Claire1704

I think this is an interesting point, because as we know, OCD can cause health obsession/preoccupation, but ADHD can bring hyper fixation too so who knows what's going on?!

That would be me! Hi Auroramaple, I'm Claire, one of the charity trustees I know anecdotally there is quite a high occurrence of ADHD and OCD together. I have both, and off the top of my head can think of three other people I know who are the same. I take medication for depression and for the ADHD. I take atomoxetine which has calmed me generally and a bit less likely to respond so emotionally when faced with challenges, which has always been a big issue for me. I'm at the beginning of understanding the ADHD. I am hoping for a medication review as my concentration is still not great so I'm not sure if I need to try something else. Like with other medications, sometimes it's a case of finding the one for you! I also find I'm not great at going to bed because of general ADHD faffing around and losing time, which can affect my concentration the next day. I have found my diagnosis really helpful in understanding and generally just being a bit kinder to myself. I hope you also find it helpful if you get a diagnosis. Claire

Right then my friends, I shall leave you in peace. Jane, I will let you know what's happening with the group next month, but I guess the way things are going, we're still not going to be able to meet in person for a while!

I will look out for it! Will see if it's on Netflix, now I have Netflix!

Quite right Too right. Its a time and a joy thief. All we can do is keep challenging it. Also to remember to remember the times we succeed too, as these are all examples of moving towards recovery I think. Proof that we can do it. Also as my therapist once said to me 'lapse doesn't necessarily mean relapse'. I think to try to strike a balance between pushing ourselves, but not beating ourselves up if we can't do it all the time. As long as we pick ourselves up again.

I think years ago, but I don't remember it.

Have a word with yourself!

I remember actually a therapist asking me what I wanted to get out of therapy, and my honest answer was 'I want more time to myself'. OCD is a time thief. I'm a clock watcher, and am absolutely obsessed with knowing exactly what the time is, and having certain things done by certain times. It used to be, that I couldn't turn my light out before 1.03 am (?!) and I had to leave my house at 8.24am. I guess ultimately, I would like to care less about time than I do, and be so governed by it.

Ah I'm pleased to hear his therapy is continuing. I'm trying to take the opportunity, while I don't have to go into the office, to alter my routine a bit. I tend to compulsively avoid sleep, and what I would really like, as simple as it may sound, is to have a routine where I get up and have time to myself before I start my work day. Even if it just means getting up 15 minutes earlier. I get so distressed at the idea of waking up in the night, that I just remove the chance of it happening, by just lying awake until I'm exhausted. Which is very restricting.... I don't know when we're all going to be able to meet again, but I wonder if we could set ourselves a challenge for the month/couple of months, to talk about net time we meet?

Is Louis still in touch with his therapist throughout this? I know a lot of therapists are doing Skype calls etc...

I think that's about the sum of it! It just makes me cross, as I know we've talked about before. Spreading misinformation is one thing, but when it comes from a doctor of all people, it's just like we're fire fighting all the time with awareness.

Haha! I can imagine!

Yes... at least other parts of the world are now seeing an improvement, so that's encouraging. I also meant to say, thank you for messaging me the other day to see how I was; I really appreciated it There's been a lot of stuff in the media about OCD recently I've seen. I try not to get too involved in it as it just winds me up! There was an article written by A DOCTOR recently that said something like 'we all need a bit of OCD at the moment'! I know OCD-UK have given an official response to it, but it really makes me cross. It's difficult when you're limited in the people you can interact with, as we are at the moment, to keep the conversation going and raise awareness. Have you seen anything like this, or am I just looking in all the wrong places?!

Good! And how are you doing?