Stephen

Hi Hurting Your post struck a chord with me too. Sorry I haven't got time to reply right now, but I'll try to shortly! Stephen

Thanks Whitebeam - I hope Ashley and the committee are viewing this as I think the workshop was their idea - I just helped Vanessa and Ashley to put it together. I'm going through the feedback forms at the moment and with Ashley's permission I could post a summary here when this is complete.

Hi Whitebeam It was a very successful day I think! About 40 professionals attended and Prof. Paul Salkovskis, Dr Victoria Bream Oldfield and Diana Wilson gave a very well-presented workshop focussed on CBT techniques and processes, particularly focussed on intrusive thoughts OCD. Thanks to the volunteers who helped by looking after Reception, note-taking and for putting up with my over-organising them! I hope we will do this again.

Just a thought (based on both this thread and the earlier thread referred to, which I read recently): I think there is a potential misunderstanding here in the use of certain words - two particular words ie. obsessive and compulsive. I would suggest that just because the two are used in the same sentence doesn't necessarily mean that the sentence is referring to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (note the three words next to each other, the capital letters and the hyphen). OCD is a combination of obessions (leading to anxiety) and compulsions (actions or thoughts practiced in an attempt to reduce that anxiety). I suppose it is possible to have separate obsessive and / or compulsive behaviour without necessarily having OCD, particularly if the behaviours give pleasure, not anxiety. I believe that compulsive behaviour can be present in 'impulse control disorders' - eg. compulsive gambling / shopping / sex, but that impulse control disorders are characterised by behaviours which give pleasure, not anxiety. Am I right? Hope this helps. Stephen

Dear concentrate1234 It's great to have you on the forum - welcome! I didn't know anything about the mental health system in China, so it is very interesting to find out. You also made a good point about the different cultures and traditions affecting the types of therapy that are effective, which is a subject that should be discussed more! Anyway, I hope you find this forum very helpful, and that you can get better and better at beating your OCD. All the best Stephen

I'm just coming to the end of CBT there and I can highly recommend it! Go for it! Stephen

Thanks Nima - I thinkl he did but thanks for making sure! I'll be in touch in a few days! Stephen

Excellent, thanks Carol I'll get back to you shortly Stephen

Vanessa and I checked out the venue today, and it's very professional (just right for our target market!). We'll be needing a few volunteers to help out on the day - expenses will be paid and you can listen to the workshop if you don't have any duties to perform. I already know of a couple who have offered to help, but please post below if you'd like to put your name down. Duties will include: - Welcome and Reception - Cloakroom attendant - Microphone 'runner' for questions You'll need in most cases to be able to get to Central London for 0830 on the day, but won't necessarily need to stay all day. Also smart attire will be required. I'll post more details shortly. Please let me know! Stephen

I tried several times to book a ticket for this online without success, and when I called the ICA today they said it was sold out

Thank you very much all - that's extremely helpful (at least I hope it will be). I sent your comments (with names removed), up to Mirth's contribution, earlier this evening. All the best Stephen

Thank you all for your considered replies. I will try to pass all this onto her tomorrow :-)

Hello Just wondering if some of you could come up with some ideas I have a contact whose 19-year-old daughter has OCD and has also had (may still have?) anorexia, and the OCD is very much around contamination, food and eating. The daughter has been having CBT on the NHS and is apparently not really any better at the end of it. However I think she has not been doing the homework exercises set - I believe she understands OCD but is still resistant to practical experiments. The mother is asking what is next, as there is a review of the treatment next week. What else might be available on the NHS to help? I have suggested that she ask for more of the same ie. CBT, but with a strong emphasis on the necessity of working practically ie. doing the homework and working at the practical, behavioural side of the CBT. I have said she is unlikely to see any real improvement in behaviours until this is tackled. Alternatively, is there something else that I could suggest to her that she could ask about at the review? The review is I believe this Monday 21st Jan so I would like to feedback some ideas to her by then. Many thanks Stephen

Dear All I've just posted a topic for debate on the Support Groups section of the forum, and I'd be interested in feedback from people who don't currently attend a Support Group as well as those who do. Please join me at This Thread on the Support Groups section Thank you Moderators - I hope it's OK to link to another section like this? If not, please remove this post - thanks. If so, please could you prevent replies to this post - thanks.

Hi newman Just a quick suggestion. It's an exposure exercise which you could try if you feel up to it, and is designed to follow the principles of CBT / ERP and should probably only be done if you understand those principles. Why don't you actually write some expletives, insults or obscenities in the cards of a selected few people whom you trust and can inform that they may receive a card from you with these words in. It would have to be people who understand OCD of course. I did something like this recently with some text messages to a trusted friend (thanks - you know who you are :-) ). I don't have a particular problem with cards or messages, but it was practice in dealing with an obsession with right and wrong / rule-breaking etc. Hope this may help. Stephen

Dear Sarah I agree (particularly) with Newman and Caramoole All the best Stephen

I'm taking part in two of the studies too

Good morning. I hope this doesn't sound too simplistic or unhelpful but I think one of the key weapons in beating OCD is: Accept Uncertainty Just a glimmer of willingness to accept that it may be impossible to prove something 100% may help. For people like mathemeticians and scientists used to proving things empirically this may be harder! (now, learn to practice that yourself Stephen!)

Hi I can certainly relate to this one. this is just a quick reply for now sorry. By the way it would be better to post this in the main forum this one is just about Support Groups. Perhaps one of the moderators will move it? hope you get some more replies soon Stephen

Dear SurreyDad I'm sorry you are feeling so low at the moment. What sort of care / treatment are you receiving at the moment? Take care Stephen

What a lovely positive post and not a negative reaction in sight :-) I use prayer although not specifically for help with my OCD. prayer is also a good way of saying THANK YOU for the good things in your life (and maybe also the challenges that you go through to learn more) Stephen

Great news Hayley - I'm pleased you're happy with the outcome. :) Please remember, though, that the moment (if) the filming starts again to hinder your recovery, you talk again straight away to the film crew so they can readjust or pull the plug as appropriate. You're too valuable a person (as is anyone) to cause yourself any more damage even in such a good cause. Please post again if the filming starts to impede you again! Stephen

Hayley Ashley just wrote a brilliant post there - please read it again! (and the others too if you are in any doubt!) Stephen

Hayley my dear friend You have done more than enough for raising awareness of OCD in all the wonderful work you have done. The PRIORITY right now is for Miss Hayley Martin to SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP. And then to start to tackle her OCD. And then (and ONLY then) to get back into the wonderful work she can do to raise awareness even more than she has already. I don't want to sound dramatic, but if you go on the way you are you're liable to hurt yourself or someone else by falling asleep at the worst possible time. You've already had a couple of wake up calls. Please listen to them. Your argument about 'regretting forever' doesn't hold water as you will be able to get back into the work you've started, but only once you're able to do it with your full strength and a clear, awake head and a full heart (which you've already got!). Love Stephen

Hi LondonGal I run the Central London OCD Support Group and we get someone new along at almost every meeting, so I am used to making people feel welcome. Each group is different, but at ours you can bring a friend or family member for support, and as an added bonus there is no need to say anything if you don't want to - you can just sit and listen to others. We get between 6 and 15 people at each meeting so you won't feel everyone is looking at you. A lot of people say they are nervous the first time they come, but most realise there was no need to be! You would be very welcome if this group is conveniently located for you - we meet in a room above a pub near the British Museum. If you need any more information about the Central London group please let me know! If you can send me an email to centrallondon@ocduk.org I will reply with the group's aims and ground rules sheet, and some idea of what to expect at each meeting. Stephen