Albertina

Yes you can recover from OCD without medication. But it will take time and at start it a bit tough to do therapy but later you will know how to tackle your thoughts. Which therapy you are starting with? The most recommended therapy for OCD is ERP therapy which is a form of CBT therapy and it helps a lot to deal with OCD. Some good articles that can help to start with ERP therapy https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ocd-treatment/erp/ https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/erp-therapy-a-good-choice-for-treating-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/ https://peaceofmind.com/starting-erp/

Hello @MLB1984 doing self help for OCD is tough where yours thoughts are strong. You should try Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy which is also know as ERP therapy and it is the most recommended therapy for OCD. In this you have to expose yourself to your thoughts without doing compulsions. For example if you repetitively check your apartment doors and windows before leaving than your exposure will be to leave your apartment without doing the checking routine. By doing this you will learn that your compulsions are not necessary and your anxiety will start reducing on its own. You can look for some OCD therapist who does ERP therapy if you are in US then there are sites where you can find therapist.

Yes it can be OCD but as @PolarBear said this thoughts are very common. I think you should read some books and blogs to get a better understanding of what is OCD. You can also see to a therapist and get her diagnosed if she has OCD or not and if turns to be OCD than you can start with CBT/ERP therapy. It is better to start the therapy when she is young so that it doesn't get worse when she gets older. Some blog post that can help to understand OCD better. I hope this will help you https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ https://www.treatmyocd.com/education/what-is-ocd-meaning-symptoms-and-how-ocd-works/ https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder

Yes it can be False Memory OCD and if you are getting unwanted harmful or sexual thoughts about children than it can be of Pedophilia OCD. You should see to a therapist and get diagnosed with OCD and start with ERP therapy it will help you a lot to deal with your thoughts.

I can understand when therapist don't reply back but I think so you should call them instead of emailing or else try to look for a therapist who does telehealth therapy. I don't know where are you from but if you are from US than this sites can help to find an OCD therapist. https://iocdf.org/ocd-finding-help/find-help/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/obsessive-compulsive-ocd https://www.treatmyocd.com/therapists

Yes everyone get intrusive thoughts people who doesn't have OCD also get intrusive thoughts but they are not stuck in the loop and they can control their thoughts but people with OCD get thoughts which is not controllable and they seek reassurance. You should read some articles on OCD to get a clear understanding of what OCD is. https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ https://www.treatmyocd.com/education/what-is-ocd-meaning-symptoms-and-how-ocd-works/ https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder https://iocdf.org/blog/2017/11/10/you-are-not-your-thoughts/

Sertraline is good for OCD when used with therapy and you are also doing therapy so it is best. It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for Sertraline to work, I hope you will feel better soon.

You are over thinking, what ever you read about OCD you think you have that and that leads to a thought what you read and you do the compulsion. Try to stop reading I know its tough reduce the reading time slowly. Go to the therapist and get diagnosed with OCD and what theme of OCD you have than your mind will get clear that you have this OCD and not other.

There are lots of ways to expose yourself but I won't recommend you to try it yourself and you should see to an OCD therapist and learn coping techniques from them. The exposure techniques for harm OCD and suicidal OCD can be dangerous so you should better see to a therapist. You can read this post as they are from OCD experts and it can help you to deal with your OCD. https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/overcoming-harm-ocd https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/harm-ocd/ https://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/expert-opinion-violent-obsessions/

Yes sertraline helps to reduce the symptoms of OCD and it usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for Sertraline to work.

Don't think that you are a monster or a bad person. It is only your thoughts that is making you feel bad and you are getting this thoughts because of the trauma you have suffered from. You should see to a therapist and explain him all the things and the thoughts that you are getting. Only therapist can figure out if it is POCD or denial. I hope you will feel better soon.

I don't think so it is OCD as everyone is afraid because of covid-19 virus and everyone is trying to themselves clean as much as possible. So right now it is hard to tell if someone is suffering from OCD or only afraid of covid-19 virus.

Hello @KG970 Handwashing OCD means it is contamination OCD. In this people have feeling and thoughts that they are contaminated by germs and they try to keep themselves and well as other things clean so that they are safe from germs. Have you ever tried CBT or ERP therapy for OCD? If not then you should see to a therapist and try therapy and learn to expose yourself to intrusive thoughts. You can also read some articles on ERP therapy to know how it works and how you can expose yourself to your thoughts. I hope this will help you.

Yes OCD symptoms worsen a lot when there are hormonal changes during menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

Hello @Sophhh, @PolarBear is right there is nothing like OCD tendencies either you have OCD or not. As your GP has suggested you can try the therapy and there is no difference in online therapy and visiting a therapist. Because of this pandemic everyone is doing online therapy and its good like the normal one.

Hello @john1978, Have you ever tried CBT or ERP for OCD? It is always recommended to do therapy and take medicine. As you said if the medication are working or not you should ask your GP to give other medicines. I hope this will help you.

Try to maintain social distancing, wear a mask and sanitizing yourself are the best options for staying safe and healthy. I am also scared of going out because of my allergy and whenever I sneeze everyone starts looking at me.

You are right OCD is a disorder, not a coping mechanism and there are lots of other mental health issues like depression, GAD, Social anxiety that a person with OCD suffers from. Though it is possible that if a person gets better with OCD their anxiety and depression will get better but I am not sure with other disorders.

Hello @Reece., Hope you are doing great. I am not sure if this tip will help you because it looks like you are suffering from severe OCD. As you told you wash hands 50 times so you should try to start reducing it like tell yourself you will only wash your hands 49 times than next day 48, 47 and so on. This will help your mind to understand that nothing happens if I am not washing hands for 50 times, 49 times and so on. You should also see an OCD therapist and try ERP or other therapy that works for you. I hope you will feel better soon.

Hello @battlethrough I don't think so that googling about sexual fantasies is a compulsion there are many people who do that and I don't think it is related to OCD or any other mental health disorder

Don't pay attention to your thoughts and immerse yourself in some activity. Do something that engages you so that you get completely lost in it.

I know its tough to stop checking when you get thoughts of losing money. You can try to reduce the number of times checking your banking app. For example if you check your app for 10 times in an hour than try to reduce it to 9 after some time make it 8 than 7 and so on. I hope this helps you.

You should go to the therapist as you know it will help you with OCD. If you are able to do exposures and you know that it will work and help you with OCD than no need to visit the therapist.

I would recommend this two books for teaching yourself CBT:- A Therapist's Guide to Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy The CBT Toolbox: A Workbook for Clients and Clinicians