toffeecush1on

I feel very mixed up. I know I suffer with OCD, but I also suffer with anxiety. I don't know how to tackle them. I feel that the anxiety makes my OCD worse but I also feel the the OCD causes my anxiety. Do I resist doing my OCD rituals which will cause me more anxiety or do I carry on with the rituals and work on the anxiety and hopefully if the anxiety goes so will the OCD. Anyone nderstand what I mean?

Thanks for your reply. I have no compulsions linked to this. I just feel there must be a reason I suffer with anxiety and OCD and that it may be because of something that happened in my childhood. Although I can't remember anything, I feel something might have happened and my mind is now blanking it. But then again it could just be my OCD talking.

Can someone please clarify what a false memory is. Is it something you think you did or could it be something that you believe someone did to you but you have blanked it from your mind but you know deep down something happened. Hope that makes sense.

I count to myself while doing things. I repeatedly count to four. I'm trying to stop but can't seem to. What else can I fill my head with? I just can't have a quiet mind.

I am trying so hard to resist the urge to do my rituals and am trying to wash my hands etc normally but I don't know what normal is anymore. Does anyone else struggle with this? I have been like this so long I have even forgotton how to prepare veg for dinner without washing them over and over. How do I know things are clean enough to eat? I don't suppose anyone knows of a self help book that would tell you what is acceptable.

I understand that OCD can cause stress, but wonder if my constant tension headaces are caused by my OCD causing stress. Does anyone else suffer with tension heachaches that have gone when their OCD improves.

I too don't want any medications as I worry about the side effects. Do you think that you are feeling depressed because you fear you will have to take medication? Maybe when you hear that OCD can be beaten without drugs you will feel a bit more positive and your depression will ease.

Can cbt alone help. I am struggling and need some help but don't want any medication.

I totally understand your issue with the bath. When i go on holiday I take bath cleaner with me and scrub the bath to within an inch of its life. It's not perfect but as you say you have to use it, so make the best of a bad situation. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Have you all noticed that it is no longer headline news on the news channels - after scaring us all so much

With everything in the media you dont know what to believe. Why are they removing produce from the affected countries from our supermarkets if you can't catch it if you cook your poultry correctly.

Well I went to my appointment and it wasnt as bad as I thought it would be. We didnt talk much about dealing with the OCD as she thinks that I should try to tackle the cause of the OCD. What do you all think. I thought she would just tell me how to cope with the OCD but she feels that why the stress that causes it is still there so will my OCD be.

Thanks both of you for replying. I am feeling very nervous at the moment - but know that I will feel so much better after going. Will let you know how it went.

I have my first appointment today with my therapist, at the assessment I was told to write down all my OCD rituals, so today I thought I would quickly write down all the things I do. To my surprise I think I will need a week to write them down. It wasnt until I started writing them down that I realised that my OCD is involved in every minute of the day. Is anyone else like this, everything I do is tainted with my OCD. I am worried that she will say that she wont be able to help me.

This might sound stupid but here goes anyway .... To me the word 'you' is a nicer friendlier word than the word 'it'. Using the word 'it' describes OCD better to me than the word 'you'. We use the word 'it' when we have no warm feelings towards something or when talking about something we dont like. Does that make any sense at all?