OCD Action

Bongo
Member

Hi everyone
I have OCD since I was seven but was not diagnosed till I was 25. I am now 37 and it is back again quite bad. The place where I work as a receptionist, is aware of my problem but we have been cut down to a short week that has set my anxiety off. I have applied for some jobs and have been offered a job at a supermarket working nights. I have now started to panic about whether I will be alright as I constantly need to wash my hands if I get a thought in my head. I have just started treatment, but do not know whether the change of job will bring the anxiety back on. I have not disclosed to them about my condition as it has never really affected by job, but now I unsure whether I have made the right decision. Do not know what to do

Mon Feb 8 2010 14:30:06 #
Unregistered

Hi Bongo

This is a difficult one. My OCD centres on contamination. When I applied for each job I did not tell them I had OCD because the only thing that affected my work was hand-washing. But, at times, the hand-washing did affect my performance- especially due to the time taken out of work hours to do it. It was made worse by the fact that I washed my hands in neat Dettol. This was a bit unfair on fellow employees.

I guess that the best thing to do would be to ring your therapist and get advice and, also, your local governemnt employment agency.

Hope this helps
Anne

Mon Feb 8 2010 14:47:32 #
Unregistered

ps just to add to this. Of course it depends on how severe your hand washing problem is. I only washed mine when I went to the loo and, in order to limit my time away from my work, I drank hardly anything all day.The other thing is that my doctor said it was not an illness - he said I had Obsessive compulsive personality disorder.

Mon Feb 8 2010 15:36:09 #
swan
Member

Hi,
I changed jobs last year two years after being diagnosed, my employer new because my previous employer had told her ( I was working for a local authority) at the time I had had a years sick leave in the space of two years. I was also fighting for my job. The change of job worked for me, I havnt been off sick since, the down side of my present job is that my boss is not very good at me having lkots of appoitments, I tend theirfore to taj=ke time of for hospital appoitments which are about evry two months and the weekly appoitments I have on my day off. All I can say it was the best thing that I could have done, I dont have contamination OCD so everyones situation is different so I would seek advice which is what I did.

Mon Feb 8 2010 16:38:07 #
Caps
Key Master

Hi Bongo,

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your work problem. It may help to contact our Advocacy Adviser, Jude, who can advice on employment matters. Have a look at this http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/support-info/getting-support/advocacy/ for information about our advocacy service. Jude can be contacted on 0845 390 6234 or email jude@ocdaction.org.uk .

Please do let us know how you get on.

Best wishes,
Caps

Mon Feb 8 2010 20:12:00 #
Bongo
Member

Hi
Thanks everyone for your advice and support. It has made me feel a lot better having someone to discuss this with. You might be pleased to know that I have decided to stay put at the job where I am. They have offered me a better position with a better salary and the company has gone back to 5 days. They are really understanding about my OCD and I have got there support.
Speak to you all soon

Wed Feb 10 2010 18:42:17 #
swan
Member

Sounds like this is your best option, good about salary increase and going back to a 5 day week.

Fri Feb 12 2010 19:32:13 #