Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

humpty dumpty · Nov 23, 2006

I was just wondering if any of you on this board have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). 
Here is my story: 
I was diagnosed with OCD not too long ago. I believe I've always had it in one form or another, but it really reached its peak shortly before I began community college a couple of years ago. Basically I couldn't do anything that required moving-shut/open anything, put down/pick up something, turn something on/off, write, type-without getting a very uneasy feeling, which would cause me to repeat my action until it "felt right." I went through a terrible depression in middle school, and I feared that, if I didn't repeat my action until it "felt right," then I would become seriously depressed again. 
My OCD made what otherwise would've been a fairly easy freshman year pure hell. I started school in late August and quit on October 1. I only had until the first of December to go before final exams. 
After taking time off to "recuperate," I finally found the perfect psychiatrist, who I have been seeing since this summer. He has helped me tremendously. 
I now am back at school catching up. Sometimes it is still extremely difficult to do certain things, but I would say I have improved by 50%, maybe more.

veggielove · Nov 23, 2006

I have a family member who was diagnosed before the age of 10. I am amazed that you were able to function for so long without help - good for you!!!! 
The behaviors are really debilitating. Turning things on and off, walking without stepping on lines, washing hands till they were raw - it was really hard to watch a loved one go through. I tried to watch "the aviator" but it disturbed me so much I couldnt finish it. I'm so glad that you are getting treatment and feeling some relief. It never goes away completely, but you can learn to live a happy life with good treatment. My best wishes for you!!!!!

missbelgium · Nov 23, 2006

A friend of mine was very bad with OCD (mostly washing) for several years and he has managed to overcome it too. He was even considering experimental brain surgery at one point, that's how bad it was... 
So it is possible to overcome it. My husband shows light OCD and (at least in his case) my theory is that the disorder is developed on an unconscious level as a coping strategy of some sort. I am curious to know if this touches upon your own experience and if you have been able to find out what is at the root of this need to cope...

TreeManEarthSteward · Nov 24, 2006

I have a germophobia OC less the D, it is not necessarily a disorder. I rebuke that part of the equation, because in this very messy & unhygenic world, you just know there is something nasty/unclean/unsavory at sometimes every turn, which is understandable IMO that I want to avoid that. 
Anyway, just wanted to say hi and well done for staying functional and that I know many of the things first hand the things you mention, or have known them, somethings partially stabilized, and other things ongoing (or reoccuring due to mental torment or trauma but trauma or actually even something not even anywhere near that severe can IMO give welcome distraction to the obsessive compulsive behaviour). I won't talk about it much though as I am in debilitated mood lately due to moving home problems, and its not good for me right now to detail anything.

humpty dumpty · Nov 24, 2006

So it is possible to overcome it. My husband shows light OCD and (at least in his case) my theory is that the disorder is developed on an unconscious level as a coping strategy of some sort. I am curious to know if this touches upon your own experience and if you have been able to find out what is at the root of this need to cope...[/QUOTE] 
I very much agree with the coping strategy theory about OCD sufferers. 
I actually have three reasons that I strongly believe caused my OCD: 
-When I was 9, my dad was seriously injured in an offshore accident. He recuperated, but is disabled. In addition, we were involved in a lawsuit for the next four years, which turned out in our favor, but we were still highly stressed and uncertain about our future for these four years. I very well could have developed OCD later on as a coping strategy for all of this. I also could have developed it as a coping strategy for dealing with the depression and stress and uncertainty that comes along with graduating from high school (I had a good high school experience and I guess I just went into a tailspin after graduating). 
-I have heard about some recent studies suggesting that childhood cases of strep throat could later influence the development of OCD in people (I think the remains of the virus somehow settle into your nervous system and/or the part of the brain that controls decision-making). When I was a kid, I had allergies really badly and sore throats a lot. I can't recall for sure if I ever had strep throat, but in all likelihood, I probably did. 
-Even though I am the only person I know of in my family who has been diagnosed with OCD, I see traces of OCD in both my parents and in several family members on both sides of my family, so it could be hereditary. My mother believes that she has it to a certain extent. 
I don't think I've been as focused as I should be in trying to figure out what has caused my OCD but hopefully I will soon do so. 
BTW, thank you all for sharing your stories and for your well wishes and condolences. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

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Kill Uncle · Nov 24, 2006

i have never been diagnosed with ocd and i am not sure if i have ocd or if i am just a germaphobic. 
my family and close friends think that i have ocd,but i think its just a germ thing.

GhostUser · Nov 25, 2006

Whenever I turn the volume of my stereo up or down, the numerical volume has to be in -5 or in -0 or I'm not gonna be satisfied. Also I sometimes like stepping only on lines / not stepping on lines, but juste every once and a while. I'm not sure whether that's OCD or not, but it doesn't worry me all that much <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

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veggielove · Nov 25, 2006

When you have clinical OCD you'd probably know it at least subconsciously - you know something is "wrong" with you becuase you are not able to live a normal life. The compulsions become so intense that they interfere with your ability to function normally. 
I don't know if I believe in a causational OCD, perhaps there is, but in my brother, it was almost obvious from when he was a toddler. It runs in the family a bit too, so I'm more inclined to believe most OCD is genetic. Perhaps there are two different disorders that get lumped under the one label, I dunno, I'm no doctor, but I've been very aware of what OCD is most of my life, and with different treatments, and I've never really considered any type of environmental cause. What I'm really trying to say is, I dont think you should focus on finding a cause. YOu just need a means of controlling your compulsions. 
A lot of us have other minor "compulsions" and "obsessions" like germs, or having very specific ways we like things done, but these are not OCD. OCD is a very serious clinical problem, and really isn't often looked upon with the seriousness it deserves. It was hell for my family, and continues to haunt us from time to time, although mostly his symptoms are under control (they flare up under stress though :-( ). It is, quite simply, horrifying to watch someone you love suffer like that. 
humpty, I hope you have a good support system, you deserve it!!! Hang in there, lots of love and luck to you!!!!

thatoneguy · Nov 25, 2006

I have mild OCD, I repeat actions. A doctor prescribed Zoloft for me a few years ago, but I didn't feel the need to take it. Mine is more of a bad habit.

Daral · Nov 26, 2006

I sometimes do stepping on/off lines, but that's just to entertain myself while I walk from one place to another. 
One of my good friends had OCD for most of his life, but then God healed him (totally off meds, no therapy, etc). I still like to accuse him of being too detailed or timely sometimes, but it's NOTHING compared to full-blown OCD, and we both know it. It's pretty amazing to see.

Shantih · Nov 26, 2006

I guess I have OCD, I've never seen anyone about it though. I mostly count things, or tap them until it feels right, 4 is my safe number. In the last year I've started obsessively looking over my shoulder, in a lesson I'll do it about every 30 seconds, I get some strange looks with that one. Also I'm not sure about where it started originally (it's been going on since I was about nine or ten), that complusion I'm pretty sure is because I was attacked last year and started looking over my shoulder everywhere, all the time. 
Although I've looked up the disorder and I seem to have every main symptom, I've never been funny about washing my hands or hygene, although I do take about 5 minutes to dry my hands, but there's no hygene fears behind that. 
It does affect my life, sometimes the complusions get so bad I can't draw or write and have to go lie down for a bit until I calm down (they get much, much worse when I'm stressed or upset). I want to get help but my doctor isn't very helpful and I've heard the waiting list for a good OCD therapist is huge. My doctor is the type to just slap you straight on some drugs, it drives me mad. 
What's really driving me to get help now is in the last few months I've started to get obsessive thoughts, especially about people close to me dying, I've lost two friends this year which has made that very bad and I get panicky over the slightest things, which makes the complusions worse.

Thalia · Nov 26, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by thatoneguy <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
I have mild OCD, I repeat actions. A doctor prescribed Zoloft for me a few years ago, but I didn't feel the need to take it. Mine is more of a bad habit.</div>
</div>
 
I would agree. If something isn't bothering you, then you shouldn't worry about treating it*, especially with something that may have a downside. Not to mention it costs you and your insurance plan money. 
*ETA that is, not bothering you=not bringing you harm and won't bring you harm if left untreated. This is general rule of mental illness, if it doesn't impair functioning and does not bother the patient, why treat it?

missbelgium · Nov 27, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">This is general rule of mental illness, if it doesn't impair functioning and does not bother the patient, why treat it?</div>
</div>
 
This is true... I have often regretted this btw... as I live with someone who has definite problems (mostly phobia, but MANY phobia). It does not bother him, he functions fairly well (at a price), but it bothers me. He has seen a series of therapists but not because he wanted to, more because I wanted him to (not a good starting point, I know) and the main person suffering from his problems is ME ! I can however not force him to have therapy. He is functional, has a stable job and copes fairly well. He does force me to see things his way or to 'help' him stay in his phobia quite regularly though and it bothers me... when he is phobic and has anxiety problems, he gets angry at me (coping strategy) etc... 
So if you feel you have a problem, what I would recommend is to look very honestly at how much this is impacting the people who live with/around you as well ! It may be you don't suffer much, but those around you are not comfortable...

GhostUser · Dec 1, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Daral <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
One of my good friends had OCD for most of his life, but then God healed him (totally off meds, no therapy, etc).</div>
</div>
 
Yeah... I think God used to be a very good doctor, but I didn't know he was also a psychiatrist! 
Funny though, don't you think your friend just could've gotten better by him/herself? 
Oh wait a second there. Does "uncurable atheism" count as being OCD? I think I found mine. ^-^

missbelgium · Dec 1, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">"uncurable atheism"</div>
</div>
 
Rest assured. Nothing is forever. Nothing is incurable. God told me so. Haha. 
But seriously. Never say never. I am older than you and I have changed my mind about a few things, over the years...

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

humpty dumpty

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veggielove

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missbelgium

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TreeManEarthSteward

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Kill Uncle

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