OCD Action

Sarahjane24
Member

Hello

I have recently been diagnosed with OCD. The things that I do I have done for most of my life but recently they just keep getting worse. I don't really know how to cope with it because I want to make everything even and when things aren't even I get really bad and the only way to calm down is by hurting myself - like an area of concentrated pain or something. Does anyone know anything I can try substituting this for?

Thank you

Sarah

Mon Jun 14 2010 15:58:57 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Sarah,

Welcome to the forum.

You say that you've been recently diagnosed with OCD, when you were given the diagnosis did they make any recommendations for treatment?

The treatment of choice for OCD is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Have you tried other ways to try and calm down when things are really bad? Some people use relaxation tapes, others find that keeping themselves occupied helps.

Have you read any self help books for OCD? A useful one to start with is Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by David Veale and Rob Willson.

Best wishes
Trudy

Mon Jun 14 2010 17:01:58 #
Unregistered

I know this has nothing to with OCD, but I don't suppose you work at sky do you? You share the same name with somebody who works in our contact centre.

Mon Jun 14 2010 23:58:07 #
Sarahjane24
Member

Haha no I don't work for sky!

I have to go see a care co-ordinator on Monday from the mental health team but I haven't been told anything else - I am on seroquel which I think is an anti-anxiety medication.

When I get bad it's like I'm not me if that makes sense. I can't calm down very easily - the only person that can talk me out of it is my fiance but it takes him at least half an hour and tires him out a lot and I feel very guilty for putting him through it. I get all shaky uncontrollably and counting in fours holds me off from hurting myself but I can't do that forever - eventually I get too tired to fight it. When I'm like that I can't think of anything else. Do you think cutting something else would help like a piece of wood? My fiance suggested this but I think I cut myself because I need to focus on the pain not the cutting...

Wed Jun 16 2010 15:47:34 #
swan
Member

Hi,
Ive expereinced the feeling of feeling Im not me, I really worried about this for years even when I had long periods of not expereincing it. Noone had heard of it and couldn't understand it. I found something on here from a previous conference three years ago and so dont know if its still on here. I have had periods of suoervicial cutting, but have not done this for some while. I tend to do compulsive skin picking, I ended up buying a lady shave this week so that I can prevent some cuts. Truddy is right about CBT, hope appoitment goes well on Monday, would your boyfriend be able to go with you, not because you need someone with you, but just he seems to be very supportive of you and so it may help him to help you.
Best Wishes

Wed Jun 16 2010 16:30:58 #
Faith
Member

I used to do that aswell when i was quite young, of course my parents were really worried as they thought i had a self harming problem, little did they know the real reason! Eventually and completely by accident i discovered singing helps me. Strange i know but i find if i sing the words, listen intently to the music (whether its in my head or on a radio ect) and try to sound out every note it calms me and distracts me. I know it wouldnt work for everyone but maybe give it a try?

Thu Jul 1 2010 1:00:32 #
Sarahjane24
Member

Hey

The appt was awful the care worker didnt understand at all and it made me worse. I've just got outta hospital because I had a really bad episode. Singing actually helps me when I drive cos I don't like driving cos its not even. The psych liaison in hospital didnt really understand either. Its frustrating and I feel bad that my boyfriend has to deal with me on his own when he's bad. I took him to the meeting with me but the care worker wouldn't let him come in with me.

It just seems that they don't understand and I have to wait forever to see anyone who might be able to help me.

x

Thu Jul 1 2010 15:50:37 #
Faith
Member

No clearly they are not very understanding, ive never encountered it where im not allowed to take a family member in with me. Maybe try contacting another place that can help you with therapy, thats what ive done recently as i felt i wasnt getting enough help where i was. Glad you have discovered singing already lol. I also find counting very good not the one number but just continuos counting, but you must focus on each number completely and say it to yourself in your head for it to work. I tend to count to 100 in 1's then 200 in 2's, 300 in 1's ect ect. Also very helpful if you cant sleep and things are circling around in your head, i use it pretty much every night or id be up for hours and hours.

x

Thu Jul 1 2010 20:43:10 #