tillyb

Thanks for the replies, There are other GP's at the surgery, I found it so difficult to go to the GP initially and explain my problems that I don't know whether I can go through it again and explain it all to another GP. I had a panic attack in the waiting room yesterday knowing that I had to speak to someone who already knows without speaking to somebody that doesn't know. Perhaps that's why he doesn't think that CBT would work for me just yet. This GP seemed so kind first time round, he told me he was going to get all the help I needed, he told me to treat him like a friend not a GP, to say anything I wanted to him without being judged. I know that after having OCD for over 13 years that it's not going to be an overnight recovery, but I just assumed that the earlier I started CBT, the quicker my recovery would begin. Karen :blushing:

Hi, I have had OCD for over 13 years, I have been married for 9 years and I kept my OCD from my Husband, my Parents and friends up until 6 weeks ago. My OCD has gradually got worse over the past few years and it's now at its worst, my Husband knew there was something wrong and kept asking me but I was too embarrased to tell him and kept coming up with lame excuses. Over the past 2-3 years one of my main problems was sex, I couldn't bare it due to my contamination OCD, I felt like my body had been invaded and had panic attacks in the shower as I didn't feel I could clean myself properly. I don't work full time as I have two children aged 6 and 8 so I am at home everyday, My husband would come home at night to a house that was messy as I had spent all day counting things or touching things or putting things in order and then re-doing it incase I had made a mistake, there would be no tea on the table as I was convinced that I would accidentally put something poisonous in the food without realising it and to top it all I would reject his affections because of the contamination. Hence he came to the conclusion that I was having an affair during the day when he was at work and he told me he wanted to seperate. I tried again to excuse myself out of it but it just wasn't working, I had to tell him to save my marriage. At first he didn't quite understand what I was telling him, I tried to explain in my own way, how I was feeling and what it was like for me to deal with OCD but he couldn't take it in, I showed him the OCD-UK website and he spent a few hours reading and researching and he came to me, gave me a big hug and told me he would help me through it, he understood a little bit about what I was going through and that he wanted to know more. Now, 6 weeks later, he calls me throughout the day to see how I am doing and ask whether I need any encouragement, I feel a lot easier around him, only yesterday we were getting ready to go out and I suddenly needed to empty the fridge and clean it out, he asked me if I really needed to do this right now, I said yes and he said ok, do you need any help with it. 6 weeks ago he would have got really angry and said I was only doing it to be awkward and to make us late, now he is so understanding, we often have a little joke between us about the OCD if he forgets why I am doing things. I still haven't told any other family members and only my best friend is aware, I have a feeling my boss notices things but as I only work 10 hours per week I think it is a little easier to hide. I think that the people who are close to you KNOW that 'something' is not right, in my case I had to talk to save my marriage. Karen

I've been on the meds for 5 weeks now, in the first appointment he told me he was not going to let me leave without help, he told me to take the meds for 1 month then when I went back he would refer me for CBT, now I have been back he told me I have to wait another 6-8 weeks as he thought I would reject it.

Hi I had my followup GP appointment yesterday, I was put on Peroxitine 5 weeks ago after I decided I needed to get help again for my OCD, and the GP wanted to see how I was getting on. In the first consultation he said he wanted me to start on meds and then after a month he would refer me for cbt, I have had OCD for over 13 years, the last time I was on meds was about 8 years ago but now my OCD is worse than it has ever been. When I went yesterday he told me that he would not refer me for cbt in my 'state of mind' as he thought I would reject it. As I was crying for the whole consultation, (I even had a panic attack in the waiting room as I was so anxious) I didn't think to ask him what he meant by this, he only said that if I was to go for cbt now he thought I would refuse to go back again I'm really confused now, at first I thought he was really going to help me, but now I feel like he is just palming me off with excuses. Karen

Your Welcome Kim I originaly went to my GP when I was 19 with severe depression and he also diagnosed OCD, I was so embarrased that I didn't tell anybody, not even my parents. Even now, 13 years on, only my best friend and now my husband knows of my OCD. It was so hard to tell my husband, I thought he wouldn't want to be with me anymore, he was just relieved that it was something he could help me with. I really wish that I'd had the courage years ago to tell him and it would have saved a lot of heartache and almost a divorce! The reason that I feel embarrased of my OCD is the really stupid things that I do, which I can't explain to anybody. I still find it hard to explain things fully to my Husband but I am working on it. I am waiting for CBT but as I have had OCD for 13 years I know it's not going to be an overnight cure. Have you spoke to your GP about CBT? I think if you have a good GP it makes all the difference. Take Care Karen

Hi Kpnuts, I am also a newbie here, lurked for a few days and registered earlier today :clapping: I have had OCD since I was 19, I'm now 32. I also felt very alone for most of this time. I have been married for 9 years and I have managed to hide my OCD from my husband until 2 weeks ago when it all blew off the scale, I showed my husband the OCD-UK website and from that he has become so supportive and understanding. I have relaised that I am not alone, there are so many people like us out there and I have now managed to go to my GP for help. Please don't feel alone. Karen