Obssessive compulisve disorder

I have had OCD quiet badly since the age of 10.

Whilst I am impressed by the increase in awareness thanks to high-profile people speaking out and media coverage, I would like carers/friends/family members of sufferers not to make presumptions about their loved ones' situation.

Although the causes behind OCD are often anxiety and low self-esteem, the for the disorder takes is individual to the sufferer.

Some are common, like hand washing, but the main thing to remember is that the sufferer feels isolated, like they are the only person in the world with the problem. The distress this causes is huge - I sometimes have panic attacks and feel like I can't breathe. I really hate myself at times for being like this, which makes me a very difficult person to help. What does help though, is the following:

1) Reassurance that I am not a bad/difficult person, and that the popel around me love me
2) Reassurance that I will get better
3) Acknowledgement that my problems are very distressing to me, even though they're ridiculous to other people

Advice given by therapists, is that family & friends should not reinforce obsessions by agreeing to check things for the sufferer.

It is important for those around OCD sufferes to be consistent in their treatment, which can be the most challenging thing about knowing the person. It can be devastating to live with, and is not as 'tame' a condition as the media owuld like to make out.

I am very aware of the distress my condition causes my family, I sometimes feel almost defined by OCD, which really lowers my confidence. It comes in waves.

I hope I've helped you to understand the condition better, if you are, or know someone who has it.
Have a happy day

Reassurance?

Hey, i've had ocd for around 8 years and i do not believe in 'reassurance'. Reassurance only helps the ocd. My social worker told my parents to never say 'everything will be alright' coz to be honest; we don't know do we?
I've always been terrifed of something happening to my mum.. and if i try to ignore a compulsion and later ask someone if everything will be okay; it just helps to ocd.
My advice for people suffering from ocd is to not ask for reassurance! If anything, ask for the opposite. I know its hard, and your anxiety will be bad for a while.. but trust me, it does go down. You need to beat it while you can!

I've missed out on gcse's at school because of my ocd. I lost my friends and my boyfriend all because i was obsessed with 'protecting people'.. look where it got me!
My ocd is still bad, but im getting over it slowly. Luckily my new best mate suffers from ocd too which helps alot as we give each other advice.

As for medication.. well.. haha! I'm on anti depressants and to be honest, i still get anxious. Try to stay away from them. I've had loads of side affects like over eating, restless legs, sleepless nights, tiredness, paranoia, bloating etc. Its not good when your 15 years old!!

Basically, ever since my ocd has been faiding, my life has been reappearing. I do have more confidence and im starting to like myself again!

Good luck to all
x

Whats about your thread?

hello hen,

most people are not able to assure themselves that they are good, or even will do better. (your 3 points) Nobody is his own master, there are failing the self esteem and the own trost. People go in internet to talk about problems for following causes.
They can use their anonymity, nobody will persecute them for their problems, and they don t harm anyone. Even the tíme with talking friends has been changed. The internet is the favorite place to put out problems. Everybody has to decide by himself, if he is pleased with his way to treat with problems. Many others suffer to the same attackes you described at the top:
I don t believe that this corpual problems are deriving only of a bad conscience, the anxiety of a person can be triggered by personal problems: Perhaps you are involved to a wrong affiliation: This is by most people with panicattackes the case.
You líve with a parnter who does not understand your soul at all. How do you react?
Your emotions are depressed and you can not release them. First you only feel lonsome and strange, if you don t retire yourself of the influence, you become always more sick. The loaded burden puts down the wholy balance of the sufferer and he reacts always more sensitiv. In situations like inside a metro, a tunnel, in a big store, in big places, ecc. the anxieties will be triggered by such impressions. In reality they still was inside and only hidden behind a happy disguise.
We are ful of anxiety because we feel alone and not supported enough.
If you find someone who is with you and who gives you understanding and personal support, i will make a bet on, that all soffer is dispappearing.
There is no need of a doctor s who is only picking in problems so that they after will even be more, or to say that we are good man, there is to do this what the insight sayes.

Good points endless

a change of outlook can often help people with mental health problems, meditation and yoga strengthen are really useful, they strenghen the mind. It's like a muscle, the stronger, the better.

Treatment

I know you can have special counselling and therapy to treat OCD, but is there any medication you can take?
Obviously it's probable best to treat it in your own head if you see what I mean, but I was just wondering.

That must be really hard for you hen

But well done for writing about it, I'm sure you will help lots of people in similar situations.

My friend

I have a friend who has to turn the light switch on and then off again every time her leaves a room - do you think he has OCD? He's done it ever since he was small, but not in public.