OCD Action

slogsweep
Member

Morning all, hope you're having a good day.

I read last night while on the train a section in the David Veale "Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" linking depression to OCD. It seemed to suggest that depression combined with OCD can make us over-analyse our pasts and add significance and excessive worry to minor things we needn't worry about. Depressive rumination combined with OCD seems particularly nasty and I think it's what I was doing at the start of this episode.

I am diagnosed as suffering from depression, my score on the hospital depression test is 15, down from 21 at my lowest. However could this still be affecting my OCD? Has anyone any experience of depression causing problems with their OCD?

Would love to hear any thoughts,

Best wishes

Slog

Thu Nov 24 2011 10:15:03 #
Unregistered

Hi Slogsweep,

I would personally imagine that the majority of OCD sufferers have also experienced depression in their lives.

I have suffered with terrible depression, that pushed me to thoughts of suicide. My depressions sometimes lasted for years at a time.

It is estimated that on average, OCD sufferers wait for 12 years before seeking help for their OCD. (e.g. by tellng their GP about it.) I can't imagine anyone suffering from OCD for 12 years and NOT getting depressed -- can you?

If the depression becomes ingrained (i.e. you suffer from depression for a long period), it becomes a secondary problem, in addition to your OCD.

I have read many times that OCD patients sometimes cannot get success through CBT if they are depressed at the time. That's what the SSRI's / anti-depressants are for -- to bring down your depression and / or anxiety, to a level that makes it possible for you to cope with the CBT.

So many of us struggle with two separate illnesses: OCD, and also clinical depression. (That's why I think it's important to educate yourself about ALL types of mental illnesses -- and not just OCD.)

If anyone thinks they might be clinically depressed, I would recommend reading the NICE Guidelines for Depression in adults -- and speak to their GP and / or therapist about their depression, and not just their OCD.

Take care.

Thu Nov 24 2011 11:05:16 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Slog, Hi londoner, yes, me too... I've had the depression for well over thirty years, and I thought that it was my depression that left me vulnerable to the OCD which I guess I've probably had for at least ten years, when I stop to think about it, both illnesses probably go back a long way further...
wannabe

Thu Nov 24 2011 20:00:16 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Slog, Hi londoner, yes, me too... I've had the depression for well over thirty years, and I thought that it was my depression that left me vulnerable to the OCD which I guess I've probably had for at least ten years, when I stop to think about it, both illnesses probably go back a long way further...
wannabe

Thu Nov 24 2011 20:01:23 #
Tess
Member

Hi
I think this is a bit of a chicken and egg situation, which came first, the depression or the OCD, or did they come together i.e. co- morbid. My depression certainly felt as though it preceded my OCD by up to a year but they may have arrived together and I didn't recognise the OCD. Like OCD Londoner's my depression was very severe. Maybe I have just been lucky, it has completely gone, whether due to lifestyle, SRRIs or a combination of both I don't know, but I have found the OCD far harder to eliminate. I do think however, that once the depression has been relieved it is much easier to tackle the OCD.

Fri Nov 25 2011 9:50:31 #
slogsweep
Member

Tess I had chicken and egg trouble too until recently. I realised that the depression was bought on by a feeling of being out of control regarding my OCD. My depression is slowly healing but was very severe at one point. I feel almost ready to start to eliminate the OCD. I am however under no impressions as to how hard this will be, I know it will be one of the hardest things I've ever done but I have to do it.

I'm pleased that you've beaten your depression, it gives us all hope.

Fri Nov 25 2011 11:51:33 #
playthoseblues
Member

Hi Slog,

I can feel really low with OCD sometimes, and really bad thoughts about myself. I'm not sure if the thoughts I get are OCD, or OCD and depression, because I can feel depressed quite a bit of the time.

Good luck

Jon

Sat Nov 26 2011 20:11:23 #
wannabefree
Member

Me too... I'll write some more in the morning...
Wannabe

Sat Nov 26 2011 21:35:03 #