Hi, new here, what help has worked best for others?

[RainbowMoon]

Hi,

I'm 35 and had OCD for as long as I can remember, I have never sought help as my compulsions managed it, albeit frustrating at times, I just got on with it, when I am around nice people and happy I don't really do it but when I am on my own that's when I get stuck doing things.

Basically if I think of a person I don't like I feel like their ugliness or if they have a disease then that will stay on me so I will have to repeat whatever action I was doing at the time whilst thinking of someone or something nice to override it.

It has gotten worse these past few months and now I do it at work too not just at home, I have to do things 5 times but I have to do that multiple times as the 'unfavourable people' I think of just pop into my head so for example I will open and shut doors multiple times, retrace my steps, hold my breath sometimes when I do these things, getting changed is also a nightmare, basically anything I do I have to repeat but I'm finding it harder to think of nice things, I have tried to just carry on and not do the compulsions but I get this awful ancey feeling like I need a wee.

I am pregnant and I am even saying things to myself to try and stop the repeating like 'right if I dont do this in one go then my baby will die' but then i csnt do the action in one go so it carries on until i can, each action gets bigger than before so i can encompass all i did before to override the bad action,it's really horrible now, I'm trying to change my wording to "if I do this in one go then my baby will be healthy" but its exhausting and I say other things to and I'm worried that me saying these things is also calling it in from the universe. I am exhausted as it takes me ages just to do simple things.

I have referred myself with the nhs but awaiting help so I am just wondering what has helped people mostly? Reading literature? CBT course? Medication? (I told the doctor I didn't want medication especially because I'm pregnant) 

I am Interested which avenue to try to pursue as I can't understand how I can just ignore the thoughts or compulsions as I have tried and it just seems crazy and makes me feel physically weird but I am exhausted. Sorry for the long post!

[DRS1]

1 hour ago, RainbowMoon said:

Hi,

I'm 35 and had OCD for as long as I can remember, I have never sought help as my compulsions managed it, albeit frustrating at times, I just got on with it, when I am around nice people and happy I don't really do it but when I am on my own that's when I get stuck doing things.

Basically if I think of a person I don't like I feel like their ugliness or if they have a disease then that will stay on me so I will have to repeat whatever action I was doing at the time whilst thinking of someone or something nice to override it.

It has gotten worse these past few months and now I do it at work too not just at home, I have to do things 5 times but I have to do that multiple times as the 'unfavourable people' I think of just pop into my head so for example I will open and shut doors multiple times, retrace my steps, hold my breath sometimes when I do these things, getting changed is also a nightmare, basically anything I do I have to repeat but I'm finding it harder to think of nice things, I have tried to just carry on and not do the compulsions but I get this awful ancey feeling like I need a wee.

I am pregnant and I am even saying things to myself to try and stop the repeating like 'right if I dont do this in one go then my baby will die' but then i csnt do the action in one go so it carries on until i can, each action gets bigger than before so i can encompass all i did before to override the bad action,it's really horrible now, I'm trying to change my wording to "if I do this in one go then my baby will be healthy" but its exhausting and I say other things to and I'm worried that me saying these things is also calling it in from the universe. I am exhausted as it takes me ages just to do simple things.

I have referred myself with the nhs but awaiting help so I am just wondering what has helped people mostly? Reading literature? CBT course? Medication? (I told the doctor I didn't want medication especially because I'm pregnant) 

I am Interested which avenue to try to pursue as I can't understand how I can just ignore the thoughts or compulsions as I have tried and it just seems crazy and makes me feel physically weird but I am exhausted. Sorry for the long post!

Yeah you don't necessarily need to be taking any medication for OCD. There is so many reasons why people can't and yet they can recover just as well as those who do. For me it was mainly self-help books that helped. The book by david veale and the book by oldfield, bream and salkovskis (both of which you can get on the OCD-UK store or amazon) are very helpful

[Ashley]

Hi RainbowMoon (cool name btw)

I agree with DRS1 that you don't necessarily need medication to recover. That's not to say you can't take medication, it can help some, and should always be an individual choice.

You mentioned being pregnant. The reason I ask is that there is a specialist anxiety clinic in London for people with anxiety problems and OCD that will prioritise seeing pregnant women or new mums.  Getting a referral is a long shot, but it could be worth talking to your GP and asking him/her to make whats called a 'right to choose' referral to the service, in the hope they will see you sooner rather than later.  Your GP may not know too much about the clinic or 'right to choose' but ask them to write to Dr Blake Stobie at the CADAT clinic and request a 'right to choose' referral, and be clear to ask if can be seen by the PAX team due to pregnancy.   Pass this link to the GP if you need to - https://slam.nhs.uk/referrals-cadet

The service is called PAX at the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT) clinic at the Maudsley Hospital in London. Pax stands for Parents with AnXiety.   Don't worry if you can't get to London, I am sure they can do some remote video therapy work for now.

I hope this information may help.

I will also move your thread to the main OCD forum so you may get more replies.

With best wishes, Ashley

 

 

[Handy]

Pregnancy changes your estrogen so the OCD can come on stronger.  OCD has an estrogen component.  Things get better once the baby is born I read.

Search the forum for pregnancy topics. You'll find a lot. 

Postpartum OCD is also common.  Perinatal OCD is before birth. These are topics you can search for.  

I think OCD symptoms based on hormone fluctuations just don't respond to treatment as easily as most people think.

 

Edited March 26, 2023 by Handy
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