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ACB33
Member

Hello everyone, I hope your all having a good start to the week - Im having a bit of a bad day today so just on here looking at some of the nice comments you have left on this thread.

Firstly thank you to OCD Londoner for pointing out the links on the OCD Action website - I will look at them in just a minute. Also thank you for the book recommendation. I will certainly look into getting a copy of this one way or another. I have read so much in the past couple of months I think my brain is becoming scrambled by OCD techniques but I will certainly take a look.

I havent read either of the books that BT mentioned in the message above so I cant really comment either way.

From my experience of this and its only something I have been dealing with for a small amount of time - We are all different as I said before and unfortunately there is no 'Real' right or wrong way of dealing/coping/recovering from this. Sure there are preferred techniques that perhaps hold stronger evidence of working with different people but unfortunately there isn't one method for everyone. If there was I dont think OCD and other anxiety disorders would exist and cause so much pain and suffering for their victims.

I would say its the same principle for those who are taking medication for their OCD. We may have a few people taking the same dose of medication but I would say most are taking different medication/dosages to their fellow sufferers. It really is down to the individual and whatever helps you at the time is good enough.

I would actually like to Thank you all for putting for comments forward about the different techniques used to help OCD patients as its important to get as much information and advice as possible. There are also so many books out there that do say different things so its nice to get a broad overview of what they say in the hope that we can all be free of this terrible thing!

Have a good day all

ACB33

Mon Nov 21 2011 13:58:09 #
Unregistered

Hi ACB33, hi BT!

your posts are very wise.

Is there anyone on the forum who did use reassurance themselves in times of OCD stress (i.e. using repeated mantras when they were in the stressful situation), and found that this successfully got rid of their OCD? What I mean is, this was how they tackled their OCD, and now they don't have to do it any more, because it worked, and their OCD is gone?

If someone HAS successfully got RID of their OCD in this way, and is not distressed by their intrusive thoughts any more, maybe they could talk about that here?

Thanks guy!

Londoner.

Mon Nov 21 2011 14:12:51 #
BT
Member

http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/relabelling#post-56237

OCD Londoner, the above thread got me into trouble, but it is closely linked to what we are discussing. Ratwomble does speak about Brain Lock and his success with it. I hope he will reply to your query. And, David, I truly didn't mean to upset you!

Mon Nov 21 2011 14:20:39 #
Unregistered

Hi BT,

thank you so much for showing me the above thread. I skimmed through it quickly, and I have to say, I'm glad I wasn't on the forum at that time! It's horrible when everyone is trying to help each other, and everyone gets their wires crossed.

It's so easy for emails and messages to get misinterpreted, isn't it? You can be sitting there in your room, typing away, smiling and enjoying the debate, and then put your foot firmly in the poo without realizing that you're doing it!

One of my obsessions over the years was a terrible, burning feeling that I had hurt someone's feelings. I used to suffer so much with this one. Either because I upset them and didn't mean to; or I didn't upset them but I'm convinced I did; or because I didn't thank someone quickly enough...I used to find a million different ways to convince myself that I was a monster, who was only good at ruining other people's lives. Thankfully my CBT (and all that reading!) has put paid to that obsession, along with lots of others that used to torment me.

It's really heartbreaking when you have good intentions, but end up upsetting a friend -- or, in the case of OCD, convincing yourself that you might have upset them.

Londoner.

Mon Nov 21 2011 16:03:38 #
aishah
Member

Hi All,

I am a long term sufferer of intrusive thoughts as a lot of you will know so I completely empathise with anyone who suffers too.

I have had 4 sets od CBT now and yet suffer so badly still. My last lot of CBT has recently finished and my therapist admitted that it wasn't very successful. I have been treated twice at CADATS and was lucky enough to have one of the best therapists there is to offer, yet still I suffer so much.

I remember being told to label the thoughts as "OCD" thoughts in the hope that they may diminish. I think as others have said there is no set way of treating us, it can be very individual and some recover more than others.

I have one problem that may be stopping me from being more successful and that is the fact that when I have a bad episode of intrusive thoughts, they are relentless, one after the other and even intrude on my sleep. I get so confused and muddled at these times that I can't even function and look after my family let alone myself.

I don't want to come across as negative, as I am quite a positive person generally but don't know where to go from here as my therapist has told me that I know as much theory as he does about OCD and yet I am still struggling significantly.

Any ideas as to how I can move forward after having so much CBT? Where do I go now.

Regards Bridget

Mon Nov 21 2011 16:54:10 #
aishah
Member

Sorry ACB33,

Didn't mean to butt in on your thread and ask for advice for myself. i do hope you are having a better day today.

Bridget

Mon Nov 21 2011 17:28:43 #
Unregistered

Hi Bridget,

I'm sorry to hear that after 4 sets of CBT you're still feeling so bad.

Could I ask you some questions about your situation:

(1) What is CADATS?

(2) Are you based in the UK, or overseas?

(3) Have you had all 4 sets of CBT with the same therapist? If not, was there any difference between the different therapists?

(4) Did your therapist give you a thorough explanation of why he thinks the course of CBT failed? (I would be very alarmed if a therapist was not able to give me a very good idea about why he had not successfully helped me by the end of the sessions.)

(5) You mention that it was a good therapist -- but what are you basing that on?

(6) Have you contacted the OCD Action helpline, to discuss recommended therapists? (If you're in the UK.)

(7) What do YOU think went wrong in the CBT. Do you have any theories about what is going wrong?

(8) Were you completely honest at all times with the therapist? (e.g. not pretending that you've done your homework when you didn't have time, etc.)

(9) Do you have any concerns about the therapist? Did anything seem not quite right? Did you ask them to explain their background and training?

(10) Which CBT / OCD books have you read?

That's a lot of questions. I'm just trying to dig around to see if there are any obvious answers. Maybe you already think you know what went wrong?

All the best,

OCD Londoner.

Mon Nov 21 2011 17:43:55 #
Unregistered

Hi Bridget,

also, what medication are you on?

And have you been diagnosed as having any additional disorders as well as OCD. (For example, depression; low self esteem; GAD; social anxiety; BDD; or anything else that might be getting in the way of the treatment?

Londoner.

Mon Nov 21 2011 17:47:18 #
ACB33
Member

Hi Bridget,

Firstly please do not apologise for adding your message - you certainly weren't butting in on anything. Not that I wish this terrible thing on anyone but it is certainly a comfort (to me personally) to know your not alone in your suffering and I hope you feel this too.

I can totally understand where your coming from though. My days are plagued with hell at the moment but I can have times where I can just dismiss the thoughts and control them, I did have a relapse this week and its been really difficult at times to cope, I just want the world to swallow me up when I get really bad because you just dont know what to do with yourself do you?

I would just really like to say one thing though and this is going to be hard for you to do as your constantly plagued by OCD but - I think you need to EVERYDAY take a short time to just sit and either write down, say out loud or mentally say to yourself that YOU ARE NOT A BAD PERSON and YOU ARE SO BRAVE AND STRONG TO EVEN BE ABLE TO LOOK AFTER YOUR FAMILY! That is a major achievement in itself and I think you need to really start to believe in yourself that you are a strong person who is more than capable of getting through this.

I can also sympathise with you on the sleep side. Most of the time it doesnt affect me at nights and I do get a little rest as I can sleep but its hard for me in the mornings as I wake up in full blown panic. I do have sleepless nights though and this undoubtedly makes the day and thoughts worse!

Because I am still very new to this myself I cant really give you any advice on the CBT side as im only really getting going on mine but what I will recommend to you is a book that I brought yesterday called Self-Help for your Nerves by Dr Claire Weekes. I couldnt put it down. It is very much out of date now in regards to how they treat people and they label people in the book as suffering with a Nervous Breakdown. Please dont be disheartened by this, like I say its quite old now and there is obviously more understanding and better techniques in treating people these days but she does make some VERY GOOD and vital points in the book that maybe able to help you.

1. Firstly she talks about anxiety, depression, OCD etc as a Nervous Illness which is most certainly true. She talks alot about how the body works and how the adrenalin producing glands have alot to answer for when suffering with panic and anxiety. Ive said this before on this thread I think its REALLY IMPORTANT to have a little understanding of this because I think the more we know about how our body and mind works the more control and understanding we get (which is what we all crave)!
2. She talks about each part of the body and how and why we think and feel the way we do. Some of the book may not be appropriate to your suffering but still read it as I think you will come to find that once you take this on a little pattern starts to emerge and she does make some very valid points in how to cope with full on anxiety and panic attacks
3. The key that I found almost straight away in her book was to RELAX! Yes I know...thats easier said than done and when your plagued with things that are made up of your very worst fears, worries and concerns you do everything in your power to fight - but trust me when your calm and relaxed its so much easier to deal with - The book can provide you with many different ways of doing this. Even if you can just practice to begin with and concentrate on this specifically at nights im sure this will eventually help you get some sleep.
4. There is a chapter all about Obsessions and Compulsions which is in a very simple but in an easy to understand form and doesn't make you feel bad about it. Its a very understanding book that has been written by someone who is so positive and holds some very key and important answers to what we all crave to know and understand.

Please look into this Bridget - your an amazing person to be able to put up with this for so long and please stay positive about the CBT. Again its so simple to say and feels and seems impossible to do when this stuff hasnt worked in the past but you HAVE TO STAY STRONG, POSITIVE and just dig a little deeper for the bravery to attack this head on! The book I recommended is only a little book with small chapters but I was very impressed with her techniques and approach

REMEMBER: You are a strong lovely person who wants to beat this. You DO have the strength to get over this and Live your life in a peaceful and joyful manner and NO ONE DESERVES TO BE UNHAPPY!!

Stay positive and please please let me know if you get the book and your thoughts. Also dont forget we are all here for a chat anytime you need. We are in this together and we will Fight this as an external family!!

Take Care of yourself

ACB33

Mon Nov 21 2011 20:34:29 #
ACB33
Member

Sorry for the long message Bridget but I hope some of what I said will help you.

Sorry to everyone else too for the long message but I hope there is something in there that may assist you somehow. I hope your all having a good evening.

Take Care everyone!

ACB33

Mon Nov 21 2011 20:36:18 #
Tess
Member

Hi ACB33
I find your post very interesting because what you have been reading is how people with OCD used to be treated back in the 80's. The older forms of therapy have largely been discontinued due to the advent of SSRI meds and CBT - and I suspect because they were expensive to roll out. When I was in hospital in the 80's there were several different courses available each weekday as an integral part of occupational therapy and we could choose whether or not we wanted to attend. Some were about life skills, others about creativity and psychodrama and others about exercise/aeorobics. We could also do yoga and meditation. For each course we were given typed sheets and I still have all mine. They include Assertiveness training, Communication and Anxiety, Target setting, Reframing negative thoughts, Relaxation, Breathing techniques. We also did group exercises to build self esteem and self confidence. I was shocked when my son was admitted to hospital 4 years ago to discover all this wonderful therapeutic training had disappeared. I benefited enormously from this so called old fashioned therapy and I can only endorse what you are saying - these methods can still be helpful today.

Tue Nov 22 2011 10:24:15 #
aishah
Member

Hi ACB33 and OCD Londoner,

Thanks for your advice, I will get back back to you soon but at the moment not feeling too good and can't coincentrate to reply.

Take care
Bridget

Wed Nov 23 2011 9:52:30 #
ACB33
Member

Hi Bridget

I'm sorry to hear your still not feeling too good. We are all hear when you need us for a chat.

Take Care Everyone and hope your all having a good week

ACB33

Wed Nov 23 2011 21:45:54 #
Citaloman
Member

Hi, I have noticed in your post you wrote "CBT put to rest a fear you had" this is encouraging for me. Can you please let me know how this helped.

Thu Nov 24 2011 11:36:40 #