If you're listening to this because OCD feels worse than usual and you're approaching your period or you're on your period,
This practice is for you.
See if you can find a comfortable position.
And if it feels right for you placing one hand over your heart.
And one hand over your lower abdomen or stomach.
Just noticing the warmth of your hands.
The contact.
The gentle support.
Now taking a slow breath in.
And a slow breath out.
Just allowing yourself to be here fully.
Breathing in.
.
.
Holding it.
And breathing out.
Letting each exhale be just a little slower than the inhale.
Not forcing it.
Just giving your body a chance to settle.
And as you continue breathing you might notice that OCD has come with you in this practice.
The thoughts,
The doubts.
The anxiety.
Simply noticing that OCD is here.
And noticing that you are here too.
Breathing.
This thing.
And if OCD has been feeling louder recently.
Maybe you've noticed this happening as you've approached your period or while you're on your period.
Perhaps this is a pattern you've seen before?
Or maybe you're only just beginning to recognise it.
Thoughts seem more frequent.
The anxiety feels more intense.
And if you're finding yourself pulled more strongly towards compulsions,
See if you can simply acknowledge that.
Just recognising what your experience has been like.
And perhaps noticing what happens when you acknowledge that this has been hard.
Because often when we're struggling,
Especially when OCD ramps up,
We can become very critical of ourselves.
We tell ourselves we should be coping better.
That we shouldn't be affected in this way.
But we should have it all figured out by now.
We wonder what's wrong.
We question whether we're going backwards.
We worry that all the progress we've made has somehow disappeared.
But perhaps you don't need to work any of that out right now.
Maybe you can simply acknowledge what is here.
This is hard.
And I'm doing what I can.
And there's something else worth remembering.
Somewhere there is another woman listening to this Or perhaps she listened yesterday.
Maybe she'll find this practice tomorrow.
She knows exactly how this feels.
She knows what it's like when OCD suddenly feels more intense.
When the doubt seems more convincing.
When the anxiety feels harder to carry.
And if she were sitting beside you right now,
I wonder what you would want her to know?
Would you judge her for struggling?
Would you tell her she should be coping better?
Would you expect her to have all the answers?
Or would you recognise that she's having a hard time?
Would you meet her with that understanding?
With compassion.
With kindness.
And perhaps you deserve some of that same understanding too.
OCD often feels most convincing when we're at our most vulnerable.
When we're tired.
When we're overwhelmed.
When we're tearful.
Irritable.
When we're physically uncomfortable or in pain.
And when our emotional resources are already stretched thin.
Recognize that you're carrying a lot right now.
And that this moment deserves understanding.
Not judgment.
But care.
Not criticism,
But support.
And as you continue breathing,
See if you can feel the gentle support of your hands One resting over your heart,
One resting over your lower abdominal stomach.
Notice what it feels like to hold yourself in this way.
Offering comfort to yourself.
Offering care in this difficult moment.
Allowing the doubts to remain unanswered.
Setting aside the pressure to figure everything out.
Just breathing Just sitting.
Just being here.
And as we begin to bring this practice towards a close,
Once again noticing the support beneath you steady soothing rhythm of your breathing.
Taking one final slow breath in,
Holding it.
And a long slow breath out.
And whatever the rest of today brings,
Meeting it one moment at a time.
With compassionate understanding for yourself.
