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Uncertain if I have OCD


Guest Richard Townsend

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Guest Richard Townsend

Hello. I have had a great problem with noise sensitivity over the past 15 years or so and have thought it was due to a condition known as "Misophonia" but now I'm not so sure it isn't OCD.

My problems started when I was working (retired now) and my employer decided to introduce a new working area that was noisey and generally unpleasant and grotty looking and lacking light. When I first began working there I became upset by the noises that were present and felt very anxious and depressed. I did not have any problems of this kind when I had worked in my previous location and probably what made things even worse was that I was expected to work in the new place with one other work colleague while the remaining staff remained in the original location thus heightening my feelings of separation. I told my employer I simply couldn't remain in the new area, even though I knew this might endanger my job but they were prepared to allow me to remain in the place I had been happy in. The trouble is, I kept worrying about whether they would, at some stage, insist on me working in the new area on pain of dismissal, however, despite a number of requests to this effect I was permitted to avoid the place only having to go there to pick stuff up. This did not solve the problem, however, because I couldn't stop worrying about the possibility of having to work there, even temporarily, which filled me with horror and my life was plagued by all the surrounding noises that were present everywhere I went, not just the original area.

Now, even though retired, I am terrified of the neighbour's dogs barking and try to avoid the areas where I am more likely to hear them and put on headphones when in an area I feel is "vulnerable." There are other noises too that I fear and cannot help worrying about. Is this OCD?

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Guest Erik197834

Hi Richard,

The best you can do is to talk with an OCD specialist. Only he or she can give you the answer you are looking for.

Your problems can be caused by OCD because of certain aspects (length, avoidance, feeling vulnerable) you describe sound familiar to me.

On the other hand you can just be very noise sensitive, and I can see how that can bring along a lot of stress and anxiety.

Greetings, Erik

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  • 4 weeks later...

Richard good evening.

I do not think your employer can insist that you work in an environment that stresses you for noise reasons - I imagine this would breach health and safety law. Noise is one area of concern in a workplace and I think for such reasons this would not be permissible.

You can check it out through the citizens advice bureau.

You certainly now have a phobia and a worry around this issue - but may not be OCD.

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