Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Unregistered
Hi Jon,
also, I should note that I made the decision to get signed off work after long discussions with my therapist. He strongly recommended to me that in his opinion I should not return to work before I was able to cope with my job.
He was kind enough to write a letter to my GP, explaining this, and backing up my request to be signed off work for an extended period.
For me, it was the best decision, I think. (After years of just soldiering on, and taking no sick leave!)
OCD Londoner
Thanks for your replies , I do agree with what you say. My circumstances are a bit more complicated though. I made a life change some years ago which I dont think was best for my OCD. Also, I think it is better for me to keep working because when I get engrossed in something it can take my mind off the OCD somewhat.
Regards
Jon
Hi Jon, I agree with you, in that keeping busy can help the self esteem at having something achieved, and as long as you can manage, it helps to pass the time too, but a rest can be equally good too...
wannabe
Hi Thinkingincodes,
I too suffer bouts of depression alongside my OCD. I hope you are feeling better today. I have bad days and better days and I find that when the depression fades a bit then the OCD is easier to cope with.
Hope your CBT goes well and your getting some relief from your medication now.
Also, I would take off enough time until you feel well enough to cope with work and try not to feel pressured by anyone.
Regards
Bridget
Hi Bridget, how are you getting on these days? You're always very supportive to us on here when you post. Are things going okay in your corner of the world?
wannabe
Hi Wannabefree,
Thanks for asking. I struggle most days actually and feel a bit of a failure as I have recently finished CBT (at a centre for excellence) and havn't gained much at all.
The cleaning/ordering that I have, on the whole gained control,has taken a nose dive over the last ten days, intrusive thoughts are still there ( though a bit quieter), anxiety still remains high after I do my ERP and I struggle to retain information, which I think is one of the main reasons for not doing so well at CBT.
I know it sounds like I'm being negative but I try so hard every single day to get by and look after my family and myself despite my OCD etc.
I attended the conference and came away from that feeling even more of a failure. I listened to the inspirational speakers and David Veale and Rob Wilson and still didn't feel any better as I have struggled for the last decade at quite a high level.
I try not to post on here when I'm feeling low as I don't want to bring anyone else down with me, especially as there are some people doing so well at the moment, and I am genuinely thrilled for them so I don't want people to read my posts and feel negative.
Anyway, I do hope you're ok
Bridget
Unregistered
Hi Bridget,
you're not a failure! Your posts are just as inspiring as everyone else's on here! 
Just from your last post, I can see some very inspiring things:
- You had the courage and determination to get referred to a centre of excellence.
- You're still trying to overcome your OCD, despite all the setbacks.
- You look after your family, on top of struggling with your OCD. (For some of us, just the OCD is too much in life, let along having to look after a family as well!)
- You attended the OCD Action Conference, even though you feel like you've done a lot of work on your OCD and it's still not gone.
- You're posting words of encouragement and advice on here for other people suffering from OCD. (Showing that you care about other people.)
All of these things show us that you are a courageous, strong, caring person, who is burdened with an illness that the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) lists as one of the ten most debilitating illnesses in the world.
You're not a failure, Bridget -- you're an example to all of us. An example of someone who refuses to be defeated by a serious illness, and keeps on fighting. You're a star! 
Unregistered
Hi Thinkingincodes,
how are you feeling today?
How are you doing with the urges to self-harm? That's a terrible problem to have in addition to (or because of?) your OCD. Are you getting some help with that? (Have you talked very openly and honestly with your GP about the self-harming?)
It must be incredibly difficult to talk to a GP, or therapist, or psychiatrist, about self-harming. But I hope that you are able to open up enough with a health professional about this part of your problems, because it's a very serious matter.
Let us know how you're getting on.
Unregistered
Hi Thinkingincodes,
I've just been going through your previous posts on this thread. I noted that you said:
"Work do know about my OCD.It's just, work has become a chore and I don't enjoy it any more. My manager called me some names including neurotic and stupid."
This sounds very worrying. If you have disclosed your OCD to your employer, and a manager is using these types of words about you, then it sounds like they would be breaking the law, in terms of The Equality Act 2010. (Which makes it illegal to discriminate against an employee because of their disability; in this case, OCD.)
You might want to consider contacting the Advocacy team at OCD Action. Jude Wynne, their Advocacy Manager, talked at the OCD Action Conference. These are the types of cases that she can advise people on, when they are being unfairly treated by their employers. You might like to look at the "Advocacy" details on the OCD Action website.
Also, I noticed that you mentioned that you are doing group therapy. At the conference, some of the OCD experts were talking about the pros and cons of group therapy versus one-to-one therapy. They recommended that if you do get to the end of a course of group therapy, and your OCD is still in place, that you make that clear to the therapist, and request that you are referred on for a course of one-to-one CBT therapy, if the group therapy has not resolved the problems.
If you are self-harming, then I would imagine that a session of group therapy might not get into all of your specific problems.
I hope that you are starting to feel better.
Hi Bridget... Not doing too bad, I guess, middling... I agree 100% with londoner on what he has posted to you... It's all spot on for how I see you too...
wannabe
The self harming is going okay. I am back to work this week and I'm so nervous. I guess it would be good for me to get back, and face the fear. My boyfriend is very understanding and my parents are getting better. I have started to take my meds every day regularly however the OCD is worse 
Hi codes
Good news on the self harming. As for the OCD it is not unusual for it to get worse once you start meds before it gets better. You're doing the right thing by taking the meds regularly and hopefully your determination to help yourself will encourage your parents to be more understanding and supportive.
Hi codes, hope your working week is going okay...
wannabe
No, not very well. Went back and told work I couldn't cope. My GP has signeed me off for a week and they gave me some anti pyschotics. No one really understands apart from my Mum's friend. I rang up the duty team, and they told me to ring up the crisis team at the Hospital and the lady laughed at me when I said, 'I can't stop self harming, I don't know what to do, what help can you give me?' My Mum is in bits about it, I feel really bad as she has stuff going on too. I feel like I can't cope and I like I am running against a brick wall. I just need some help. I really can't cope
Hi thinkingincodes... Sorry to hear that is not going very well... We have these times and they're no fun... The response by the lady on your crises team conversation wasn't acting right... Self-harming is never a funny thing, it is something we do when we are at our wits end... Ringing again should get you someone else, cos they will be working on a rota... The meds will take a little while to kick in, so sleep, if you can get it, is a good idea, and 'me' time... A good rest from work will be good too... You are probably a lot stronger than you realise... Have you got any books on OCD and recovery from it?
wannabe
No,do you know any good ones? If I tell my Psychiatrist what has happened and how I feel, what can they do about it? I don't know where to go from here.
Hi Codes,
I've only been able to skim-read the thread, but we're here if you need us! PM me if you want to chat
Hope you feel better soon
Jon
Hi Codes... The book that most on here seem to recommend, and that I've found good is 'Overcoming Obsessive compulsive disorder, by David Veale and Rob Willson... Another one is called imp of the mind, but I haven't read that oe yet.... But I reckon anything by David Veale and Rob Willson just has to be good, they write in easy to follow text, and cover a lot of ground in just one book... Another one that I've got, but haven't read yet, is 'Taking control of OCD, inspirational stories of hope and recovery, editted by The same two guys... All available on amazon, and you can get used copies for a bit less than the new I believe... Good bookshops probably stock it, or can get them for you, if you'd rather the thing didn't land on your doormat... Mine did, and I took ages before I could open the packet, then cope with looking at the book! Hope this helps a bit...
wannabe
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