i was never one to be this anxious before but due to the pandemic everything has been heightened 10 times over. 

i’ve began rituals to help ease my intrusive thoughts (i.e. this will happen to a loved one if i don’t do x, y, z). it gets really bad when i leave my partner for a couple of days then i’m able to talk myself down from it by saying to myself “because i’ve done x, y, z” or “i know it won’t happen and i’m just being anxious”. 

i’m turning the more “if i do this” ritual into a more positive one and it makes the feelings a lot less severe and is helping me cope. it’s also minimising the amount of times i do a ritual. 

i hear my partners voice mostly every night which is calming and i know i can see a friend for a walk if i feel like i need to see someone to help snap me out of it for a while. 

idk if anyone is on the same boat but a way that has helped me minimise the rituals is by saying “if i do this -insert ritual here- nothing will happen to them whilst i’m at home” so it’s less strain on myself when i am alone etc.