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Tez

OCD-UK Member
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Everything posted by Tez

  1. That's interesting Whitebeam. I became unwell in December 2008 (now that was a **** Christmas!) and bless the NHS, had a referral early in January to secondary services. They did try me on Risperidone as an atypical antipsychotic augmentor with my existing citalopram. I improved for a while ..... but in August, I suddenly developed more compulsions and slipped in to a deep depression. I was first tried with a higher dose of Risperidone for a while, but just was getting worse and worse. To make matters worse, I was also getting pressure from my father to get back to work, which was not helping. My mum (who understands more about mental health) intervened and we reviewed the situation with my psychiatrist..... she put me on olanzapine and three days later - when i hit the 7.5mg mark, my anxiety levels came down, and I began to be able to cope much better with my symptoms. So, Risperidone didn't work for me: olanzapine has. I mean, I do struggle from time to time, and every day I have intrusive thoughts, anxieties and doubts. But my mood is so much better than it ever was, and my confidence and abilities to cope are much better. I accept that I might always have OCD experiences and distorted thinking. However, I am so much better, and my life is the best it has ever been, I would say. That's my experience!!! Oh, and these Forums are superb. Always full of support, advice and friendship. Really find these of value. Tez
  2. You are welcome. I think that with OCD, there are so many different subgroups and types, that therapies work differently for each individual, and in my experience, the trick is never to give up hope, that there will be something that can allevitate symptoms. During August and September of 2009, I became pretty bereft of hope and sank into a deep depression and very compulsive phase in my mental health. Not at all nice, and I had to rely on my mum, who has some experience of her own mental health issues, to hold on to that hope for me. In October, they tried me on olanzapine, and hey presto, as soon as I hit 7.5mg, my mood began to lift, I had more energy and my obsessionality began to diminish. I have heard it said (by OCDUK patrol Paul Salkovskis, I seem to recall) that there is a lot of "not very good" CBT out there, and the trick is to find someone who has the right experience and expertise in obsessive compulsive disorder and all its various manifestations and nuances. So, never give up on therapy. This organisation (OCD-UK) has transformed how the illness is seen and treated, and the position for sufferers is, I would say, much better than it was in 2004 when the charity started. Consult with the OCD helpline they operate if you are having difficulties finding a good therapist in your area. Yes, you are right about weight gain, but the way I see it, if you have to watch your weight on the meds, then that's a small price to pay for alleviation from the worst of the OCD symptoms. I don't eat bread, pasta, cake or biscuits, and have cut right back on cheese, eating only lean meats and vegetables at the moment, yogurt and healthy drinks and I have managed to control the weight gain tendencies. I eat quite well too!! ! Best wishes Tez
  3. Hello there. Just a quick note to say that I take olanzapine, which is an atypical anti-psychotic, as well as the anti-depressant citalopram, for my OCD. I was put on olanzapine in October 2009, during a period of heavy depression and deep anxiety. And I have to say, it was a revelation and my mood has improved along with my ability to cope with my OCD thoughts. I have been back at work these 6 years, have gotten involved in the local community radio, and socialise much more. In terms of side effects of olanzapine, I have to avoid cake, chocolate, biscuits and I also try to minimise bread and pasta in my diet as I just pile on the pounds, although to be honest, I do come from a family which has always struggled with maintaining a stable weight. So the olanzapine just might have amplified those weight gain tendencies. Other than that, I have not experienced any real side effects. My GP takes my blood once annually to check that I am healthy and the my cholesterol is not rising, and is satisfied that I am in good shape. That's my experience on an atypical anti-psychotic. It has been a really beneficial thing in my life! Best wishes Tez :original:
  4. Hello All Not restricted to OCD specifically, but I thought you might like to know that tonight (Monday 26th October), BBC-1's flagship current affairs investigation programme Panorama is featuring the "crisis" in mental health wards and services. The Radio Times magazine says that they have filmed exclusively at NHS trusts that offer mental health services and have talked candidly to staff. Obviously, it may not reflect everyone's experience with the NHS (mine has been exemplary), but being such a prestigious programme, it might just keep mental health on the political agenda. You might also be interested to know that tomorrow night the BBC's "youth" network, BBC-3 has a programme on men and mental health hosted by the rapper Professor Green, who if you have not come across him, has had several hit records to his name. His father committed suicide some years ago, and Green will explore the state of men and boys' mental health in the UK today. Looks like a good and important show. Tez :original:
  5. This looks fantastic. Well done for getting it displayed in so prominent a place. Tez :original:
  6. If I remember rightly, there is a page in the Radio Times that lists all the addresses you need to write complaints to TV companies. And it contains a few pointers if you need to take it further to the regulatory body as well. :original:
  7. Good for ITV. Some of these human interest themed programmes on network TV can be really good at dealing with mental health issues in a humane and sensitive manner. Much better than faux-documentaries like the Obessive-Compulsive Cleaners monstrosity.
  8. Hello All An interesting piece in the Jewish Chronicle newspaper (UK) looks at the phenomenal success of a pair of You Tube girls from New York, who discuss living with OCD, boys, dating, being bisexual and New York nightlife amongst a host of other topics on their weekly webcast. It seems that, for them, having OCD is a part of the whole fabric of their lives, but they are clearly not letting it beat them. Link to article below. http://www.thejc.com/node/146308 Best wishes Tez :original:
  9. Hello All Just a quick posting to say that the latest production of the service user led Media Group at Bristol based Mental Health charity Second Step, is going to air on Tuesday 6th October 2015. Between 3pm and 4pm, the group is making a programme for the South Bristol Community Radio service, BASE Radio. The show is called "Autumn Gold" and will include seasonal songs for this time of year, discussions on staying well during the Autumn months, some poetry, and some exclusive prose writing. There will be advice and support for people with mental health support needs, but also for the whole community. The aim of the group is to empower people to use local media projects to express themselves and break down barriers and stigma. Not directly OCD related but of general interest if you are into mental health issues. BASE Radio was founded in 2013 and broadcasts around the clock at www.baseradiobristol.co.uk. At the moment the service is only available online, but hopes to expand to FM or DAB services when licenses become available. There are two further broadcasts from the Second Step Media Group in 2015: Tuesday 17th November at Station B.C.F.M. (93.2 FM in urban Bristol, DAB Radio in Greater Bristol and online) when the topic will be planning for and coping at Christmas. Wednesday 16th December at Station Ujima Radio (98.0 FM in urban Bristol and online) when the topic will be a review of the Mental Health services in the Avon and Somerset area. Happy listening! Tez :original:
  10. Cosmo are the best women's magazine in my opinion..... they have always had a strong social interest story thread and have sensitively handled a lot of mental health and physical health articles.
  11. Well done on getting some media "bites" Ashley: we struggled in Bristol to drum up anything which is a bit of a shame. We shall keep trying and maybe next time there will be more takers for interviews. Hope that the team are resting and recovering from the tour!! Tez :original:
  12. Hi All There was an interesting programme on the radio on Sunday evening, 30th August. The Royal National Institute for the Blind's radio station, Insight Radio, which can be heard nationwide on Channel 730 Freeview, broadcasts a discussion programme from the US network NPR (National Public Radio - the nearest thing that the States has to the BBC) at 8pm Sundays. This week, the programme was about fear, and included a look at how and why fear emerged in our species, its function from an evolutionary perspective, and how it can be problematic when it is irrational and not relevant to our lives today in modern society. Not OCD specific, but useful as a psychological background to the role that fear as an emotion has on the human population as a whole. Very best wishes Tez :original:
  13. Hi Team If you want to get hold of me over the weekend on the Forums, or via email (have given my works and home email to the OCD-UK office), then perhaps we can meet up when you go come through Bristol!!! Cheers Tez
  14. Hello All Just a quickie to say that service users of the Bristol based mental health charity Second Step are once again producing a programme for local community radio on Tuesday, 18th August between 3 and 4pm. They are taking on the "Wellbeing" strand on the community radio service B.C.F.M. in the city, and will be delivering a programme on Summertime, emotions and Staying Well. There will be some poetry, classical music, and pop music from artists as diverse as Roy Ayers, Madonna, Yela Wolf and Bryan Adams. In addition, people will discuss how music helps them stay well. The service user led group of people with mental health issues has developed and produced the programme with the aid of staff. B.C.F.M. can be heard in urban and most of sub-urban Bristol on 93.2 MHz FM (between BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 on your FM dial as you tune upward) and online at www.bcfmradio.com. The station has just released listening figures of around 25,000 at peak times, which makes it one of the most successful community media projects in the country, and although the Mental Health show is not on at peak times, it should still reach quite a few thousand listeners. The programme closes with a listing of useful numbers for anyone that is affected by the programme and prompted to seek help. Tez
  15. I would agree with Caramoole and Tricia. I have been through a course of hypnotherapy, but I believe its main benefit to me was to help me relax and visualise for short periods. It certainly did not affect my OCD directly and I believe that most of my progress in recent years has been the effect of having some good medication and a supportive group of people around me. The Royal College of Psychiatrists in their helpful and hopeful leaflet on OCD say that there is no scientific evidence that OCD is assisted by any complimentary therapy. (You can Google this leaflet, it's quite useful in highlighting the way forward). I wish you and your son well. Stay in there, and refer to OCD-UK for advice on your next steps as there are clear clinical guidelines for the treatment of people who have not experience alleviation of symptoms after first and second rounds of CBT. With kind regards Tez :original:
  16. I take my hat off to you Ashley. I personally do not have a contamination OCD (in fact, I am quite messy!!) so I would not benefit from it I guess, but I think you're all fantastic to take the tour. And where better than Brighton, where you can relax by the sea and enjoy some fine cafe culture afterwards. Well done all. Keep up the good work. Tez :original:
  17. I take citalopram at 40mg daily plus olanzapine at 10mg nightly. Medication has over the years had a beneficial effect on my mental health and my ability to resist compulsions. And it has controlled the deep pits of depression I used to get, so I am quite happy with my medication. I would however, like to make yet further progress so I am going to ask my GP if she can make a referral to either an NHS or a private psychiatrist to see how we can move forward, and if I can benefit from more treatment. I also find OCD-UK a great source of strength in dealing with my symptoms. :original:
  18. I have a bath rather than a shower once every few days. I take about 10 minutes in the bath, including shampoo and conditioning hair. Hope that helps you. All the best! Tez
  19. Hi All It might be bad news on the Channel Four front (as well as Obsessive-Compulsive Cleaners, has anyone seen the "Autistic Gardener" series?!?!), but I was given the chance to outline mental health services here in Bristol on local radio on Thursday night. My friends Ivan and Natalie were co-hosting the country music programme on community radio station BCFM from the Lawrence Hill part of the city, in lieu of the regular presenter Phil Lyons, who was on holiday. The programme might be on a small station, but has a reasonable audience, particularly amongst country fans who tune in from BBC Radio Two's Country Show which finishes when we start. I was given the chance to prepare a filler item about mental health, how problems can affect up to 1 in 4 of the population during their lifetimes and I gave words of encouragement to people who might be thinking about getting support. Here in Bristol there is a 24 hour psychiatric helpline run by the main NHS trust, so I gave out information of that, and NHS 111. I am hopeful my piece just give a bit of advice and support to people who are affected by a mental health issue. Best wishes Tez
  20. Hello Ashley. Glad that training is going well for you and the rest of the team. I hope that we can meet up when you are passing through or near Bristol on your way to Chew Valley - has that been decided yet? We could do a piece for community radio, which would be great if we can. The organisation for which I work plans to have a stall on Saturday 11th July at the annual Bristol Gay Pride Festival, which attracts around 20,000 people every year. If I can put some leaflets for OCD-UK out on our stall and that of other mental health organisations, then please do send me a bundle. We were hoping also to attend the St Paul's Afrikan-Caribbean Carnival, the largest outside Notting Hill. Regrettably, it's postponed till next year, but again when it happens, the offer is open to OCD-UK. I am on a high protein diet - not following any particular plan, but it has borne fruit (not literally!) in that I have dropped several stones in weight. It also involves a lot of lean chicken, lean meats and greek unsweetened yogurt. Which I happen to love, so that's good! Cheers Tez
  21. Thanks Ashley. In my (limited) experience of dealing with journalists at major stations - like ITV - they sometimes really do work to a very tight deadline and have not really thought through what they want the guest to talk about. This sometimes gives you room to manouevre and talk about what you want to. When I did an interview (on the back of Ride4OCD 2013) on BBC Radio Bristol, they actually really allowed me to talk about the realities of the condition, so I was able to speak about how we misuse words like "obsession", "depressed" and "schizophrenic" all the time and then give the clinical meanings of our condition. I was congratulated on the interview by their news presenter, who had been listening to the feed from the main studio and said that he now understood how horrible OCD must be to live with (at times). Good on BBC Radio Wiltshire for covering OCD UK's misgivings about the OCC programme and for interviewing Professor Paul. Sometimes the Beeb really shines through and shows the best side of public service media. My friend Tony (whose civil partnership anniversary is today!) once saw Betty TV "recruiting" in Oxford City Centre for Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners. He gave them a piece of his mind for making what he called "porn" out of OCD sufferers. Ashley, at work, we have a list of media contacts at all the local community broadcasting stations and a considerable number of local newspapers and magazines here in the West Country. I can send them over to you if you like for future press releases. Tez :original:
  22. Yes, a difficult dilemma Ashley. I do not know what the solution is. Actions which generate publicity can sometimes backfire, as you point out. In the 1990's, groups like ACT-UP in the States working in the field of HIV were not averse to taking civil disobedience against newspapers and broadcasters that they felt promoted misunderstanding, although they were operating in a climate that was terribly hostile and negative: with OCD we are facing more of a wall of misapprehension and a certain amount of condescention. Disabled activists have also in recent years sometimes taken to chaining themselves up and making their point that way - most recently, at the House of Commons on Thursday last week. The Mental Health Resistance Network - a group rooted in the radical left movement - participated in this action. I am sympathetic to their cause, but I am not sure it is a strategy that would serve OCD sufferers well. What is particularly sad is that Channel Four has mostly abandoned its commitment to serving minorities like the disabled and people with MH issues. When it started (I watched the launch on 2nd November 1982), the station surprised everyone, including the Conservative government that had granted its license, by its progressive approach and its commitment to high standards of broadcasting. This was largely because the original Chief Executive board were people steeped in quality broadcasting. The first Chief Executive was Jeremy Isaacs, who had commissioned the award winning "World at War" series for ITV in the seventies, and who, as a Jewish man, understood that broadcasters had a role to play in promoting understanding and social cohesion. Over the last ten years, the station has really abandoned such values and has aired some very tabloid programmes. On the other hand, there is a slogan that my activist friends tend to use, which is "Don't Hate the Media - Become the Media". The great thing about the contemporary media landscape is that there are lots of choices in TV and radio in Europe, as new platforms have allowed new projects to start. Britain now boasts around 300 community radio stations on AM and FM, 50 or so student radio stations, local TV services in municipal areas and thousands of internet TV and radio projects. Perhaps the charity can invite some of these new media to cover its conference, or provide speakers to programmes locally to give a more balanced approach. Those are my first thoughts anyway, sorry for rambling. Tez :original:
  23. Hi Everyone There will be a mental health special radio show in Bristol on Wednesday coming (1st July). It will be going out on the community radio station Ujima Radio as part of the current affairs "OutLook" strand between 12 noon and 2pm. The focus of the show will be Recovery and Rehabilitation, and will feature service users of the local charity Second Step, as well as yours truly, who will be speaking about recovery from an OCD perspective and what it means. Bristol's Mental Health services have undergone a period of reorganisation over recent months, so there will also be a feature and interview on the new Rehabilitation services. People will share some of their musical choices and talk about personal journeys of change. The programme has been formatted and produced by people with direct experience of using mental health services. If you are in the Bristol area, you can tune into the station at 98.0 MHz FM, which is towards the centre of the FM dial, between Kiss-FM and BBC Radio One. It can be heard for a 5 mile radius of the transmitter in St Paul's. It will also be streamed at www.ujimaradio.com, and after the transmission, the programme will be preserved for posterity on the You Tube channel of Second Step, where you can already view several videos on mental health and wellbeing. The Second Step Media Group produce mental health and wellbeing programmes around once every six weeks for community radio and TV, and also provide speakers to larger media such as BBC Radio Bristol and ITV West. Best wishes Tez
  24. Good advice - Ecomum, I get similar problems with past things that have happened to me. So I do sympathise and empathise. Sending you kind wishes Tez
  25. Hello Everyone I am really pleased to be able to say that the Bristol based mental health charity Second Step is producing a programme for a local radio service on Tuesday 19th May. The programme is made by and for people with mental health support needs and will be a light hearted look through music and what certain tracks mean for people's wellbeing. Expect to hear a variety of music and a chat about what CDs people would take with them to a mythical island, a la "Desert Island Discs". The programme goes out between 3 and 4pm on BCFM Community Radio, which broadcasts on 93.2 MHz FM in central Bristol, and around the globe via the internet at www.bcfmradio.com. The programme is part of an ongoing series of shows about mental health and physical wellbeing that go out on the station on Tuesday afternoons and are hosted by a rotating schedule of different groups working with mental health and learning disabilities. With best wishes Tez
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