Lauren McMeikan, LMFT

When we say "accept uncertainty" it sounds so simple - so straightforward. And it is. BUT that doesn't mean it's an easy choice to make. . Okay, on a rational level the choice is pretty obvious. Accepting uncertainty = freedom. What tolerating uncertainty means, though, on a practical level, is taking away the one thing that you believe is keeping you safe. In fact, in other anxiety disorders, the analogue behaviors done to get rid of anxious thoughts and feelings are calle...d safety behaviors. . So in order to get through the fire you essentially have to run directly into the flame. Not exactly for the faint of heart. But, hey, you've got this! . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . Interested in treatment for OCD, Anxiety and Eating Disorders? Feel free to DM or email me through my website (link in bio). . #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdrecovery #ocdtherapy #ocdsupport #ocdhelp #pureo #pureocd #postpartumocd #scrupulosityocd #religiousocd #hocd #harmocd #rocd #relationshipocd #ppocd #pocd #ocdlife #ocdrelief #ocdproblems #ocdtips #ocdadvocate #ocdawareness #obsessivecompulsive #livingwithocd #erp #exposureresponseprevention #embracetheunknown #realocd See more

This fear tends to come up as people undertake treatment. The trouble is that getting better and stopping thinking about your thoughts are not one in the same. . In actuality, you have to accept the fact that thoughts never stop as long as you're living in order to get better. The irony, of course, is that when you unconditionally accept the thoughts they aren't as bothersome when they arise and so come and go with greater ease. The perception of this is often that they're... becoming less frequent over time, and often times they ultimately do. . Ultimately, OCD can give you all sorts of What ifs related to the idea that you might never get better. The answer is always "Maybe I won't." Accepting uncertainty is key. That said, it's also imperative to keep in mind that you don't have to stop thinking anything in order to get better. It's about learning to live with your thoughts. . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . Interested in treatment for OCD, Anxiety and Eating Disorders? Feel free to DM or email me through my website (link in bio). . #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdrecovery #ocdtherapy #ocdsupport #ocdhelp #pureo #pureocd #postpartumocd #scrupulosityocd #religiousocd #hocd #harmocd #rocd #relationshipocd #ppocd #pocd #ocdlife #ocdrelief #ocdproblems #ocdtips #ocdadvocate #ocdawareness #obsessivecompulsive #livingwithocd #erp #exposureresponseprevention #embracetheunknown #realocd See more

Cognitive Distortions... like it or not we've all got them. If you missed it, you can go to the IGTV tab to check out my conversation with Drew Linstata (@the.anxious.truth) about these bad boys. Side note: If you're not following Drew, I highly suggest you do so. His content is really top notch. He did an amazing job of recapping some of the main points of our conversation in these slides. Do you have a specialty when it comes to distorted thinking? #downtothinki...nblackorwhite #ocd #ocdrecovery #ocdproblems #ocdtips #ocdlife #ocdrelief #livingwithocd #ocdadvocate #exposureresponseprevention #realocd #ocdhelp #anxietywarrior #pureocd #generalizedanxietydisorder #socialanxietydisorder #Illnessanxiety #phobias #panicdisorder #bodydysmorphia #anxietyproblems #anxietyhelper #anxietytreatment #anxietyfighter #livingwithanxiety #anxietymanagement #anxietyproblems #anxietywarriors #anxietydisorders #helpforanxiety See more

Just because you recognize that your concerns may be a little excessive or unreasonable doesn't mean that dropping compulsions feels easy. That's the thing - the emotion you're experiencing doesn't feel like a false alarm. The strength of the anxiety seems to indicate that catastrophe is imminent. . Making the choice to drop a compulsion feels eerily similar to making the choice to do something dangerous. That's why all of you who are facing down OCD are absolute warriors!... . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . Interested in treatment for OCD, Anxiety and Eating Disorders? Feel free to DM or email me through my website (link in bio). . #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdrecovery #ocdtherapy #ocdsupport #ocdhelp #pureo #pureocd #postpartumocd #scrupulosityocd #religiousocd #hocd #harmocd #rocd #relationshipocd #ppocd #pocd #ocdlife #ocdrelief #ocdproblems #ocdtips #ocdadvocate #ocdawareness #obsessivecompulsive #livingwithocd #erp #exposureresponseprevention #embracetheunknown #realocd See more

Sometimes you just have to say it like it is... #OCD, thanks but no thanks. . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . Interested in treatment for OCD, Anxiety and Eating Disorders? Feel free to DM or email me through my website (link in bio). ... . #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdrecovery #ocdtherapy #ocdsupport #ocdhelp #pureo #pureocd #postpartumocd #scrupulosityocd #religiousocd #hocd #harmocd #rocd #relationshipocd #ppocd #pocd #ocdlife #ocdrelief #ocdproblems #ocdtips #ocdadvocate #ocdawareness #obsessivecompulsive #livingwithocd #erp #exposureresponseprevention #embracetheunknown #realocd See more

Feeling anxiety is a normal human experience. Trying to rid yourself of anxiety will only make the anxiety worse. And if you continually associate being anxious with having a "bad" day then you're going to keep resisting anxiety when it arises and perpetuate your suffering. . I, for one, don't want anyone to suffer unnecessarily. . Can we, instead, view the presence of anxiety as an inevitability, not a sign that you're doing treatment wrong or even that there is somethin...g wrong? Anxiety happens, and if we base our progress on its presence or absence we're in for a world of disappointment and setting ourselves up to "fail." . When feeling anxiety becomes more of a neutral experience, one that you approach nonjudgmentally, then you can start having good days and weeks even when those days and weeks invariable involve some level of anxiety. You can start to develop a friendlier relationship with anxiety and be increasingly more accepting of its presence. In doing so, you will be limiting the pain that comes along with the experience of anxiety. . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . Interested in treatment for OCD, Anxiety and Eating Disorders? Feel free to DM or email me through my website (link in bio). . #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdtherapy #pureo #ocdlife #ocdrelief #ocdawareness #ocdsupport #livingwithocd #erp #embracetheunknown #anxietywarriors #anxietydisorders #helpforanxiety #socialanxiety #socialanxietyrecovery #healthanxiety #agoraphobia #emetophobia #claustrophobia #panicattack #panicattacks #bdd #anxietytips #anxietyhelp #anxietytherapy #anxietysupport #anxietymanagement #anxietyproblems #anxietytreatment #anxietyisreal See more

In this episode of Purely OCD, @obsessivecompulsivetreatment and @theobsessivemind talk about obsessions related to recovery including obsessing about obsessing, obsessing about compulsing, obsessions about diagnosis, the backdoor spike and much more. #ocd #ocdtherapy #erptherapy #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdrecovery #ocdsupport #ocdhelp #pureo #pureocd #ocdlife #ocdrelief #ocdproblems #ocdtips #ocdadvocate #ocdawareness #ocdsupport #livingwithocd #erp #exposureresponseprevention #intrusivethoughts #thoughtsarejustthoughts #uncertainty #embracetheunknown #realocd #cbt #purelyocd #feelthefearanddoitanyway

Oh, the backdoor spike. Along you're going in recovery, doing your exposures like a freaking boss, then all of a sudden, you notice you're not as anxious when you're doing an exposure. Maybe you're not anxious at all. . And then your anxiety pipes up -- "What does it mean that I'm not anxious?! Does it mean I like that thought?!" .... It doesn't matter that you were told that you'd likely start to habituate to the things you do exposure to. Your mind may still be worried about the possibility. . Here's another opportunity to acknowledge your thoughts and choose uncertainty. You'll want to figure it out, of course, but this will only pull you further into your disorder. When you take a closer look, it's likely just the initial fear popping up again with a vaguely different rationale. You could take the bait or you could continue to disengage from compulsive behaviors and move on about your life. . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . Interested in treatment for OCD, Anxiety and Eating Disorders? Feel free to DM or email me through my website (link in bio). . #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdrecovery #ocdtherapy #ocdsupport #ocdhelp #pureo #pureocd #postpartumocd #scrupulosityocd #religiousocd #hocd #harmocd #rocd #relationshipocd #ppocd #pocd #ocdlife #ocdrelief #ocdproblems #ocdtips #ocdadvocate #ocdawareness #obsessivecompulsive #livingwithocd #erp #exposureresponseprevention #embracetheunknown #realocd See more

I'm so excited to to announce that I'm joining with @treatmyocd and @theocdopus to offer a GIVEAWAY with some really great goodies that will help keep recovery at the forefront of your mind!! . NOCD (@treatmyocd) is giving away an awesome mug by none other than @ocddoodles. . Elise (@theocdopus) is giving away one of her amazing necklaces.... . As for me, I'll be giving away two magnets . If you would like to win one of these great recovery reminders, here are the giveaway details: You must be following @treatmyocd @theocdopus and me @theobsessivemind Tag your friends! Each comment counts as one entry. Post on your Instagram story for more entries. A winner will be picked on April 18th! --- Per Instagram rules, this promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram’s terms of use. See more

If my mind were a radio station it would FOR SURE be a doomsday AM Talk Radio station. That said, if it were a pop music station, I can assure you that a bunch of the greatest hits are Anxiety. . So maybe I'm going along for a minute and the soundtrack is joyful. Maybe I'm noticing what a pleasant day it is, appreciating the sky. . Then out of nowhere the track about how I offended that one person pops in. No warning. And it is LOUD. BAM. It may even play a bunch of ...songs in a row about all the people I've ever offended. . I have zero control over what the radio plays, ultimately, but I do have control over what I make out of the songs that come on and how I respond to them. I can accept what's playing without letting it stop me continuing about my day. I can approach the song emotional effect on me with curiosity. I can notice when the same hit keeps playing on repeat. Just like the radio likes to overplay the billboard charters, so the mind recycles fears. Noticing them as repeat offenders can offer a little bit of distance between you and the thoughts so that you are not necessarily a slave to them. . If you can't change the station, you can make the most out of the station. You do have the power, too, to advise the station to play certain songs - make requests. You can practice gratitude, take healthful steps to be mentally well to the best of your abilities. Still, we much accept a variety of outcomes because we don't get to micromanage the playlist, even if we do make efforts get certain songs played more frequently. . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdtherapy #pureo #ocdlife #ocdrelief #ocdawareness #ocdsupport #livingwithocd #erp #embracetheunknown #anxietywarriors #anxietydisorders #helpforanxiety #socialanxiety #socialanxietyrecovery #healthanxiety #agoraphobia #emetophobia #claustrophobia #panicattack #panicattacks #bdd #anxietytips #anxietyhelp #anxietytherapy #anxietysupport #anxietymanagement #anxietyproblems #anxiet See more

I was never a sporty kid - and not for lack of trying. So I'm really excited to be on a team where I feel like a bonafide member!! Plus this team is more bad ass than any sports team there is. This is the team of warriors who accept uncertainty all damn day, every damn day. . @windsor.flynn - I love this sweatshirt, and legitimately can't wait for people to ask me what Team Maybe is so that I can talk OCD with them. There are so many people who are on this team who don't... know there's a team of us and who would so benefit from this community. . We with OCD want desperately to figure out whatever plagues us - whether it's fear that the door is unlocked or uncertainty about sexual orientation, we just want to know. Maybe is bold. Maybe is a courageous act. . This holiday season, as I proudly sport my Team Maybe sweatshirt, I want to thank each and every one of you who has joined me here on Instagram. This community is truly a gift to me. . Whatever you may be celebrating, Happy Holidays to you and to yours. . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdrecovery #ocdtherapy #ocdsupport #ocdhelp #pureo #pureocd #postpartumocd #scrupulosityocd #religiousocd #hocd #harmocd #rocd #relationshipocd #ppocd #pocd #ocdlife #ocdproblems #ocdadvocate #ocdawareness #obsessivecompulsive #livingwithocd #erp #exposureresponseprevention #embracetheunknown #realocd #theobsessivemind #anxietywarrior #anxietywarriors See more

Whoever thought that the force of gravity on your body could hold so much importance to so many people? It's maddening. While many people with eating disorders know their worth and weight are totally independent, they may still feel more or less worth based on a number. . It all comes down to behaving as though this number is unimportant even when it FEELS important. That means stepping back from he scale. That means ditching the rumination about whether or not you're in a "...safe" weight range. Some people who are underweight might be weighed by their clinicians in order that they know there is progress toward a healthy weight. . Otherwise, this number is arbitrary and unimportant. . On a wholly separate note, this discussion of weight reminds me of one of my gurus: Fred Rogers. He loved that his weight was consistently 143 because 143 meant "I love you" to him. I think that this is the only time that I thought weight was at all relevant - as a reminder of love. Since many of us are not capable of relating to weight in that way, most of us are better off not knowing. . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . #bingeeatingdisorderrecovery #bingeeating #anorexianervosarecovery #bulimiarecovery #anorexiarecover #eatingdisorderrecovery #bedrecovery #bingeeatingrecovery #recoverywin #edrecoverywarrior #bulimiafighter #anorexiafighter #anafighter #intuitiveeating #intuitiveeatingofficial #intuitiveeatingjourney #thefoodpolice #intuitiveeatingofficial #intuitiveeatingjourney #ditchthediet #dietculture #dietsdontwork #nondietapproach #fuckdietculture #HAES #healthynothungry #bodyimage #bodyacceptance #allbodiesaregoodbodies #allbodiesareworthybodies #allbodiesarebeautiful #bodyimagemovement See more

You can try and try and try and try. I've watched people do it. I've tried it myself and can personally attest to the fact that there's no amount of logic that will convince you not to feel anxious if you're feeling anxious. Feelings just don't play by the rules of rationality. . Good news is you don't have to talk yourself out of feeling anxious. You don't even have to stop feeling anxious. You can save yourself some time and a lot of excess anxiety by embracing the unknow...n up front. Sure you'll be taking the feeling head on but it SO beats the alternative. . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . Interested in treatment for OCD, Anxiety and Eating Disorders? Feel free to DM or email me through my website (link in bio). . #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdrecovery #ocdtherapy #ocdsupport #ocdhelp #pureo #pureocd #postpartumocd #scrupulosityocd #religiousocd #hocd #harmocd #rocd #relationshipocd #ppocd #pocd #ocdlife #ocdrelief #ocdproblems #ocdtips #ocdadvocate #ocdawareness #obsessivecompulsive #livingwithocd #erp #exposureresponseprevention #embracetheunknown #realocd See more

Your eating disorder probably likes to judge what you eat. Whether you tend to restrict or binge, it's probably judging your food as good or bad. . But food's are not good or bad. Some are nutrient dense, some are more "play" foods, but they all have a place in our diets. . So if your Eating Disorder pipes up, you don't have to engage. "Wow, thank you. Not interested in your judgments" is sufficient.... . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . #thefoodpolice #intuitiveeating #intuitiveeatingofficial #intuitiveeatingjourney #ditchthediet #dietculture #dietsdontwork #nondietapproach #fuckdietculture #anafighter #bulimiafighter #anorexiafighter #edrecoverywarrior #eatingdisorderrecovery #bingeeatingdisorderrecovery #anorexianervosarecovery #bulimiarecovery #bedrecovery #bingeeatingrecovery #bingeeating #anorexiarecover #recoverywin #healthynothungry #bodyacceptance #bodyimagemovement #allbodiesaregoodbodies #bodyimage #HAES #allbodiesareworthybodies #allbodiesarebeautiful See more

The things some people find exciting others find anxiety-provoking. Interestingly enough, the physical sensations of excitement are actually remarkably similar to the physical sensations of anxiety. . Increased heart rate (my heart's racing could be a good or bad thing) Shortness of breath ... (with excitement, think "I'm waiting with bated [or eager] breath" vs. difficulty breathing or a smothering sensation with anxiety) Tension (I'm so excited I could just burst vs. tight muscles with worry) Tingling (With excitement - or pins and needles as with anxiety) Butterflies (Some people describe anxiety as being accompanied by "bad butterflies") . The list goes on, but the point remains: a major difference between the two feelings is in interpretation. You might consider this next time you find something to be anxiety-provoking. . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . #ocd #ocdrecovery #ocdproblems #ocdtips #ocdlife #ocdrelief #livingwithocd #ocdadvocate #realocd #ocdhelp #anxietywarrior #anxietywarriors #pureocd #generalizedanxietydisorder #socialanxietydisorder #Illnessanxiety #phobias #panicdisorder #bodydysmorphia #anxietyproblems #anxietyhelper #anxietytreatment #anxietyisreal #anxietyfighter #livingwithanxiety #anxietymanagement #anxietyproblems #anxietywarriors #anxietydisorders #helpforanxiety See more

So, you're triggered. You heard that song, saw that picture, walked passed that one place or had that one memory resurface. In a heartbeat you've got fear thoughts popping up all over the place and you feel anxious. And before too long you want to compulse. . Let's break this whole process down, shall we? . First the what if thought. There's this concern related to the unknown. "What if I'm a murderer?" "What if I'm a bad person and I don't really care about anyone?" Al...l of these words start coming up. . When you have OCD, the work is in noticing the presence of the thoughts. "Oh look, there's one." We tend to take all of our thoughts very personally even though they aren't inherently meaningful or important. . Now the words themselves may have made you uncomfortable. Perhaps you're anxious now. This anxiety feeling is actually a totally different phenomena to the thought. The emotion lives in your body. We tend to react to feelings by immediately resisting them. That said, it's the resistance of feelings through compulsions that gets people with OCD in a pickle. . Instead of resisting, you can notice how you are experiencing the emotions. Maybe in your chest or shoulders, maybe in your belly or jaw. Wherever you feel it, you can make lots of space for those physical sensations. Breathe in. Let them exist without trying to change them. . Let the thoughts be and the feelings be. If you're willing to have the thoughts and feelings then they no longer have control over you. If you accept them alongside the uncertainty they engender, then you're free. . Follow for daily tidbits on dealing with Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders and Eating Disorders. . Interested in treatment for OCD, Anxiety and Eating Disorders? Feel free to DM or email me through my website (link in bio). . #ocd #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #ocdrecovery #ocdtherapy #ocdsupport #ocdhelp #pureo #pureocd #postpartumocd #scrupulosityocd #religiousocd #hocd #harmocd #rocd #relationshipocd #ppocd #pocd #ocdlife #ocdrelief #ocdproblems #ocdtips #ocdadvocate #ocdawareness #obsessivecompulsive #livingwithocd #erp #exposureresponseprevention #embracetheunknown #realocd See more