Hello, question asker! I'm Evan.
From what the questioner said, it seems like they might be having some suspicious thoughts. This kind of obsessive thinking could be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder. I wonder if this has been going on since before college.
It's so interesting how our minds work, isn't it? I've been wondering why this obsessive thinking started after leaving home and going to university alone. It seems to me that obsessive thinking is to a large extent related to fear, especially a deep association with the fear of illness. I've also heard that even though people know masturbation is harmless to the body, they are still afraid of getting sick.
I'm curious if the questioner has experienced any major events before this psychological problem showed up? It seems like the questioner's suspicious thoughts are affecting his normal life, so I'm wondering why they didn't show up before going to university?
It would be really helpful for the questioner to think about what might have happened to him that caused this obsessive, suspicious thinking.
I'm really sorry that I can't give you more advice on this, but since the question was asked on a platform where in-depth discussions aren't allowed, I can only give you some advice on your obsessive thinking.
It's so important to take care of yourself, so try to stay away from things that generate obsessive attention.
The questioner was really open and honest about how he would often find himself paying too much attention to physical illness issues. He cares deeply about his health and even searches the Internet for medical cases. It's so important to remember that any compulsive behavior has its own purpose or something the patient wants to escape from.
If the questioner only has doubts about the disease and has obsessive thoughts, then please stay away from things or people that can make the questioner have obsessive thoughts. First, keep your body away from things that make you think suspiciously about the disease, such as not paying too much attention to online reports of people getting sick. I don't know if the questioner has heard the story of "Suspicious of the Neighbor's Axe." When a person's suspicion forms, he will enter a kind of suspicious obsessive thinking no matter what happens.
If there's no longer anything to make the questioner think obsessively, their thoughts will gradually stop. But if you keep giving yourself hints and forming a habit of thinking, it'll take more effort to get out of it.
It's okay not to try too hard!
Now, the subject is in a situation where they're forced to think in a suspicious way and are afraid of getting sick. If the subject feels uncomfortable and wants to change, don't try to restrain yourself deliberately, otherwise you will overdo it and it will be counterproductive.
In psychology, there are two main principles: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is all about focusing on something through pleasant stimuli. Negative reinforcement, on the other hand, is about constantly thinking about getting rid of the current focus. This will make the subject pay more attention to something else. So, if you want to change your state of mind and stop worrying about your illness, you just need to learn not to act in the opposite way. You just need to maintain the current intensity of focus and shift your attention. Over time, your obsessive doubting thinking will weaken.
Take a moment for yourself to relax and unwind.
It's totally normal to be concerned about your health. We all worry about things like that from time to time. But when you can't shake off those thoughts, it can be really helpful to distract yourself. Don't beat yourself up about it. The more you try to push away those thoughts, the stronger they'll seem.
It's totally okay to take a little break and find something else to do to distract yourself. You could try some competitive sports or running. These activities require concentration, which can be really helpful.
And don't forget, activities that involve both hands and feet can also be very helpful!
Let's find the source of the anxiety together!
It would be really helpful to know what makes the subject feel anxious. Is it a fear of illness or a fear that something is wrong with their body?
It's really important that the person in question takes the time to think carefully about what's making them react this way. It'd be great if they could write down what they find on paper.
It's so important to understand what's making you feel this way. It's totally normal to have negative emotions, but it's really helpful to figure out what's causing them. For example, you feel that masturbation will lead to your own ill health, bring disease to others, and affect your own health.
From what the questioner has shared, it seems like this is more of a guess. I'd love to understand why this is the case. Can the questioner tell me where they got the idea that masturbation is harmful to health? Is there any medical basis for this?
It's so sad to see how this worry has caused the questioner to experience even more severe anxiety after becoming ill. The good news is that there is a way out of this. All it takes is figuring out the source of their negative emotions so that the questioner can develop a coping strategy based on their concerns.
Let's make a list of the worst possible outcomes.
It's totally normal to worry about the worst-case scenario. We've all been there! So, let's take a moment to think about what we can't accept and write them down. Then, we can explore ways to cope with these situations.
It's so important to remember that feeling depressed and anxious here and worrying about this and that is not going to help anyone. It's much better to take a deep breath and list out the worst possible outcomes. Then, you can come up with a coping strategy as soon as possible. For example, if masturbation causes disease, can it be treated? Is it a serious disease? Is it incurable? When it really happens, will you get help from the hospital? If you can, and if you understand that masturbation is just a way to vent emotions and a kind of peak experience, and as long as you are careful and moderate, it actually has no effect on physical illness, and prostatitis is more related to other factors than masturbation, then you'll see that your anxiety will be less severe.
I'm here to help!
I really think you should look into professional psychological treatment.
If you feel like you can't change your thoughts about being sick, and they're really worrying you, you can look for a professional therapist to help you. I think you'd really benefit from trying some behavioral therapy.
Behavioral therapy is a great way to help you minimize the association between obsessive thoughts and daily triggers. It can also help you break the current obsessive thoughts and allow you to focus on other things.
I really hope my answer helps the original poster!
Comments
I can totally relate to your concerns. It's important to trust in medical advice that masturbation is harmless. Maybe focusing on managing anxiety could help ease your worries and improve your health.
It sounds like you've been through a lot emotionally and physically. Have you considered speaking with a therapist? Sometimes talking things out can really alleviate the mental burden and help manage anxiety.
Understanding that your symptoms might be linked to anxiety rather than physical issues from masturbation could be a turning point. Focusing on relaxation techniques and stress management might bring some relief.
Your journey has been tough, but knowing that a psychological factor may be influencing your health can be the first step toward healing. Perhaps engaging in activities you enjoy or mindfulness practices could help shift your focus and reduce anxiety.