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if you have ocd . does it mean you have autism


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need advice 

hi I Rebekah and I 32 years old , i been struggling with ocd for some years . I did have cbt but that hasnt work for the long term for me and i waiting for a long time for help. 

anyway i got a brother how got aspergers a forum of autism and I starting to wonder if i got it too.  I wondering if ocd is a sign of autism ? 

i really anxious and nervous most of the time . 

i starting to worry about this if anyone knows please contact me. x 

 

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Hi Rebekah,

You are clearly anxious about this, but I would think it unlikely that you have autism!

Might it be worth your while to chat to your doctor about this, & tell them how anxious and nervous you are, and see if they can refer you on to another round of CBT, or if in the pipeline, apply some weight and bring forward appointments.

Don't suffer in silence, and keep the pressure on in a polite way! 

 

  

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I believe it is quite common for those on the autistic spectrum to also have OCD, but just because you have OCD certainly doesn't mean you are autistic. Although as you have a brother with Asperger's it could be a possibility, but again, definitely not a given. If you find you can relate to a lot of his difficulties, it might be worth talking to your GP about getting assessed.

On the other hand, if it is something you are worrying about a lot in an obsessive way, it could just be that your brother's diagnosis has triggered your OCD.

Edited by Lost_in_a_Dark_Maze
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thanks 

i find it hard to relax and enjoy myself when I go out with work friends 

I want to socialise but I get so nervous and 

worried that I not acting right that I spoil it for myself.

 

i wondering is that ocd depression anxiety or Asperger ? 

 

There doesnt seem seem to be any support for people with ocd I feel I be let alone to deal with it which I not doing too well 

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Hi Rebekah, 

Most people with OCD don't have Autism.

However most people with Autism have some Compulsive behaviours and it is possible to have both OCD and Autism. 

The best course of action is probably to book an appointment with your GP to ask for help with Social Anxiety and OCD- this could be CBT or a referral to the CMHT. 

I'm a similar age, definitely don't have Autism but my severe Social Anxiety (which I acquired from the social isolation that has resulted from my OCD) means that my behaviour in social situations could appear autistic to anyone who doesn't know me. 

In some respects the issue at hand isn't whether or not you have Autism; instead it's that you have severe anxiety when socialising and need some help with that! 

 

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On 16/01/2020 at 16:22, rdavies87 said:

thanks 

i find it hard to relax and enjoy myself when I go out with work friends 

I want to socialise but I get so nervous and 

worried that I not acting right that I spoil it for myself.

 

 

That sounds like Avoident Personality Disorder.  I suggest you research it too & see what you think. It’s comorbid with Ocd often. 
 

“Autism” comes from Self plus Ism. It originally described schizophrenia. I love words, it’s my theme. 

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On 17/01/2020 at 09:22, rdavies87 said:

thanks 

i find it hard to relax and enjoy myself when I go out with work friends 

I want to socialise but I get so nervous and 

worried that I not acting right that I spoil it for myself.

 

i wondering is that ocd depression anxiety or Asperger ? 

Hi Rebekah, I'm sorry you are having trouble.
There are many reasons why people can feel nervous in social situations.
One of those reasons can be OCD, autism might be another. 
It is difficult for us to give you a good answer thought.
I think speaking to a doctor or a therapist is a good choice if possible.
However, it might just be you are ea little more shy than other people.  That is also possible.
No matter what the problem (or problems) is, you can get help using therapy like CBT.
I also think most people worry too much about what other people think. 
Usually other people do not think about what we say or do as much as we think.
I hope you can speak with a doctor or therapist soon to get more help.
Of course you can always ask for advice and support here on the forums!

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Guest OCDhavenobrain

I obsessed about this too for a while, still haven't got an answer and not sure if I will.

Do not follow your fear, it is intresting that this is making you anxious, that means that there probably are some obsessions involved.

Edited by OCDhavenobrain
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Hi, 

I have general anxiety, and mild depression, that is linked to my OCD, (yay), and I'm also on the autistic spectrum. I also have social phobia.

I'm only very mildly autistic, but I sort of count that as part of my personality. Sometimes it is hard to spot the gaps between autistic behaviour and my OCD,

But the key word is disorder.

On the whole my autistic "quirks", don't cause me any bother, but my OCD compulsions never bring me any relief.

For example, I like to do things "Right" that means reading and understanding any instructions and may be a bit of research before I do new things.

I enjoy this and knowing I'm fully informed, is a nice feeling.

When the OCD kicks in is when I have to check over and over, that things are right, I can never be sure and often end up making things worse by my checking.

I'm pretty sure my social anxiety is not the autism, as I suspect that when that's been in play I don't notice the nontypical way I'm behaving and just think I'm normal!

(Hate saying normal, I am normal, everyone's normal or no one is!)

Worrying about having some problem to the extent it causes distress,  sounds OCD to me .

So it's possible you have autism, it's also possible you are just shy, If you need to be sure, you know really sure, 1 million percent sure. And you can't tolerate the uncertainty, that's starting to sound like OCD.

Edited by Closed for repairs
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Guest OCDhavenobrain

The only thing that scares me is that there seems to be indications that people with autism is highly resistant to therapy (with anxiety and such) because of repetitive thinking. Which means that the person will not only have anxiety from the anxiety but also from the feeling of failing therapy time after time.

But as I see it you are coming from a position of fear, where you very much fear the possibility of having autism. No shame in that, most people want to be "normal". But do not engage in it.

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20 minutes ago, OCDhavenobrain said:

The only thing that scares me is that there seems to be indications that people with autism is highly resistant to therapy (with anxiety and such) because of repetitive thinking. Which means that the person will not only have anxiety from the anxiety but also from the feeling of failing therapy time after time.

But as I see it you are coming from a position of fear, where you very much fear the possibility of having autism. No shame in that, most people want to be "normal". But do not engage in it.

Yeah, how does having autism affect the CBT, (I've filled in loads of work sheet, done lots of diagrames and graphs, and got a bit carried away with the paperwork, for example).?

Is a slightly different thing from I'm worried I'm autistic.

Good advice, don't engage with it.

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Guest OCDhavenobrain

Well, people with autism have even harder with new things and routines. I have known a few autists in my life, which makes me think that I also have it, because you tend to be with people like yourself. However, the people I have known on the spectrum have been very repetitive in their thinking, not only obsessions but an inability to see things from new aspects, and that is a drawback if you want to overcome OCD.

But what if you have it, what will you benefit from obsessing about it? You know that autism is a diagnos you have for life, so what's the point ruminating, really?

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 29/01/2020 at 18:03, OCDhavenobrain said:

an inability to see things from new aspects

Explain to me why the greatest visionaries were/are autistic then?

-Nikola Tesla

-Charles Darwin

-Einstein

-Leonardo daVinci

-Michelangelo

-Bill Gates

-Temple Grandin

 

 

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On 15/02/2020 at 18:05, Orwell1984 said:

Explain to me why the greatest visionaries were/are autistic then?

-Nikola Tesla

-Charles Darwin

-Einstein

-Leonardo daVinci

-Michelangelo

-Bill Gates

-Temple Grandin

You could argue that people with autism have a tendency to see things from a different perspective, which is what makes some of them so creative. 

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Guest OCDhavenobrain
On 15/02/2020 at 19:05, Orwell1984 said:

Explain to me why the greatest visionaries were/are autistic then?

-Nikola Tesla

-Charles Darwin

-Einstein

-Leonardo daVinci

-Michelangelo

-Bill Gates

-Temple Grandin

 

 

I have no idea if they did, probably not, Da Vinci was for sure not autistic. I am just applying stuff from the diagnosis. If you sre offended well sorry mate.

I could say I am offended by people putting labels on people who habe been dead for 300 years or so. I know why society do it, so people with diagnosis will feel better. But all of those people had/have talents which ordinary people van only dream of. Just because you have the same diagnosis as X and Y doesn't make you and I like those people.

It is pretty established that autistic individuals have this trait, do not go after me.

Once again I can't understand for the world why people are so inclined to be offended. Let it go.

Edited by OCDhavenobrain
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14 hours ago, OCDhavenobrain said:

Once again I can't understand for the world why people are so inclined to be offended. Let it go.

Because if people post unhelpful or offensive comments, then people are likely to be offended.  Instead of telling others to let it go, perhaps we should all be a little more understanding and empathetic when we write our comments.

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Guest OCDhavenobrain

Whaaaatever. Let yourself beoffended guys, make it your new obsession. In the meanwhile I worry about real things, not like there aren't a lot of them. 

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6 hours ago, OCDhavenobrain said:

Whaaaatever. Let yourself beoffended guys, make it your new obsession. In the meanwhile I worry about real things, not like there aren't a lot of them. 

Funny how you think the things you worry about are "real" but everyone else's worries are just them being offended. 

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On 22/02/2020 at 23:34, OCDhavenobrain said:

There are real problems. Like needing to get food or shelter. Even real anxiety

“Real anxiety”?  If you feel anxiety, it’s real. Either you feel it or you don’t. That’s it. The source of the anxiety, the perceived threat might not be “real” but if you are feeling anxiety, especially related to an anxiety disorder then the fear you feel is real regardless. It is rude and disrespectful to dismiss the suffering of others just because you don’t happen to have the same source of anxiety as they do. Your OCD is not more or less worthy than theirs regardless of the topic. If a person is suffering due to OCD, they are suffering and they deserve to get better. That’s it. 

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Guest OCDhavenobrain
On 23/02/2020 at 19:25, dksea said:

“Real anxiety”?  If you feel anxiety, it’s real. Either you feel it or you don’t. That’s it. The source of the anxiety, the perceived threat might not be “real” but if you are feeling anxiety, especially related to an anxiety disorder then the fear you feel is real regardless. It is rude and disrespectful to dismiss the suffering of others just because you don’t happen to have the same source of anxiety as they do. Your OCD is not more or less worthy than theirs regardless of the topic. If a person is suffering due to OCD, they are suffering and they deserve to get better. That’s it. 

I wrote problems not anxiety.

Edited by OCDhavenobrain
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Hi rdavies87. To go back to your original posts. My take on diagnosis is what advantages it would give you or not give you. What advantages or support would a diagnosis of autism give you? Some people find a diagnosis gives them an explanation of why they are the way they are. Some people get support. Some people like socialising with people like them. Some people hope to get treatment. So why do you want the diagnosis? I believe it is a broad spectrum.

I am not sure whether I am autistic or not. I passed/failed one of the tests devised by a leading authority on the subject - whether I could accurately read emotion in people’s eye expression. One of the Cohen Baron tests. Yet I reckon I have empathy. As psychologists put it I have a theory of mind. People have different perspectives.  I believe I can read ‘tells’ as poker players put it. Or I think I can.

So think about it. Perhaps do a little research. Talk to people on forums. Meet up with people and then decide if you want to be tested.

Edited by Angst
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4 hours ago, OCDhavenobrain said:

I wrote problems not anxiety.

You also wrote "real anxiety", its right there, in your post.  Here I'll highlight it for you.
 

On 22/02/2020 at 23:34, OCDhavenobrain said:

There are real problems. Like needing to get food or shelter. Even real anxiety


As for "real problems", OCD is a REAL problem, if you can not respect that, and that people here (and elsewhere) are suffering from it and struggling with it, then maybe this is not the place for you.

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