OCD Action

Bronwyn Boyd
Member

Hey
I'm Bonnie, I'm 14, and for the past 2 months or so, I have been obsessively washing my hands, for 10-15 minutes at a time. When I can, I put about a tablespoon of salt in my hands with the soap, 'cause it gets the dirt off better. It leaves my hands red and sore, but more importantly - clean.
My friends and teachers and parents noticed it.
My friends thought it was something to joke about, tease me about (taking my book and rubbing it in dirt), and calling me 'OCD Girl'.
My teachers take it very seriously and continue with the 'if you need someone to talk to' and 'you should see your GP'.
My parents think I'm faking it.
I had my doctor's appointment today, and my GP was reluctant to test me for OCD, claiming that having the label with me would make things worse. She did prescribe an 'Overcoming OCD' book to me, and told me to check out this site, so I'm abit on the fence about whether or not she thinks I have it or not.
I think I do; it takes up about an hour and a half a day, and it's pointless, but I can't not wash 'em.
Any help out there?

Fri Apr 9 2010 15:46:10 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Bonnie,

Welcome to the forum. We're a friendly bunch and do our best to help and support each other, we even have a laugh

Well done for taking the first step and seeing your GP, it's not easy but if you can do that you can do anything. If the GP thought that you were faking it then why would she have recommended the 'Overcoming OCD' book and tell you to check out this site?

I too wash my hands many times a day, in fact when I'm doing the laundry sometimes it takes me up to a couple of hours to wash them. Though I am improving and more often than not it now only takes up to thirty minutes and that now includes getting the washing out of the machine

First you need to stop using salt on your hands, it doesn't get the dirt off, all it does is ruin your hands by removing the protective top layer of skin and you don't want that do you? Sore red hands are a constant reminder of your OCD, so try to treat them kindly. Try to gradually reduce the hand washing and use plenty of moisturiser. Lastly don't use antibacterial soaps as they make things worse and strip away the oils that protect your hands. My hands were in a terrible state but now they're almost presentable

I suspect that the GP wants you to read the book and use the site to see if it helps the situation and then she'll review things. You've not had it long so who knows it might be all you need to get the OCD under control. Joining in on this site and reading the book will give you more of an insight into OCD and it will then be easier for you to cope not only with your OCD but also with the reactions of family, friends and teachers.

There are others your age on the site, but they tend to join in on the OCD forum as it's a larger forum and so there are more people to talk to.

I hope that you find the forum of help and look forward to seeing you on the forum.

Best wishes
Trudy

Fri Apr 9 2010 17:26:19 #
Ella
Member

Hi Bonnie! I'm Ella, I wash my hand too much too. My friends thought it was something to laugh about too until one of my best friends, (also an OCD sufferer,)printed off a booklet, and now they act like I'm a crazy person, so I just got my friends together, and I talked with them, yelled a bit, and I think they got the picture. OCD IS NOT A LAUGH! A few people thought I was faking it too, but a I did a presentation on this forum at school for a charity project, and when they realised that i really did have a lot in common with the symptoms and things like that, and now eveyone sort of just accepts me for who I am, which is great!

Hope this helps! Ella.

Tue Nov 16 2010 22:40:53 #
Unregistered

Wow Ella

That is an amazing thing to do. If only this happened in every school. It would make it so much easier for children / teenagers to cope as well as helping eliminating bullying.

The more the general public know about OCD the less OCDers will feel they have to hide their symptoms out of shame and fear of being ridiculed.

Well done
Anne

Wed Nov 17 2010 10:57:07 #
Ella
Member

Thanks Anne! I am currently trying to tell my school about the ocd at school project!

Fri Dec 3 2010 22:41:40 #
ac
Member

Hi Bonnie. I don't know how you feel about the 'labelling' issue but, for me, finding out that I had OCD, and that there were others with the same condition, was a massive help. Before that, I thought I was 'abnormal', 'weird' and a 'terrible person' (I have 'harm OCD').

You're so brave to be open about it- I tried to hide my rituals and fears for years before confiding in my family and friends. It's difficult being a teenager, because a lot of your friends are probably a lot less mature than you, and don't always understand. My older brother used to make fun of me when we were younger but then he got together with a girl who also has OCD. Now he's much more sympathetic and understanding.

I don't know if you're still using the forum, but I hope you're doing much better now.

Ella, I can't believe how brave you are! By bringing this issue to light, you've probably helped a lot of people in your school. I just wish my teachers had been more aware of OCD as I might have had more help a lot sooner.

Wed Jan 19 2011 6:34:11 #