OCD Action

aishah
Member

Hi everyone,

I was going to reply to a post on another forum but the post is old so I will post on here.

I had tics as a child and throughout my teens, facial tics, hand stretching, shoulder shrugs and more and excessive eye blinking. It wasn't treated or diagnosed and was diagnosed with OCD 20 years later.

The eye blinking has always been a problem and have never had much respite from it but have learnt to live with it.

For the last few months it has been excessive and I am aware of it every waking moment, I try to stop it but I can't, it is so distressing on top of everything else.

I know it can be caused by high levels of anxiety but am wondering if it may be Tourettes and am going to discuss it with my Psychiatrist on friday as I can't cope with it much longer and am prepared to take another medication to help relieve it if possible.

I am wondering if anyone else has experience of this and some advice maybe.

Thanks
Bridget

Mon Aug 30 2010 20:39:31 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hi Bridget -

I'm sorry for you. The involuntary muscle contractions that you have can be very annoying, esp. whey they become the total focus of one's attention.
I think that you don't have Tourette's in the narrow sense, but rather: tic disorders per se, also called dystonias.
OCD, Tourette's and tics all are part of the wide 'spectrum of OCD disorders'.

These affliction have one thing in common: lack of inhibition. The OCD patient just can't stop worrying again and again about the same issues; and he/she can't end the compulsive behaviours that are meant to alleviate the burden caused by the worries. The Tourette patient who unwillingly interjects normal speech with rude words just can't suppress doing this. The patient with tics can't end these by concentrating on them and trying to make the muscles involved relax.

I myself have writer's cramp. Suddenly, in 1993, I could not write properly anymore with my left hand. It turned out that the very precise collaboration between the two antagonizing muscles in my left hand did not function from that point on. Again: it's lack of inhibition in one of the muscles, which I can't make undone by voluntary effort.

I really, really hope that there is some kind of fitting therapy for you, e.g. with medication. At any rate, I can very well relate to your problems. Not being able to write properly is a serious everyday handicap, as are your own problems.

Sorry to be a bit vain here: perhaps a brief visit to my blog on OCD could be informative for you. It doesn't have commercial purposes, it's a labour of love by one who knows the ugly beast of OCD himself:

http://www.ocdinformation.wordpress.com

Best, Cuthbert, and good luck on Friday!

Tue Aug 31 2010 6:54:04 #
swan
Member

Hi,
Agree with Cuthbert about tourettes coming under the spectrum of OCD disorders, however just as OCD is not just about contaimination ( as most people think) tourettes is not just about swearing, can include tics and involuntary movements. I am in the process of finding out if I have tourettes my psychiatrist has said what I wrote above about tourettes co9ming under the spectrum of ocd disorders, but I am due to discuss with my social worker to find out further. I find I can keep some degree of control but when I get home it is really bad, sometimes at work I have to dive into the toilet and let words come out. Good luck with this.

Tue Aug 31 2010 7:16:54 #
aishah
Member

Hi,

Thanks Swan and Cuthbert for your replies.
I believe that is a tic disorder that has worsened, probably due to increased anxiety.

It has definately become my main focus over the last few weeks. I havn't really thought about it in much detail but do realise that I'm trying to control it all the time and that increases my anxiety as I don't get any relief.

I will discuss it with my psychiatrist on Friday and let you know how it goes.

I'm sorry that you both suffer from this as well.

Take Care
Bridget

Tue Aug 31 2010 19:37:44 #
swan
Member

Hi,
Hope all goes well tomorrow. You know when I see this post I suddenly become aware of my blinking and its annoying so how you must feel with it all the time must be 100x100 times worse than for me.

Thu Sep 2 2010 17:15:46 #
aishah
Member

Thanks Swan,

will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Hope ur having a better day

Take Care
Bridget

Thu Sep 2 2010 22:16:22 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hi Bridget -

here's wishing you good luck! Do keep us informed, will you?

Cheers, Cuthbert.

Fri Sep 3 2010 10:52:22 #
Unregistered

Dear Bridget, I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you.

I have a relative who has developed similar. I am unaware if she knows she is doing this and I am unsure whether it's best to keep quiet. What do you think? It followed a bout of depression and I am wondering whether it's best not to bring it to her attention.

Love, Tricia x

Fri Sep 3 2010 12:46:54 #
aishah
Member

Hi everyone,

I saw the psychiatrist yesterday and had a long chat about my blinking problem and he is of the view that is a compulsion and has suggested some excercises to do to help to relieve it.

I was rather hoping he was going to give me some kind of medication that would help dampen down the blinking but didn't.

I had spoken to some close friends and asked them to be honest with me and tell me how bad it was and they agreed that it was pretty bad.....but hey it's just another thing to contend with but I will remain positive and do the excercises suggested and see if that helps.

Thanks for your support everyone.

Tricia,

I'm sure your relative is already aware of the problem so it may be best to keep it quiet for now, I don't think they can be unaware because it actually causes pain around the eyes and for me causes headaches as well and general tension.

Take care
bridget
x

Sat Sep 4 2010 8:30:52 #