OCD Action

Tadees
Member

Hi,

I have had OCD for approximately 10 years.

This manfests itself in excessive hand washing, taking long in the shower and to perform ritual ablution for prayer. I keep having severe doubts whether I have washed correctly or not. My memory keeps failing me and therefore I continuously count whilst I wash. I have spent up 2 hours in the shower.

The second way the OCD manifests itself is analysis of every action, thought and speech in terms of whether it constitutes disbelief or not. This results in me asking several religious scholars for a verdict, in order to certify with certainty that I have not committed an act of disbelief. This has resulted in me e-mailing over a thousand questions to various Islamic scholars over a period of a few years.

These issues have taken an immense toll on my marriage.

I am undegoing CBT in Solihull by a Dr Townend, but the problem and doubts are getting worse. If the mind is so stuck or set on a particular thought, the rationality and the 'talking-shop' of the CBT approach seems to go out of the window.

I simply do not know what to do anymore. Do you have any suggestions?

Sun Nov 13 2011 1:48:08 #
Tess
Member

Hi Tadees
Just wanted to say welcome to the forum and I'm so sorry your OCD is making life so hard for you. You don't say how long you've been having CBT but if your problems continue to worsen then I think you need to discuss this with your therapist and possibly try a different approach. Have you considered medication? If CBT alone is not working for you then a combination of medication and CBT might help. If you look at the Support and Info section at the top of this website it gives details of different types of treatments and if you look under Professionals you can read the NICE guidelines which will explain your entitlements to treatment.

Sun Nov 13 2011 11:09:53 #
Soxon
Key Master

All versions of the NICE Guidelines can be accessed in the Resource Centre along with other information on OCD.
OCD Action has produced an information sheet called ‘Accessing Treatment – Your rights’ which should help to answer any queries members may have with regards to getting treatment for their OCD.
There are also information sheets and presentations on CBT. There is an information sheet called the CBT Checklist – a guide to what good CBT should and shouldn’t include, a must read for anyone who is having CBT or is about to start CBT.

Soxon
Keymaster

Sun Nov 13 2011 12:12:56 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hi Tadees -

welcome to the site indeed. I agree with Tess - medication could be a very good addition to your treatment. I know the effects of it are quite individual; but from reading studies, I know that SSRIs (like fluoxetine or paroxetine), perhaps combined with a neuroleptic 'sidekick', potentially have the effect of really reducing the worries and religious ruminations you describe here.

And Soxon's practical advice is, as always, excellent.

Wishing you all the best, Cuthbert in the Netherlands.

Sun Nov 13 2011 12:45:35 #
Wombat140
Member

If all else fails, then it's usually a good idea to try a different CBT therapist before giving up on CBT. They each have their own ways of doing it.

Sun Nov 13 2011 19:33:41 #
Ratwomble
Member

Excellent point from wombat. Definitely worth trying another therapist.

D

Mon Nov 14 2011 21:24:22 #