Am I just imagining things?

A lot of people struggle with OCD. It’s that feeling where you find yourself performing these repetitive, seemingly pointless actions—often needing to hit a specific number—just to feel secure or to ward off something bad from happening. You don't have to be an outlier or "crazy" to experience this. The most important thing, though, is knowing that you can tackle it entirely on your own, even if it just means using a little mental mantra or a simple rhyme to get through it.

Rebecca Scott3 said:So you think I’m not normal... hey, I don’t really have anything against how you define it.
I’m not looking for "normal"... not even a little bit.

If you're seeing dark shadows, you aren't normal. You've either lost your mind or you have a brain tumor causing hallucinations. Once the tumor spreads to another area, the visions stop. Go see a doctor instead of singing the Era from beyond the grave.☕☕

Jason Sanchez3 said:😲😲

I see how it is—rolling your eyes and making up all these compulsive behaviors, but you're missing the mark here.
It’s like you guys have gone overboard with the psychiatric labels. You don't know anything except compulsive acts, paranoia, schizophrenia, neurosis, depression... but honestly, none of that applies to me. I’m as healthy as can be. With those various pills they had me on, I was basically just sleeping and moping around all day long. Now? I sleep like a bird, and I’m working like I’m on jet fuel. Today, I actually cleaned out the gutters and roof valleys for two houses in my neighborhood. Everyone else is too scared to even step onto a roof to get work done, but there I am, hopping around the shingles like a stork. I’m actually looking forward to things, going out, and living better than ever. If I had listened to the psychiatrist, I would’ve just kept swallowing pills until I ended up in a cemetery. What kind of doctors are they anyway, giving you something for anxiety one minute and then something for depression the next? As for me, I have cycles, sure, but it's just because my body doesn't process certain things quite right. I guess I've got a bit of a dark side.
Well, I have cycles, alright—menstrual ones.
Go ahead, roll your eyes again, just try not to fall flat on your backside afterward.
I’ll probably put on my sunglasses just so I don't have to watch you hit the ground.🙂

Sean Moore9 said:If you're seeing dark shadows, you aren't normal. You've either lost your mind or you have a brain tumor causing hallucinations. Once the tumor spreads to another area, the visions stop. Go see a doctor instead of singing the Era from beyond the grave.☕☕

Seriously, do yourself a favor and go get checked out by a doctor just to make sure everything is functioning okay up there.

😠 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Rebecca Scott3 said:Seriously, do yourself a favor and go get checked out by a doctor just to make sure everything is functioning okay up there.

😠 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Fine, I might be a bit scattered, but you’re living in some twisted Era of madness.😵😵🙂🙂

Rebecca Scott3 said:I see how it is—rolling your eyes and making up all these compulsive behaviors, but you're missing the mark here.
It’s like you guys have gone overboard with the psychiatric labels. You don't know anything except compulsive acts, paranoia, schizophrenia, neurosis, depression... but honestly, none of that applies to me. I’m as healthy as can be. With those various pills they had me on, I was basically just sleeping and moping around all day long. Now? I sleep like a bird, and I’m working like I’m on jet fuel. Today, I actually cleaned out the gutters and roof valleys for two houses in my neighborhood. Everyone else is too scared to even step onto a roof to get work done, but there I am, hopping around the shingles like a stork. I’m actually looking forward to things, going out, and living better than ever. If I had listened to the psychiatrist, I would’ve just kept swallowing pills until I ended up in a cemetery. What kind of doctors are they anyway, giving you something for anxiety one minute and then something for depression the next? As for me, I have cycles, sure, but it's just because my body doesn't process certain things quite right. I guess I've got a bit of a dark side.
Well, I have cycles, alright—menstrual ones.
Go ahead, roll your eyes again, just try not to fall flat on your backside afterward.
I’ll probably put on my sunglasses just so I don't have to watch you hit the ground.🙂

this is eye-rolling - 🙄

I don't know, psychiatrists and psychologists are just people like anyone else. Some do their jobs better, some worse... but, if everyone around you is telling you that something is wrong with you, it probably isn't...

I'm not saying this about you, but you see crowds of people out on the street who probably should be on medication and clearly aren't right—but they aren't, because the system is set up so you can't force anyone into treatment unless they're a danger to themselves or others... it's pretty sad.

Jason Sanchez3 said:this is eye-rolling - 🙄

I don't know, psychiatrists and psychologists are just people like anyone else. Some do their jobs better, some worse... but, if everyone around you is telling you that something is wrong with you, it probably isn't...

I'm not saying this about you, but you see crowds of people out on the street who probably should be on medication and clearly aren't right—but they aren't, because the system is set up so you can't force anyone into treatment unless they're a danger to themselves or others... it's pretty sad.

Most psychiatrists and psychologists are recruited from people who already have issues in their own heads. They're often manipulators looking for literal power over another human being. I can't think of any other profession where you can legally ruin someone's life and then call it "helping" or "therapy." I feel for anyone who ends up in their hands.
Don't worry about me; I'm doing just fine. Actually, I'm doing a whole lot better than that psychiatrist who would love to have me under his thumb if he were actually smart enough to pull it off. You think I tell him about singing the songs of the Era from the great beyond? No way. I just tell him how I listen to classical music to relax and how I sing every day, and then everything is perfectly fine.
The difference is I can tell you guys what I actually do because none of you are going to lock me up or force-feed me pills. At the end of the day, what do you really know about my life? For all you know, maybe I spend my time picking grapes on a chimney. Or maybe you're actually my doctor, interrogating me online to check in on me, but you could never be sure who I am because I say something completely different when I'm sitting in the office. Go ahead, try to guess who I am. Maybe I stopped by to visit you yesterday and spent the whole time talking about chickens.
And now, I'll throw in a scary face just to give you a little fright.
🙂🙂😢🤔🙂🙂

Rebecca Scott3 said:Most psychiatrists and psychologists are recruited from people who already have issues in their own heads. They're often manipulators looking for literal power over another human being. I can't think of any other profession where you can legally ruin someone's life and then call it "helping" or "therapy." I feel for anyone who ends up in their hands.
Don't worry about me; I'm doing just fine. Actually, I'm doing a whole lot better than that psychiatrist who would love to have me under his thumb if he were actually smart enough to pull it off. You think I tell him about singing the songs of the Era from the great beyond? No way. I just tell him how I listen to classical music to relax and how I sing every day, and then everything is perfectly fine.
The difference is I can tell you guys what I actually do because none of you are going to lock me up or force-feed me pills. At the end of the day, what do you really know about my life? For all you know, maybe I spend my time picking grapes on a chimney. Or maybe you're actually my doctor, interrogating me online to check in on me, but you could never be sure who I am because I say something completely different when I'm sitting in the office. Go ahead, try to guess who I am. Maybe I stopped by to visit you yesterday and spent the whole time talking about chickens.
And now, I'll throw in a scary face just to give you a little fright.
🙂🙂😢🤔🙂🙂

😲😲😱

if this counts as normal thinking

🙂

Rebecca Scott3 said:Most psychiatrists and psychologists are recruited from people who already have issues in their own heads. They're often manipulators looking for literal power over another human being. I can't think of any other profession where you can legally ruin someone's life and then call it "helping" or "therapy." I feel for anyone who ends up in their hands.
Don't worry about me; I'm doing just fine. Actually, I'm doing a whole lot better than that psychiatrist who would love to have me under his thumb if he were actually smart enough to pull it off. You think I tell him about singing the songs of the Era from the great beyond? No way. I just tell him how I listen to classical music to relax and how I sing every day, and then everything is perfectly fine.
The difference is I can tell you guys what I actually do because none of you are going to lock me up or force-feed me pills. At the end of the day, what do you really know about my life? For all you know, maybe I spend my time picking grapes on a chimney. Or maybe you're actually my doctor, interrogating me online to check in on me, but you could never be sure who I am because I say something completely different when I'm sitting in the office. Go ahead, try to guess who I am. Maybe I stopped by to visit you yesterday and spent the whole time talking about chickens.
And now, I'll throw in a scary face just to give you a little fright.
🙂🙂😢🤔🙂🙂

Well, you seem like a positive person, though you are definitely unhinged... If everyone were examined, they would all receive a diagnosis, and f*** those people who want to hand out diagnoses to everyone.🙏

Watch the movie "Fly Above the Coward's Nest." I guess if a person doesn't have issues with themselves and nobody else has issues with them, then who cares if they go to a psychiatrist or not.

Rebecca Scott3 said:Most psychiatrists and psychologists are recruited from people who already have issues in their own heads. They're often manipulators looking for literal power over another human being. I can't think of any other profession where you can legally ruin someone's life and then call it "helping" or "therapy." I feel for anyone who ends up in their hands.
Don't worry about me; I'm doing just fine. Actually, I'm doing a whole lot better than that psychiatrist who would love to have me under his thumb if he were actually smart enough to pull it off. You think I tell him about singing the songs of the Era from the great beyond? No way. I just tell him how I listen to classical music to relax and how I sing every day, and then everything is perfectly fine.
The difference is I can tell you guys what I actually do because none of you are going to lock me up or force-feed me pills. At the end of the day, what do you really know about my life? For all you know, maybe I spend my time picking grapes on a chimney. Or maybe you're actually my doctor, interrogating me online to check in on me, but you could never be sure who I am because I say something completely different when I'm sitting in the office. Go ahead, try to guess who I am. Maybe I stopped by to visit you yesterday and spent the whole time talking about chickens.
And now, I'll throw in a scary face just to give you a little fright.
🙂🙂😢🤔🙂🙂

politicians

is a pretty spot-on description😍

Sandra Parker3 said:politicians

is a pretty spot-on description😍

you're spot on... especially when you factor in those politicians! 🙂

What seems to be the issue?

Hmm, it sounds like we had someone here who was seeing shadows lurking around their apartment. In my opinion, he’s stuck because he hasn't figured out how to actually clear them out. I suggested he try singing songs from the Era of the afterlife—since those shadows, especially the jagged ones, seem to vibe with that kind of energy, maybe it would just wipe them clean.
Now, you've got some folks who aren't exactly thrilled with that approach. They’re dead set on finding a psychiatrist and sticking to all those methods involving labels and prescriptions. Just to keep this conversation from getting too dull, they’ve already gone ahead and labeled me as "positive" and a little bit "off," which, honestly, I don't really mind.
So, what about you? Are you a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or more of a free spirit?

Jack Thomas15 said:What seems to be the issue?

Oops, I totally forgot to add a smiley face, so here I am again.
🤣🙂🙂

James White73 said:Everyone, please just disregard my previous posts and threads—I’m asking you, please don't mock me because I am dealing with something incredibly serious here. About a week ago, I was home alone when I heard this loud banging coming from the kitchen. I didn't have the nerve to actually go check it out, but I was almost 100% certain there were burglars in the house. Then, I heard the front door slam shut. My parents came over shortly after, and there wasn't any sign of a break-in at all. Fast forward to two days ago—again, I’m home by myself, and once more, I hear that banging, only it sounded even louder than before. This time, I actually worked up the courage to look, and I saw these dark shadows fleeing through the window—it looked like the curtains were fluttering, maybe from the wind, but I’m convinced it was those strange shadows. The kitchen door slammed too, which might have just been a draft, but in my mind, it was tied to those figures. And then yesterday afternoon, it happened again. Now, it’s started to haunt me. Everywhere I look, I can't stop thinking about it. I’m terrified to be alone in a room—God forbid I'm left in my apartment, especially at night—and I’m scared to be anywhere without people around. Even today, I went out for a bike ride on a trail, and out of nowhere, this panic just gripped me. It’s this sick, paralyzing fear where I feel like I’m going to hear something no matter which way I turn. I can't live like this anymore; I really can't. I’ve even had thoughts of just ending it all, just to make everything stop... I know you might think I'm not sane if I take my own life over this, but this isn't "normal" anymore. This isn't just some standard fear of the unknown. It feels like fear is everywhere, closing in on me. No matter where I go, I am afraid, and I truly cannot handle this. I don't want to talk to anyone else about it because they would undoubtedly laugh in my face. I don't know what to do... I'm lost 😢 😢😢

To weigh in here: personally, I haven't had any visions, but I have dealt with fears just as intense. They still hit me hard when I remember them. Usually, those fears and thoughts are tied to religious matters. Prayer helps, truly; it brings comfort. But going to extremes... hm...
I initially thought evil spirits were hunting me, too. I'm actually shaking while typing this. In the end, it turned out to be OCD. Things seemed fine until I flushed my medication down the toilet one day, and everything spiraled again. I'm back on it now, hoping I won't need the pills as much since the depression isn't hitting quite as hard. Sorry, I drifted off-topic... To get back to it, I've gone to confession several times. Every priest said the same thing, including one at Lourdes that my mother visited. One priest even scolded me, saying that instead of just studying, I should get a job, pull myself together, and get my life in order. Basically, find a purpose. That priest at Lourdes told my mom it wasn't demons or evil spirits. He said it was simply unresolved issues from the past—things that may have affected my mother, which then trickled down to me. He said we have to face these things directly, and the fear will gradually fade. He promised it would be okay.

But if you are experiencing actual hallucinations, seek professional help (medical, specifically) and check if there is a history of schizophrenia or similar conditions in your family. For example, my father struggles with depression and even took Xanax when his mother passed away. My great-uncle had schizophrenia, though back then, people in rural areas just labeled him "crazy." It could definitely be hereditary.

Who I am isn't really anyone else's business, including yours. I'll take care of my own affairs.
I’ll ask again: What seems to be the issue?

Jack Thomas15 said:Who I am isn't really anyone else's business, including yours. I'll take care of my own affairs.
I’ll ask again: What seems to be the issue?

Just read through the posts. You'll see the problem for yourself eventually.🙄

I think I've figured it out. The real issue here is that he's still living at home when he should have moved out by now.

Take a look at what else this guy has posted before deciding if he needs a therapist or a priest...

😲

He was just traveling through time... no big deal.

I’d love to share what it’s like living with schizophrenia in my family, but the stories are pretty specific, so it might not be the best place to vent... It’s heavy stuff. And honestly, the hardest part is how difficult it is to get someone who isn't being aggressive to actually accept treatment...
It's like staring at a green wall while everyone insists it's blue and calls you crazy... just awful.