http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you It's Time to Act. OCD Action provides support and information for people affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Mon, 21 May 2012 15:58:29 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/search.php http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43539 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:57:22 +0000 truddles 43539@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi Amz,</p> <p>Welcome to the forum.<br /> Sorry to hear of your bad experience with the adult mental health team. But pleased to hear that you have finally received treatment that has helped. <blockquote>But I am on track with the mental tools to fight my OCD and control it not let it control me!</blockquote> Part of the problem is that so many of us just aren't given all the tools to deal with our OCD and so it's refreshing to hear of someone that has been given a complete tool kit &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> <p>Trudy </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43537 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:45:01 +0000 Amz 43537@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Wow just looked at that post. I think I should write a book. Or I could just use that post I think it would fill a book &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_lol.gif&quot; title=&quot;:lol:&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43536 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:43:19 +0000 Amz 43536@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>I dont know if any of this is relevant and will probably ramble, but this is my experiences of therapies</p> <p>OCD taken ove life gradually from the age of 5. At around 12ish saw GP a few times to chat and to be monitored, felt better stopped going. MISTAKE A.</p> <p>OCD takes over life back to GP referred to child pysciatrist, who was wonderful. We will call him Dr B. His therapy was mainly conselling. This helped me learn about OCD and gave me confidence that it was a treatable illness and not me! It also gave me regular opportunites to get of my chest my OCD problems to somebody who didnt judge and that new what I was talking about. I didnt feel so alone.</p> <p>Put on fluoxetine 60 mg daily.</p> <p>by the time I was 16 my life started. I feel that the recovery was 90% down the the medication. I went from being a bullied recluse, with no friends, who dreaded going to school, was failing school work, washed repeatedly until skin was red, lay awake at night in fear, suffered panick attacks, being unsocialble, angry, had no future prospects or goals and driving my Mum to the end of her tether -to- being a friendly outgoing person, having lots of friends, a busy social life, looking forwad to college each day, going on college trips (as far as SPAIN) having a part-time job, certificate for college attendance and grades well above predicted average and generally enjoying life.</p> <p>Dr B called me his success story. </p> <p>from 16 to 18 I saw Dr B every now and then to stay on the books and report status and even came off medication. At 18 I had to be reffered to the Adult Mental Health Team DR B said he should have reffered me at 16 but as I was doing so well and we had a good relationship he kept me on his books.</p> <p>I saw a temporary adult therapist a few times and he started to teach me about CBT. He then left and I was transferred to a different therapist who honestly I did not like! Due to this and the fact that I was doing fine I didnt keep going to apointments. I felt at the time they were an incovenient reminder of an old life that I wanted to forget. BIG MISTAKE B</p> <p>I am now 25 and recovering from a severe 3 year relapse!</p> <p>I have to say it is 10 times harder as an adult to 1. seek help 2. get it 3. take steps to recovery and 4. stay there.</p> <p>The one thing that is easier is that there are no childish bullies and people are a lot more understanding and sympathetic to your condition.</p> <p>You have so many more responsibilities as an adult and OCD just made me totally dependnant upon my boyfriend. We'll call him K. If I didnt have him it would have been my Mum looking after me.</p> <p>OCD had started to creep back in around 3 1/2 years ago. To start with it was just little things, manageable, bareable things. By the time I had to think about dealing with it, its had taken over my life! AGAIN!</p> <p>Here is a relevant famous quote that I love:</p> <p>"The chains of habit are generally to small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken" Samuel Johnson</p> <p>This couldnt be more true! I had tried to pretend OCD wasnt part of my life anymore and it came back with avengance. If I advise others anything it is dont be as nieve as I was. OCD will always be a part of your life you just need to learn to deal with it and manage it.</p> <p>Anyway I told you I would ramble, therapy as a 24-25 year old:</p> <p>Went to GP with K explained my relapse and asked for help. GP put me back on fluoxetine around 3 months passed I was upto 80mg of med and still no better if anything worse.</p> <p>He mentioned referring me to mental health team but didnt seem overly eager. One apointment I had with him "he literally said to me if the med I was on didnt work then there was nothing else" I walked out feeling like my life was not worth living and got in my car and cried my eyes out! </p> <p>I was forced to request the referral as he clearly wasnt going to do it and he had nothing further to offer me.</p> <p>weeks passed finally got an apointment at mental health team with an woman who was going to assess me.</p> <p>turns out this isnt the woman I would be seeing this was just an assessment and then had to be referred to a consultant (whatever that title means).</p> <p>weeks passed, me still feeling that life was not worth living and never would be. finally got apt with consultant who I then had to describe my OCD to for the third time. He put me on Chlomopramine, weeks passed I saw him on a regular basis as he gradually increased my dose to the maximum, I cant recall precisly what this was now. </p> <p>over 3 months after started Clomopramine I was STILL no better I had come off work on long term sick and my partner was doing everything for me. the consultant only saw me every 6 wks to up medication. he now decided to try me on another medication venlafxine. I just kept getting sent away to go a look at 4 walls day in day out withought being able to move without fear, or rituals and repetition.</p> <p>another 3 months until I was on the full dose of Venlafaxine and had given it enough time not to work. I gave up on the consultant and the nhs and raised funds for private care.</p> <p>THE BEST THING I COULD HAVE EVER DONE!</p> <p>All I can say for the Venlafaxine is that it stopped me wanting to kill myself and made me more emotionally fit do deal with repeating every task every day up to 20 times.</p> <p>I attended a 5 day intensive course at the OCD CENTRE in London. It showed me a completely new way to look at and deal with my OCD. The therapies in the course included:</p> <p>1. Knowledge<br /> 2. Mindfullness<br /> 3. Acceptance<br /> 4. CBT<br /> 5. REBT<br /> 6. Responsibilty<br /> 7. Exposure<br /> 8. Relaxation/Meditation</p> <p>I am still on the med as withdrawel symptons are severe and I am not 100% so am concerned to stop taking them incase my mood lowers.</p> <p>But I am on track with the mental tools to fight my OCD and control it not let it control me! </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43527 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:03:15 +0000 truddles 43527@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Good luck with the CBT Jess &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43504 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:22:08 +0000 Anonymous 43504@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>I think talking about my OCD in small doses helps. And I'd go for a combonation of CBT and medication. I've only JUST started getting CBT when I really could have done with it last year. &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_rolleyes.gif&quot; title=&quot;:roll:&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; 'Professionals'!! </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43446 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:57:26 +0000 Anonymous 43446@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Dear Catherine</p> <p>I wish your husband the very best of luck with exposure therapy. You can be of great help to him if you silently support him while he is doing the therapy. My husband and I grew very close when he stood by the door and silently watched me standing on the drain outside my house to help me overcome my fears of drains. He never forced me to do the thearpy just stood and watched with an approving look and gave me a hug after I had done it. </p> <p>There is a great section on how best to helps loved ones who have OCD in the book 'OCD for Dummies.'</p> <p>All the very best to both of you in getting this under some control<br /> Anne </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43413 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:54:51 +0000 resentment 43413@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Thanks again Anne, Trichia and Trudy<br /> I think we will try exposure therapy and see how it goes.<br /> Thanks again<br /> Catherine xxx </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43232 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:39:51 +0000 Anonymous 43232@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Dear Catherine, When I begged my vicar to arrange an exorcism he agreed to take me to a colleague of his. I was also told that my problem was not due to a demonic force. Like your husband, I refused to believe this. I think it was less a case of stubbornness and more the belief that this ‘entity’ was messing with my mind, but hiding from everyone else. </p> <p>Was the exorcist a priest from your own religion whom you knew? If he wasn’t, why don’t you suggest that your husband confide in the minister/priest of your local church. Perhaps if a second person, whom he really trusts, explains it isn’t an exorcism he requires he will try a different (medical) approach.</p> <p>Rather than stubbornness, I also place part of the blame onto a few religious people who do still claim that any mental condition can be healed with either exorcism or prayer. Ministers have told my friends and me to throw away medication, stop seeing psychiatrists and read the Bible daily. For some reason, these same people were not telling diabetics to throw away their insulin.</p> <p>Because OCD is ‘telling’ us to do things which our very sane, logical minds know to be ridiculous, some of us experience feelings that an entity must have taken over. Most of us move on from those feelings and realize we have a biological disorder. </p> <p>As Trudy said, please try not to feel ashamed. No-one should be feeling shame about a condition like OCD in this day and age!</p> <p>Best wishes, Tricia. </p> <p>P.S. Anne, I haven't forgotten my reply here to you, still in such a rush!! </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43220 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:14:03 +0000 truddles 43220@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Dear Catherine,</p> <p>Firstly I wanted to say that you’re not alone.</p> <p>I was saddened to read <blockquote>i feel ashamed to let my family and friends into my life and our home for fear that my husband's shameful secret might be revealed,</blockquote><br /> Please never feel ashamed of the fact that your husband has OCD. Granted in front of people that don’t understand OCD some of your husband’s behaviour could prove embarrassing to all. But feeling ashamed will only further upset you and make you feel depressed. After all if your husband had a cardiac problem you wouldn’t feel ashamed would you? This is no different, you just have to tell yourself that it’s just a different part of the body that’s affected. I’m sure that God won’t punish either you or your husband just because he’s ill. </p> <p>It can’t be easy so early in your relationship to cope with a condition that’s having such an impact on both your lives. He might be the one with OCD but you too are suffering the effects of OCD. </p> <p>By the sounds of it you are feeling lonely and isolated. You need to make time for yourself on a regular basis to ensure that you are still able to socialise with your friends and family. The more isolated you become the more you’ll start to resent the situation that you find yourself in. You also need to not be so hard on yourself and to be kind to yourself. You don’t have to suffer just because he won’t accept help, you need try to continue to live your life to the full as much as you can.</p> <p>If you’re finding it difficult to cope with the situation it might be worth you going to your GP to ask for counselling for yourself. This would provide you with not only someone to talk to, but also help you to work out some strategies to enable you to cope until your husband is willing to seek appropriate help.</p> <p>Please continue to post on the forum. We're a friendly forum and do our best to help and support each other.</p> <p>Best wishes<br /> Trudy </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43218 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:29:01 +0000 Anonymous 43218@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi Catherine </p> <p>I do so hope that your husband will eventually accept that he does have OCD and seek CBT. I agree with you that it best for him to do the therapy with a trained therapist and for you to help with his exposure therapy etc. </p> <p>I guess it is a problem talking about it to your family if your husband is not prepared to talk about it first. </p> <p>Having said this, I do hope you will start letting people into your house again. With my mum having a severe mental breakdown when I was 17, my close and extended family has always seen mental illness and mental health conditions as no different from any physical illness or condition. The main problem lay with how to help me best. </p> <p>I think there is a growing awareness about OCD - a lot more people know about it now than they used to. When I was first diagnosed it was thought to be a rare disorder. Now many sources quote the figure as high as 3% of the world's population. Most people I know, know someone with OCD, depression or bi-polar disorder. So, even if they find it hard to understand me, they are generally keen to listen without being judgemental.</p> <p>Very best of luck and please feel free to PM me if you want some support</p> <p>Best wishes<br /> Anne<br /> x </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43217 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:01:42 +0000 resentment 43217@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Dear Anne, Trichia and Trudy,</p> <p>Thank you so much for taking the time to write responses to me- really you cannot know just how much it means to me to be heard and understood as i have been feeling so isolated for so long- i feel ashamed to let my family and friends into my life and our home for fear that my husband's shameful secret might be revealed, which would only make my husband feel worse. And it is our first year of marriage too.</p> <p>I own numerous OCD books and have even offered/tried to play therapist to him but i really feel it is not up to the wife to manage such a disorder. Until he wants help i will just have to suffer. Maybe this is God's way of keeping me (and my husband) out of worse trouble!!</p> <p>Thanks again,<br /> Catherine<br /> x </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43216 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:41:37 +0000 Anonymous 43216@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi Catherine</p> <p>I agree with everyhing Tricia and Trudy have said. We can be in denial for several reasons. When I was first diagnosed I was told I had obsessional neurosis. I took great exception to this term and spent many years in denial. As far as I was concerned it was a phobia. This may be partly why I did not respond to treatment. But it also true that the thoughts seem so very real that it is hard to believe that they are not. </p> <p>There are some very good self help books on the market dealing with yur husband's symptoms. Even if he will not read them it is worth your while buying them and reading them yourself.</p> <p>The one I particularly like is: Jonoathon Grayson. 'Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,' Penguin, 2003. Chapter 12 'The Primary Mental Obsession; It really is all in your mind,' covers your husband's symptoms and provides some sensible CBT solutions which might help.</p> <p>I will have a look on the IOCD foundation page to see if there are any articles there and come back to you.</p> <p>Anne x </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you/page/2#post-43215 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:03:31 +0000 truddles 43215@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi Catherine,</p> <p>Welcome.</p> <p>Unfortunately we can be extremely stubborn and we don't always mean to be so. We're just frightened of not carrying out the compulsions that initially allayed our fears &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_neutral.gif&quot; title=&quot;:|&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> <p>It can't be easy living with someone with OCD, especially if they wont accept treatment. I'm improving but I still wouldn't want to live with me &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_neutral.gif&quot; title=&quot;:|&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> <p>Trudy </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-43214 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:02:51 +0000 Anonymous 43214@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Dear Catherine, I used to think exactly the same. I begged my vicar to perform an exorcism. Yes, people with OCD can be incredibly stubborn. However, it's very easy to feel an entity is controlling our minds and for a few years I was convinced this was what was happening. I'm in a rush today, I'll try to come back tomorrow.</p> <p>Anne, I did come to reply to your message. Again, I'll try to return tomorrow!!</p> <p>Tricia x </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-43213 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:55:40 +0000 resentment 43213@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Thank you Anne<br /> My problem is that my husband (who is the one suffering with OCD) does not believe it is a psychological problem that can be cured with such therapies as CBT, medication or counselling etc. He thinks it is a spiritual problem and thinks he needs an exorcist... He went to see an exorcist who told him that that was not what he needed but he refuses to believe him! Are OCD sufferers also very stubborn?!?!<br /> God must be trying to tell me something but i am only very confused!<br /> Suffering wife, Catherine </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-43206 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:57:59 +0000 Anonymous 43206@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi there and welcome to the forum.</p> <p>I think it is quite appropriate to put other therapies on here. </p> <p>I think opinion is divided on this. But, my personal opinion is that if your OCD has been aggravated by trauma such as suicides in the family, sexual or physical abuse and the such, counseliing can help. But I do think you need CBT and or meds as well. I say this because, in the end, to get control back you do have to face your fears and stop reacting to them. </p> <p>Anne </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-43204 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:33:13 +0000 resentment 43204@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi there, I'm sorry if this sounds a bit off on a tangent as i know we are discussing CBT and medication but doesn't anyone know if Counselling can help those with OCD?<br /> Sorry about the intrusion! </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-43169 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:09:14 +0000 Anonymous 43169@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi Tricia</p> <p>Yes you have to be fearful while you read it for it to work. You have to imagine that you are doing the thing you are reading out loud as hard as you can and then you have to put up with the fear. This may mean greatly exaggerating or writing it in graphic detail. When I did this at the Bethlem it did not work as they did not explain this. Morgan made it clear that for it to work you have to experience the fear.</p> <p>Love<br /> Anne </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-43168 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:42:29 +0000 Anonymous 43168@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Dear Anne, I don't believe I am very good at this kind of therapy. I have a friend who has the same fear as me, and she panics even reading or hearing certain words that are related to her fear. I don't react like that. I have been writing and saying aloud the worst scenario for me, but it doesn't upset me because it isn't real. Perhaps I am doing something wrong?</p> <p>Love, Tricia. </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-43135 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:29:48 +0000 Anonymous 43135@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Dear Tricia<br /> You have had me in stitches - and boy don't we all need a laugh from time to time....</p> <p>Well, this is going to be embarassing - excrutiatingly so -as the forum was small when I last posted this. </p> <p>So my obsession, the last in a long line of contamination obsessions, is that I have gone down a sewage drain (any) or put my clothes,washing powder, comb, washing, garden chair cushions and even my duvet (yes my double duvet- I do not know how I managed that one) down the sewage drain outside my house.<br /> The fear is unimaginable and therefore had to be faced to stop me from staying in for the rest of my life and boring myself to death with my ruminations:</p> <p>So this is what I wrote on my computer (or put on a loop tape in your case ).<br /> 'I went outside against my will and took off the drain cover and climbed down my drain. I am coverd with sewage, my clothes are covered in sewage. I am contaminated, my clothes are contaminated.' I read these thoughts to myself out loud from my computer for thirty minutes a day for about two weeks. After that time, I got really bored with hearing them and the voice started to fade to a quiet whisper. </p> <p>When I wrote them out just now, I started laughing - so it must still work. I have had a laugh with a few of you about this recently too. </p> <p>The next step was to stand on the offending drain until the fear subsided (in the wind rain and snow). After a couple of months, it was really beginning to work. As some of you recall I walked on every drain in town on New Years Eve in my best clothes. </p> <p>So that is the gist of it .</p> <p>Love<br /> Anne</p> <p>Having told you all I can now say this in the book in my own chapter whew! </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-43133 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:58:34 +0000 Anonymous 43133@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Anne, I am not sure whether to be pleased you resurrected this old thread or not! The reason I say that is because I believe I have observed a glaring error in something I have previously written. It could start a new compulsion of re-reading every message I have written on the forums (my messages total thousands, so it would keep my mind off other things! Also, bore everyone senseless as I list all the corrections!). Talking of which, where is our dear friend Michael? He used my ‘essays’ for his insomnia. I haven’t seen him on the new forum and he is sorely missed. Michael, I do hope I haven’t rendered you unconscious. I still visualize you ‘committing genocide’ in your garden. </p> <p>Back to the error! I am fairly sure that in Fred Toates’ summary, he stated that in his opinion the best combination was medication and behaviour therapy (I don’t think he included cognitive therapy, which is how I worded my previous message here). </p> <p>Anne, I am interested in the loop tapes. I’ve only tried them for an earlier obsession and I wasn’t successful, but I’ve never attempted using them for my contamination issues. You know what my fear is. If you were me, how would you go about phrasing what you were going to record onto a tape? I would ask their creator, but I think I’ve shot myself in the foot there!</p> <p>Tricia x </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-43130 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:01:41 +0000 Anonymous 43130@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi again<br /> Because the forum is a bit quiet, I thought that I would revive this topic too as it fits in with my new one.</p> <p>I was just reading from Tricia's post that Paul S. invented the idea of loop tapes. It is a very good tool in my opinion and can work even if (like me) you have no idea what you are actually afraid of. I use this in combination with ERP and meds. Read the thoughts first and then do the therapy. This does, of course, increase the fear at first because it is a sort of double exposure. But, with the meds taking the edge off the fear it is bearable. While the exposure gets you used to facing your fear, the loop tape (thought reading) seems to get your brain bored with the thoughts. For me, the end result was a lot of control within four months. Of course you have to keep it up as, otherwise, you start to slip backwards, especially if you are stressed or under pressure. </p> <p>It may not work for some of you, but it is worth a try, especially for those who are working backwards through their fears. Having said this, I did it for the first time with the support of my therapist, Morgan, and it is helpful to have a willing patner who will support you when you are on your own. My husband loved this idea and was most supportive and extrememly proud of my achievment. </p> <p>Anne </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-42967 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:54:43 +0000 folcklord 42967@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>ClXA5X <a href="http://xensuwwvjzuh.com/">xensuwwvjzuh</a>, <a href="http://sbiyzplofmwn.com/">sbiyzplofmwn</a>, [link=http://optgvsqdlfbq.com/]optgvsqdlfbq[/link], <a href="http://kxmkgokarhey.com/" rel="nofollow">http://kxmkgokarhey.com/</a> </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-37320 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:28:18 +0000 truddles 37320@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi Tricia and Sazzle,</p> <p>I agree that some people need medication in order to be able to get the most from CBT. I personally am struggling to cope with CBT as not only do I not have any medication for the OCD and depression I also need my epilepsy medication reviewed so that I am able to be more receptive to the CBT. I hasten to add that in the meantime I am doing my best to deal with the CBT, it's not easy though.</p> <p>Trudy </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-37319 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:45:56 +0000 Anonymous 37319@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hello Sazzle, It's not just you! Professor Toates, who is an eminent psychologist and OCD sufferer, states in his book that it's his belief the best treatment is a combination of medication and CBT.</p> <p>Tricia x </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-37317 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:38:56 +0000 sld52 37317@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>I have found a combination of the two useful. I think that it's because SSRIs and suchlike bring your neurological serotonin levels to a "normal" level, such that you can respond positively to any CBT therapy that you receive.</p> <p>but that's just me &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> <p>Sazzle xxx </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-37153 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:44:46 +0000 Nicola 37153@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p><blockquote>Not wanting to be a failure suggests that you have a really good relationship with your doctor. I feel the same about my therapist.</blockquote></p> <p>Yeah I do &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_biggrin.gif&quot; title=&quot;:D&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; <br /> I wouldn't lie to her though - she'd know anyway if I did. It's like she just knows.</p> <p>I only tried the tapping once - I saw her 4 times - she said we were trying to early. She wanted to go into the past as well - which was pointless, it had nothing to do with my OCD.<br /> That was in 2007 before I saw a psychologist, but 2008 was awesome and I got the coolest doctor ever &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_biggrin.gif&quot; title=&quot;:D&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-37133 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:44:45 +0000 Anonymous 37133@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi Tricia<br /> Yes I did that with all my therapists until I went to the Bethlem. I did not want to let them down. But it is equally true that I did not believe what they said as I had lost my trust in everybody. I remember that one mental health nurse said to me: 'You wouldn't believe it was true even if Almighty God told you.' I knew he was right. </p> <p>The first person I really trusted was Jonathon Ash at the Bethlem but I also trust my new therapist. With both, it was something to do with the body langauage and the positive vibes. The moment I met them I knew I would be able to do what they asked. </p> <p>As for thoughts, with me it is an inherited condition I think. I do not feel guilty in any way - just very afraid and perhaps rather angry. No amount of talking about my childhood ever helped. Nor did I 100% believe I had gone down the drain. It was just that the thoughts were so real that I had to check over and over again, wash myself and wash my clothes and then start all over again. The reading helps because my brain gets tired of the words. They are still there but it is now far easier for me to say 'Whatever, sad glad!' </p> <p>Having said this, if the thoughts are the main part of the OCD and regard self harm, harming others or the like, I would imagine that the talking part of the CBT was extrememly important. Otherwise, reading the thoughts might make things worse. I have had friends wiht this sort of OCd but did not have the courage to ask. I was afraid of making things worse for them. </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-37130 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:30:07 +0000 Anonymous 37130@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>P.S. It didn't work for me, and Frederick Toates talks about the therapy in his book, which alas also failed to help him.</p> <p>Love, Tricia. </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cbt-or-medication-which-was-right-for-you#post-37129 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:27:48 +0000 Anonymous 37129@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Dear Anne, I have several friends who, over the years, have pretended to have improved more than they have, because they didn’t want to upset their therapists!</p> <p>By the way, I seem to recall that Professor Salkovskis first came up with the idea of loop tapes. I’ve just checked an article that I copied a few years ago, where he stated the following in reply to a patient’s question:</p> <p>"Strangely enough I have to confess that I invented this technique back in 1982! However things have moved on a bit and this should not be used on its own.</p> <p>One of the key question is why it is that you find these thoughts so upsetting. For many people it's because they feel that having the thoughts means that they are a wicked person, may be responsible for harm or even that the thought might come true because they thought it. Dealing with those ideas is the first step and then the loop tape can help you confirm that nothing happens even if you don't 'fix' the thought. Also, you can learn that if you ignore the thought the anxiety goes away and it becomes a bit boring." </p>