickly and took over my life for about a year before i got help theres some really good websites that can actually diagnose ocd it woulfd be the best to see a doctor thats what i would do but the best thing that helped me was to know that it is a disorder and just that its nothing special and you can deystroy it lol :) it just takes focus

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Elis D.

lol chill. And big words don't make you sound smart at all.

It's called a sig pic, I never claimed it to be mine, it's just a picture that properly ingeminates the incarnation of what emotions I capture when I dream.


plus I've had mine longer, and the Christmas shit is temporary.


so I win




<dancing banana>:banana:</dancing banana>

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Just for that ill get that avatar as well.....don't claim something thats not urs..........

I don't know if this might work but try to getting into a lucid dream and when u get there just spend teh whole lucid like if it was real life and if something unexpected happanes stay cool and face it by not been afraid and just keep walking. Thats what i did i saw something/someones that weren't suppose to be in my lucid dream and even when i got goosebumps from them been there i just walked away and they left... i hate that goosebumps feeling....just stay cool an don't try doing anything unnatural...

Haha He Totally Ripped It