Lisa123

I have an appointment with a therapist to try and get over this. It’s really upsetting me

Thank you devalent I’ll look for that video x

Hi there i have developed a nervous habit of glancing at women’s breasts when I’m talking to them. It’s not bc I’m lesbian as I’m straight but it’s really upsetting me as I’m sure it must be noticeable. I feel v uncomfortable when I’m talking to women and force myself to look at their eyes instead but I’m sure my eyes glance downwards. I started back at work yesterday after finishing maternity leave and my day was ruined by this. is it OCD? How can I overcome it? id love some advice. thanks

Thanks for the replies. i just need to try and ride out this difficult period. I had a few good months last year and looking back it was when I stopped doing the compulsions which weakened the obsessions. I need to start doing that again.

Hi there I’ve been battling postpartum OCD for 9 months now. i have decided to stop doing the compulsions which seem to be keeping my ocd going and have been doing this for a few days. But I’m finding the obsessions are becoming stronger and more intrusive. is this normal? Does ocd become stronger when you put up a fight? I’m hoping it’s only temporary. TIA

Hi I do try to take baby out for a walk daily - more for my sanity than hers! im hoping i will start to see improvement once i stop doing the compulsions (well, try to). It’s got so bad that I’ve considered giving my baby up for adoption but obviously I don’t want things to come to that.

Thanks Malina your replies help me a lot. I did have some therapy (erp) but I f out d it triggered me so much that I had to give it up. i am planning on going back to work early and joining a local baby and toddler group soon to get me out and about more .

Hi Malina do you think if I stop doing the compulsions the urges to hurt my baby will eventually lessen? I’ve fought obsessions before by stopping the compulsions and this has had the effect of the obsessions disappearing. I’m just struggling to manage to stop the compulsions this time .

Thanks so much for this. I know this is the way forward but it’s so hard to do. I will try really hard not to do the safety seeking behaviour after an urge. I also sometimes seek reassurance that I haven’t hurt my baby and I know I need to stop this too!

Thanks for the replies everyone. Really appreciate it. Malina - what do you mean by ‘withstanding the urges’? I’d give anything to get rid of the urges to hurt my baby as they are v disturbing and distressing. If my baby moves in a certain way while I’m having the urges eg her head wobbles then I worry I’ve hurt her and then the compulsions start ie - I do a mental checklist that she’s behaving normally. She is always fine and I feel relief… until the next Time it happens. it’s a horrible thing to have.

Thanks for the replies ladies, it’s good to know I’m not alone. heartly I too take citalopram 40mg but I am waiting to hear back from my nurse whether it’s going to be increased. Mini - I too am considering going back to work early as I enjoy my job and definitely need the distraction! I suffered with ocd badly with my first child but it’s even worse now with my second. I’m hoping it will fade as she gets older like it did with my first because it’s a nightmare

Thanks Heartly thanks for your message. Sorry to hear you suffer too. It’s the worst type of OCD I think. im on maternity leave so have lots of time to mull things over and that isn’t good. Like you I find distraction really helpful. what type of therapy are you having and is it helpful? heidi x

Hi everyone. i have harm ocd and it’s bothered me pretty much from the day my baby was born. She’s 7 months old now. i reached my lowest point at 3 months and got help and started medication and I quickly improved. However I feel I am slipping backwards again as all my old symptoms have come back. It’s hard not to despair. can anyone please share your stories of postnatal ocd or just give me any advice on coping with a setback. thanksb

Hi I have been struggling with harm ocd since my baby was born 11 weeks ago. I’ve been having harmful thoughts and urges towards her that I’ve never acted on. I’ve not been sleeping and basically only just surviving. I finally plucked up the courage to speak to a gp on the phone today and now have an appointment to see a Dr later today. What is likely to happen? Is there a chance they’ll take my baby off me? so scared right now…

Hi I’m really struggling with postnatal ocd, my baby is 11 weeks now. I’m almost at the end of my tether after a really bad night and almost feeling suicidal. Id luke to go to A&E and get help from a psychiatrist but I’m afraid that when I tell them about my harm ocd urges towards my baby (never acted on) they’ll take her off me and it’s not a risk I’m willing to take. dies anyone have experience with this? I sometimes feel there’s no way out