Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Today, I fought a strong compulsion to check things and it was hard, but I was able to do it, and that was the first time in a long time that I have been able to do that. I am going to try harder and harder each day to not give into OCD's demands. I think OCD tricks our minds into believing things that are untrue, and that is why we have such a hard time controling it. I hope that we will all become stronger in resisting compulsions and fear.
Well done, it is hard isn't it? But think how much better we feel when we achieve something like resisting a compulsion, it then gives us the confidence to try to tackle another OCD problem. Don't be disheartened if you have a set back always look at the broader picture and say 'Ok I couldn't do that today, but look at all the things I have achieved to date.'
Keep up the good work and eventually OCD will retreat into his shell, where he belongs!
Trudy
Unregistered
Nice one, glad to hear you're having some success! 
I've been doing better myself recently, I've managed to cut down on my hand washing quite a bit, although I am still doing it. 
Don't worry I still am pretty bad with the hand washing But since Christmas I'm down from three - yes three bottles a day to just one (on a bad day it can go up to two). My therapist said to work on the basis that I used three bottles a day and for every bottle of the three that I don't use to put the money to one side to save it to give myself a special treat. Even using one less bottle a day it soon mounts up 
You had a good day yesterday didn't you? So be proud of it It's not wrong to congratulate yourself.
Unregistered
That's great, so most days you're using only a 1/3rd of what you were before Christmas? That's a real achievement. I've been trying to cut down on the amount of hand sanitisers I use. I try to use them instead of hand washing if I can, except after using the loo, as they don't damage my hands as much, but I waste a lot of money on them. I think they've started to recognise me in Boots now since I'm in there every week stocking up on more bottles. 
I've only got a tiny bit left now so I will end up buying more tomorrow probably. I'm not quite ready to wean myself off them entirely yet. I've stopped using this other stuff though, a foam which you put on and is meant to protect your hands from bacteria for up to 4 hours. It was handy as I did cut down on hand washing using it, especially when out and about, but a lot of the time I didn't trust it so I'd put more on before the 4 hours was up. It was quite expensive too.
I resisted an impulse to re-check that the shower was switched off before I went out. A small victory, but one nonetheless.
And Truddles, that's good what you said about OCD retreating to its shell if you ignore it for long enough. Only as far is I'm concerned, my OCD won't be retreating to any shell. It will be retreating to its grave. And it belongs there, too!
By the way, thanks for the friendship.
Steve x
I have decided to resist atleast 2 compulsions a day, for a while and then try 3. Yesterday, I resisted one and today, another one, it seems that already I have more confidence in my self, and I had less compulsions today. What a relief. I will continue to really try even harder. I am tired of OCD and it's lies. I hope we all can over come our OCD in the near future. I thank you all for your kindness and support, It has been of great help to me.
Nice reports. I particularly find the one by StevieB so recognizable. I always used to turn the knobs of the shower with my hands to the right, with enormous force, to check whether it was not on. Strange, if you think that a brief listen is enough. Now, thanks to the paroxetine, I don't have to do that anymore. And away from home I never have to ask myself if the shower is off.
Another example of not trusting my eyes, but having to use my hands to make sure. I had that with many things.
Unregistered
Well I have been so busy starting on The Project that I have not had time to ritualise. I expect I will pay for this in a mo. I always find it hard to attention switch from research to cooking.
at least it has given my brain a welcome break from all those thoughts about sewage.
Anne xx
Unregistered
I gave into the compulsion to buy more hand sanitiser this morning, but I made up for it by not using it all day at uni. I even ate a wrap for lunch using my "contaminated" hands. I started washing and using it though once I was home. I'm finding it harder to beat my fears at home more than I am out, because I really believe my home to be deadly contaminated by my family's habits. And it may be, but it can't be that bad because I've lived with it all my life and never gotten ill. I keep trying to tell myself that and it is sinking in a bit, especially since recently I've been eating food with "dirty" hands at home and nothing bad has happened. Once I've eaten though I still feel the need to wash so I don't spread germs to other objects. But I'm getting there.
Unregistered
P.S. Good to hear that being occupied is helping you Glad.
Unregistered
Thanks Helz and well done with the hand washing. You are right you have to take risks. It takes courage - but it is ultimately worth it as it frees up so much time
xx
Unregistered
It is really worth it. I think I'm going to work up to doing something really "radical", like touching the floor and then putting my finger in my mouth, haha. I'm too scared to do that yet though, especially as I think the floor genuinely is dirty after that unfortunate incident in December. But the only way I will probably get over that is to just take a big risk with it. If I can, I'll maybe do it when I've got time off, so in the event that I do get ill, I wont miss any uni.
Steve - I've never heard of Vanessa Redgrave , but seriously Kate Beckinsale is awesome she's just so under-rated.
So compared to Joan Collins - Kate is like WOW compared to her.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000295/ Check out some of her movies - you'll change your mind for sure
I resisted several compulsions today - I didn't once turn around to see if I'd dropped something whilst I was out on another of my solo trips to the hospital today.
I also thought once I got on the train that I'd left the light and shower on and desperately wanted to go back to check but managed to resist the temptation to go back and go through all the checking rituals. I just said 'So what!' Ok it took me ten minutes to get to that decision but I did.
You're right Rena with enough practise it does get easier.
Unregistered
Well done Truddles and Rena!
Rena & All,
I try to resist each and every compulsion that comes my way, mine can be anything and everything. I have to do this because if I dont then I know I will pay for it down the line. Specifically today, yes I did resist a compulsion to throw away something I found in an old tool box. When I spotted it my anxiety levels shot up, but I held tough and left it there.
That's exactly the question. 'What we put out attention on, grows'.
Can't think of much today, but I do seem to be touching light switches and opening/shutting windows with bare hands, which I haven't done for the last few years, and even quite easily mostly. A good feeling.
Sometimes I've touched some door handles. There's so much more, but one thing at a time.
James
Hi Rena,
Today I have managed to resist beating myself up because of the relapse that I have had recently because I tried to do too much too soon.
I read an earlier post of mine that stated:
Don't be disheartened if you have a set back always look at the broader picture and say 'Ok I couldn't do that today, but look at all the things I have achieved to date.'
So I suppose I resisted the compulsion to beat myself up for not coping with the OCD
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