ocd

[anjel]

I would really love to hear from people who suffer with this disorder, i think i may have it too and it is driving me mad! i havn't got it where i'm obsessed with cleaning or anything, it is the uncontrolable thoughts. I have read all about it on the internet and a lot of the symptoms sound like me but i don't want it confirmed as i'm scared! please talk to me about it if you suffer too x

[spk]

Ive never had OCD anjel- but I used to have anxiety attacks when I was younger. I just had uncontrollable feelings of panic that would come out of nowhere. I learned to deal with them though but it took me along time but I feel lots better now. For me it was sparked by a particularly stressful time in my life but once I got things sorted I got better. Do you maybe have some things you need to deal with? I hope this helps a bit Im not sure it will. Good luck

[janeson]

ive had it for years, if you can you should try and get to grips with it now before it takes over your life.

Ask your GP if he would refer you to someone who can help you cope with these thoughts and can show you coping mechanisms.

If it s not too bad you could try aversion therapy and put an elastic band around your wrist and each time (no matter how many times) you have a thought snap the rubber band on your wrist, but really do try and deal with this now as you'll only torture yourself with worry.

If you have a good GP explain everything and ask f he thinks you should be referred.

Im on anti-depressants to deal with mine and they help a bit.

Good Luck Angel !

[EminOz]

hey anjel, dont worry too much, definately see your GP but theres also this thing that i cant remember the name of but its when you read symptoms for medical things and because youre reading them you think you have them too. what is the work for that? i should post a question on answerbank! ;@)

but if you are habitually doing weird things the best thing to do is not panic. just becasue you feel a bit blue for a few days doesnt mean you have depression, so having quirky obsessions doesnt necessarily mean you have ocd. but do take notice of the extent to which they are affecting your day to day life

hope that helps!

[miss_me]

I suffer from OCD's and have not yet got them totally under control. Just things like i when i was my hair i must put 4 seperate lots of shampoo and conditioner on to wash my hair, if i dont i think something bad may happen (costs me a fortune in shampoo and cond!!!) Also the same with toothpaste. If i walk along eating somr crisps and i drop one, i have to drop another and move it do it touches the other one. Hand washing, checking four seperate times that the door is locked, the cooker is off, hair straightners off.

When i eat something like a sandwhich i have to eat in even bites ie, 8, 16 etc. When i cut things up on a plate it has to be an even number.and also square. When i leave the house i have to check a ridiculous amount of time that i have everything even though i know i have just put everything in there!!

When i get stressed these flare up even worse and can effect my day to day life, ie being late for work and stuff. I just get these uncontrolable feelings that soething bad will happen, to me or someone i know if i dont do these things and just cannot be rational about it.

I've had these since i was really young, and am finding it hard to get them in control so i would advise, as someone else did, get some help asap if you think you may be starting to suffer!

[beale]

I believe the word is hypochondria.

[jennyhawkins]

OCDis a form of depression. Go and see you doctor about it. I had it jst after my Mum had a stroke. Mine WAS with cleaning, but after counselling it went away. Now I'm totally the opposite and I don't worry about cleaning after all it will still be there when I'm not.

[Dollie]

Hi Angel, your condition can be helped enormously by seeing a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT) Most health authorities have one or two of these specialists but you have to go through your doctor for a referral. They usually have a waiting list - so you may feel like seeing one privately. Unfortunately I have to disagree slightly with Jenny who posted before me - I am a psychotherapist/counsellor by profession and I don't believe that OCD is a form of depression. (Sorry Jenny - it may be been the case for you but it isn't always.)

[Maggie-Mae]

Hi Anjel, I have suffered from uncontrolable/intrusive thoughts since I was in my early teens. Ive always been a worrier and since adulthood have also suffered from panic attacks (god, sound like a right one dont I lol!). The uncontrolable thoughts do usually come from either something Im worried about or something I have found traumatic in my life. When I discovered my ex was cheating on me and after we split up, I suffered really badly where the toughts would practically consume my every waking moment, I would also have bad nightmares, flashbacks to certain traumatic situations. The thoughts were literally uncontrolable to the point I used to feel the only way to get away from them was to sleep but didnt want to go to sleep cos of the nightmares. In the end I saw my GP and was dignosed with depression but he also arranged for me to see a counsellor where she taught me to "retrain" my brain - to alter how I think about things and when bad thoughts would come into my head, I was able to just push them out. It has really helped me and I feel alot more in control of myself and my life. Im still on the antidepressents but hope to come off of them soon. Do try and seek help if you can as you dont need to continue to live with these obsessive thoughts - counselling could work for you to and I can honestly say you will really feel the benefits of "taking back control of your mind". Good luck xxxx