OCD Action

amy88
Member

Hi. I have suffered with ocd for as long as I can rememeber. When I was little my shoelaces and sleeves had to look exactly the same as each other! I'm 21 now and I find it hard to cope with sometimes. Every night I struggle to sleep because of thoughts that just don't go away. They make me feel like a bad person. I've been to the doctors several times. I've been offered antidepressants but I'm worried about the side affects. I am going to see a counsellor soon but in the past when I've been I always get anxious and can't seem to talk about everything. Does anyone have any advice?

Sun Jan 10 2010 17:52:29 #
Unregistered

Hello, welcome to the forum. I don't really have any briliant advice to offer other than that you should feel free to post here whenever you want. This forum has helped me a lot so please share your thoughts and feelings when you can as everyone is very nice and helpful. Hope to see you around.

Sun Jan 10 2010 17:56:30 #
Unregistered

Hi amy88

I am so sorry you are still struggling with your OCD.

What antidepressants are you on and how long have you been on them?

When you see your counsellor please try not to be too anxious to say how you feel. If necessary write it all down, or type it on a computer and then print it out and have two copies - one for yourself and one for your counsellor. If you write Bullit points in larger bold print it will be easier for you to remember what you want to say. You can then elaborate with smaller print. I did this with my CBT psychotherapist and it made it far easier for her to understand my OCD issues and how best to help me.

In the meantime, if you would like to go into more details please feel free to PM me.
All the very best
Anne xx

Sun Jan 10 2010 18:54:15 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Amy88,

Welcome to the forum.
Sorry to hear that you're going through a bad time.

I agree with both Anne and Helz, it's good advice.

Speak to your doctor or counsellor about the worries you have about medication, you didn't say what medication.

Talking on the forum has been a great help to me, it meant I could practise talking to some one about my problems and then I was able to write them down for the therapist.

We've all started to give ourselves two names - we give our strong self a name and our OCD self a name, this then means that we can tell our OCD self to go away and ask our strong self to help out. It's actually quite effective.

If you don't always want to talk on the forum you can always send any of us a PM using the blue send message box under our names.

Please use the forum, you don't need to feel alone. Look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Truddles

Sun Jan 10 2010 19:33:43 #
aishah
Member

Hi Amy88, I'm sorry you are having a bad time at the moment and you are so young. I can look back and realise I have had OCD since I was about 10 and wasn't diagnosed until I was 35 after suffering a mental breakdown.

I am pleased you are starting with a counsellor soon , that should help. I would definately start writing things down to take with you when you go.
I am only now able to put into words what I go through with OCD so don't worry about that.

I am sure you will feel better soon with help as you are starting treatment soon.

Best Wishes
Bridget

Sun Jan 10 2010 19:38:44 #
vmb
Member

Hi Amy what ur feeling reguarding talkin about ur thoughts and symptoms is completely normal..It can be very difficult to divulge into obsessive thoughts cus they can be rather disturbing and dark. But ur therapist will not judge u or think ur a bad person. They have studied about OCD and these symptoms your experiencing are part of the disorder.

The other guys are right, if ur finding it difficult to talk write it down...when I had therapy I regularly felt embarrenced to say what was going on in my head. So I bought a diary and discussed what I could and wrote the most difficult bits down.

What best place to get anxious but in therapy, with a trained professional, if anything u may get reasurance and sound advice for ur situation.

CBT is one of the more sutable therapies for OCD; I had holistic therapy for my OCD situation, some parts were useful and reassuring but my therapist was not really qualified for my situation...Im now persuing CBT. So be picky about who you go too.

Another useful idea is a company called OCD therapy check em out on the net they do telephone therapy, that might be easier and they specialise in OCD.

Talk to me or anyone on here were all in the same boat....hope u get the support u need

Sun Jan 10 2010 20:04:33 #
amy88
Member

Thanks to everyone for your comments and advice. I really appreciate them all and it's reasurring to know that I'm not the only one to suffer from ocd. I think my best choice will be to go and see the counsellor. I'm not on medication but I have been offered it in the past. I can't remember what it was called but I think it began with a z!

Sun Jan 10 2010 22:32:37 #
Unregistered

Hi Amy

I think that seeing the counsellor is defintely a good step. Please let us know how you get on. In the meantime, please write back if you need any advice or help.

Anne

Tue Jan 12 2010 17:37:32 #