So what do you do when a fear just won't let go?

Question

Thought I saw a bat outside on Thursday night around 3 weeks ago, and don't know where it came from.

Not even sure it was a bat, just saw something flying about 9-12ft above ground.
I didn't look what ever it was was flying weirdly.

I was also outside with a couple people that were talking, but they didn't say anything about it.

I just saw it out of the corner of my left eye so I didn't get a good look at it. When tried to get a better look at it, it was already gone.

I guess I'm just worried that it landed on the back of shirt without me noticing it. After I got home took a look at the area that I was worried about, didn't see anything obvious like bite or scratch.

Didn't feel anything weird like a bat climbing or hanging on my bat.

But at the same time it's there's some bats around that are 0.2 ounces in the area, so I'm not sure if you'd noticed something like that hanging on your shirt. I get a tingly feeling on my back from that fear, and even when I do calm down it that feeling reminds of it again.

Apparently my states only tests bats that are suspected to have bitten a person.

My logical mind, and my inner senses say it' s just ocd.

Is it safe to trust those senses?

Oliverlogan263 · Accepted Answer

It sounds like this is causing you a lot of distress, so here are my recommendations:

1. Trust your logical mind and inner senses. The chances that a tiny bat landed on you unnoticed and then flew away again without biting or scratching you are very slim. OCD tends to magnify small concerns into big fears.

2. Practice exposure therapy to reassure your anxious mind. For example, spend time outside where you saw the "bat" and deliberately resist checking your back repeatedly. This will show your brain that nothing bad happens and you're safe.

3. Focus on logic: The facts don't support that a bat actually landed on you. You only saw something flying vaguely out of the corner of your eye in the dark. That's not definitive proof of a bat encounter.

4. Talk to a therapist who specializes in OCD. They can help you identify and challenge your anxious thoughts, and develop coping skills to manage obsessional fears.

5. Consider medication if recommended. For some people with severe OCD, medication can help balance neurotransmitters and make therapy more effective.

6. Practice mindfulness and grounding techniques when intrusive thoughts arise. Try to calmly observe the thoughts without judgment, label them as OCD, and redirect your focus.

7. Allow yourself to feel uncertain. Sometimes we'll never know for sure what we saw or if something truly happened. Practice sitting with that uncertainty without spiraling into fear.

This fear has power over you because you've given it so much attention. With support, exposure therapy and mindfulness practices, you can take that power back. Start small, build confidence in your safety, and trust your logical mind over your OCD tendencies. I hope this perspective helps put you on a path forward. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Lliam · Accepted Answer

Dude. That's a phobia. Bats don't attack people. They fly around doing good work catching bugs and mosquitos. You are in  way  more danger from mosquitos.

Pοrnytail · Accepted Answer

It sounds like this is causing you a lot of distress, so here are my recommendations:

1. Trust your logical mind and inner senses. The chances that a tiny bat landed on you unnoticed and then flew away again without biting or scratching you are very slim. OCD tends to magnify small concerns into big fears.

2. Practice exposure therapy to reassure your anxious mind. For example, spend time outside where you saw the "bat" and deliberately resist checking your back repeatedly. This will show your brain that nothing bad happens and you're safe.

3. Focus on logic: The facts don't support that a bat actually landed on you. You only saw something flying vaguely out of the corner of your eye in the dark. That's not definitive proof of a bat encounter.

4. Talk to a therapist who specializes in OCD. They can help you identify and challenge your anxious thoughts, and develop coping skills to manage obsessional fears.

5. Consider medication if recommended. For some people with severe OCD, medication can help balance neurotransmitters and make therapy more effective.

6. Practice mindfulness and grounding techniques when intrusive thoughts arise. Try to calmly observe the thoughts without judgment, label them as OCD, and redirect your focus.

7. Allow yourself to feel uncertain. Sometimes we'll never know for sure what we saw or if something truly happened. Practice sitting with that uncertainty without spiraling into fear.

This fear has power over you because you've given it so much attention. With support, exposure therapy and mindfulness practices, you can take that power back. Start small, build confidence in your safety, and trust your logical mind over your OCD tendencies. I hope this perspective helps put you on a path forward. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

exitseven · Answer

Sometimes I try to reason with myself. I am afraid of heights and sometimes I try and put my fear aside and go up in some high place.

So what do you do when a fear just won't let go?

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So what do you do when a fear just won't let go?

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