Hey! Thanks for reaching out. What you're going through sounds difficult, and I'm so glad that you've come out with it.
In order to manage your stress, you can work on some self care techniques. I would suggest that you try journaling, as it will help provide an outlet for your thoughts and emotions. It will also help you understand yourself in a better manner. Journaling doesn't have to be restricted to just writing down what you feel and think. You can also try art journaling, doodling, colouring and painting, as these techniques can also help you relax and calm down. I would also suggest that you exercise or meditate for atleast 15-30 minutes daily, as that would encourage increased awareness and a more calm disposition. Apart from this, you can also try some breathing techniques. The 4-7-8 techniques (breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds and breathe out for 8 seconds) can be used in order to calm down. Similarly, the box breathing technique can also be used to reduce stress. These breathing techniques can also help with compulsive behaviours and thoughts. Hence, I suggest that you practice them when you think you are experiencing compulsive thoughts. You can also practice grounding and mindfulness techniques to reduce your compulsive behaviours. The 5-4-3-2-1 technique can help you ground yourself in the present instead of being overly invested in just your thoughts.
However, these are some general self care techniques. The way you cope is very specific to your thoughts, emotions, personality and mental health concerns. Hence, it is important to gather more information about your concerns before working with more techniques or strategies. I would suggest that you reach out through therapy in order to ensure that you feel better.
Next Steps
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