OCD Action

wannabefree
Member

Hi everyone, I'm gonna moan a bit now... Please guys talk to me, it is everyones forum, not wannbes forum... I will often answer a post but you need to reply to me, otherwise it feels like I'm on my own here... I feel awkward with the name wannabefree all over the forums listings, I have OCD too...
I feel down today after the excitement of Christmas... I don't know what to do with the day apart from watch TV... How are you all?

Tue Dec 27 2011 10:11:04 #
Twitchy
Member

You're not moaning, did you feel any better over christmas? It's hard when you do and then you start to feel bad again. I'm back to work tomorrow so going to spend the day constructing myself a work sheet with goals that i can try and achieve, i feel like i am doing nothing to help my OCD just feeding it. When i have times when i start to feel better i instantlly forget the work that needs to be done to keep it at bay.

Tue Dec 27 2011 10:19:22 #
Nimrod
Key Master

Hi Wannabe,

It is a bit quiet at the moment on the forum. I know how you feel when you say it feels like you are on your own here, as a mod I often spend a lot of time here when nobody else seems to be on, but then that is one of the joys of being a mod.

It always feels low to me after the Christmas activity so I hope there is something worth watching on the telly.

Keep well,
Nimrod

Tue Dec 27 2011 10:20:32 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Twitchy, Hi Nimrod, thanks for responding guys, I don't feel so alone now... Just to know that there are others out there makes this demon a bit easier to handle... I might go for a walk later, that usually cheers me up a bit...
wannabe

Tue Dec 27 2011 10:24:10 #
Unregistered

Hi Wannabe,

Watching TV all day sounds like a great luxury to me!

I remember when I was a kid, I would often feel "bored" when there was nothing good on TV. I watched a lot of TV, and when the kids' shows finished, there was nothing but boring stuff like the News, or some documentary that I had no interest in whatsoever. But I often used to sit there and stay glued to the TV, watching the boring programmes, and complaining to my Mum that I was bored, and I had nothing to do.

What would you say to a child, or a grandchild, who told you that they were bored and had nothing to do? Probably tell them how lucky they are; how they don't realize that they're free of worries; and how one day they'll look back and realize that this was the best time of their life.

If you want some excitement, Wannabe, why don't you do something exciting?

Just write out a list of all the things you could do right now (absolutely anything can go on that list), and then just pick one of those activities, and start doing it straight away.

Here are some suggestions, off the top of my head:

- Phone an old friend you haven't spoken to for years.

- Go on Skype and talk to one of the children in your family.

- Go to the shops and buy yourself a treat. (If you got any gift vouchers for Xmas, go wild in M&S. If you have no money, then just go window shopping, and take pleasure in looking at all the other people getting excited in the Xmas sales.)

- Buy something nice for a partner or family member. Not a Xmas present. (Doesn't have to be expensive; you could spend 10p.) Tell them it's just a little treat, because you want them to know that you think they're wonderful.

- Go on the internet and look at something your're interested in. Look on Wikipedia -- there's a wealth of fascinating stuff to learn on there.

- Go to your local library, and sit for an hour reading books and magazines for free, then take a gentle stroll back home.

- Go to a cafe and buy yourself a nice coffee or a herbal tea, and sit there with a book, spending ages just reading, thinking, and sipping a nice tea.

- Look on the internet at places you could go on holiday next year. Even if you don't have money, just look at all the travel websites. Look at those beaches, those exciting cities. New York, Paris, Tokyo...get lost thinking about what it would be like to wander around those faraway cities. Imagine yourself sitting outside a cafe in Paris, near the Sacre Coeur, sipping coffee and eating a pain au chocolate, and staring at the top of the Eiffel Tower, off in the distance...

There are a few ideas. You don't have to spend any money. Just pick an activity that sounds like it might be fun (including just looking; you don't have to buy anything), and then report back to the forum tonight, or tomorrow, or the day after, and tell us what you did, and whether or not you enjoyed it.

Ciao for now.

Tue Dec 27 2011 10:35:28 #
Twitchy
Member

You're not alone although i know sometimes it does feel like it, it can only taker another OCDer to trully understand what you're going through. The first time i read the posts on here i cried in happiness because suddenly for the first time in years i felt normal!!

Tue Dec 27 2011 10:35:30 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Londoner, Hi Twitchy, will do! I think I'll go for a walk definitely, and I'll spend a bit of time editting my writing... Back on here tonight...
Thank you
wannabe

Tue Dec 27 2011 10:43:53 #
Twitchy
Member

speak later.

Tue Dec 27 2011 10:48:12 #
Tess
Member

Hi wannabe
I know exactly how you feel when you see your username all down the forum list, I used to feel just the same as if I was the only one on or that I was hogging the forum. I keep away from the computer and telephone after our evening meal because any mental stimulation at the end of the day will give me a rotten night's sleep and then hubby will have a bad night too and that's a perfect recipe for domestic friction. But I am frequently the first one on in the morning and sometimes I log off with a string of Tess's right down the page - but I've come to the conclusion that it's important to keep coming on and posting, especially if it is quiet. If I come on and feel very alone I click onto Members Area and at the bottom it tells you who is on line - and sometimes someone else is there. You can also see who has been looking in by looking at the Users Directory and this can help make you feel less alone.

Tue Dec 27 2011 11:02:33 #
slogsweep
Member

Hello Wannabe, I've been so busy I've only had time to come on twice over the last few days. Your help on these forums is so much appreciated. Try to keep busy as best as you can, I'll do my best to come on more often. I hate this down period after Christmas, all that build up and wham, nothing again.

Best wishes

Slog

Tue Dec 27 2011 11:35:18 #
tizzkins
Member

Hi Wannabefree i am sorry to hear how you feel but on the other hand i am so glad you decided to speak up. Otherwise no one would know how you were feeling. I hope your day has improved if its any concellation i am on the tv watching day today as i am full of cold.

I can understand where you are coming from with like you say the excitement of christmas over but for me i refuse to get too involved with christmas things i just take each day as it comes i just find it easier that way.

My main drama for 2012 will be trying to get a job as we have moved house. How are you doing with any new years resolutions?

Take care and i promise to try and be more supportive.

Liz x

Tue Dec 27 2011 14:13:45 #
Twitchy
Member

How u feeling now wannabe?

Tue Dec 27 2011 16:17:45 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi everyone... Thank you so much for your kind words... I'm feeling a little better this evening... I went for a walk to a local shopping centre... It was manic! Anyone would think the prices had dropped, but I don't tink they had! I've done some editting on my writing too, and I'm relatively pleased with that... It was good to get out in the open air for a couple of hours though... Mind you no daffodils around here yet, as has been mentioned on other threads... Never mind, in a few weeks things should hopefully change for the better... We've had the shortest day now, so the evenings may start to get lighter... Then again who knows! I'm lifting again now, which is good... I didn't spend any money this afternoon, I just watched as other people queued up for ages to get served... Crazy... How are you all this evening?

Tue Dec 27 2011 19:18:46 #
Twitchy
Member

Glad you're feeling a little better.Been reading my brain lock book today.Starting to feel a bit afraid of the journey ahead of me to conquer my OCD.

Tue Dec 27 2011 19:23:35 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Twitchy, yes, it is a bit scary... I'm thinking forward towards my CBT... I'm thinking though it will be with a lot of support... There is a cognitive side to the therapy as well as the behavioural... The therapist, if they are any good, will be brilliant at putting our minds at ease... Your meds should start to have beneficial effects soon too...
I haven't got Brain lock book yet, in fact I've got to sit and read the ones I've got...
None of us are on our own with this... These forums are fantastic source of support...
Wannabe

Tue Dec 27 2011 20:08:58 #
Twitchy
Member

I feel a lot better on my meds at the moment,haven't been sick receently,i need to sort out with my counsellor when,i'm gunna have CBT seem to be talkinga lot about my childhood at the moment.

Tue Dec 27 2011 20:21:55 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi twitchy, good to know that you're meds are starting to do something good... It should be a lot better soon, which will be great... Take it steady at work tomorrow... You may well find it easier there too... Hope so... Talking about childhood may well unearth feelings, and bring to light why we think in certain ways, and can help for things like depression too I believe... But CBT is the one for OCD... I'm hoping it won't be long, but also there is a fear of it all being too much... But I've done it before, and they can't make us do anything we don't want to... The cognitive, thinking side is as important for us as the behavioural side of the therapy... So it should be okay...
wannabe

Tue Dec 27 2011 20:35:13 #
slogsweep
Member

Hi Twitchy, I hope Brain Lock does as much for you as it did me. I know the actions are essentially compulsions, but in the short term the book is an extremely good resource for getting a medical explanation as to what is happening and why it is happening.

Let me know what you think,

Slog

Tue Dec 27 2011 20:41:01 #
Twitchy
Member

Thank u Wannabe and Slog,how are u both?

Tue Dec 27 2011 21:19:20 #
slogsweep
Member

Not too bad at all thanks, just hope I feel as well when it comes to CBT time. Thinking of asking for a reduction in medication. How are you Twitchy?

Tue Dec 27 2011 21:31:29 #
Twitchy
Member

Feel much better than last week,thanks for asking,going to have a more positive week and try out the four steps in brain lock.What meds are u taking?

Tue Dec 27 2011 22:34:32 #
slogsweep
Member

Brain Lock does get a bad rap on here, but it's got me to the state where I can read and understand the OCD theories to accept thoughts now. I think it's a good place to start putting your mind back together.

I'm taking 40mg Fluoxetine. I think I'll give it another month or so before coming down, but I haven't felt better for months and months .

If you need any help message me, I know that book like the back of my hand lol, had nothing better to do at my worst than read it over and over again.

Best wishes

Slog

Tue Dec 27 2011 22:40:24 #
Twitchy
Member

Thanks Slogs,it's gunna be a struggle but i've had enough of being like this now,somethings got to change.

Wed Dec 28 2011 7:37:51 #
Tess
Member

Slog, my advice is don't be in too much of a hurry to reduce your meds, some can and some can't - and if you fall into the latter category and you need to go back onto the higher dose the therapeutic effects can be less effective. I tell you this, not from any medical experience but from what I have personally witnessed. It is very easy when you start to feel better to think you no longer need the meds and invariably it is the sufferer who is the last to see they are going downhill again - and then it is one almighty battle to get back up. At least give serious consideration to allowing yourself the respite your meds are giving you to get through your University course as I assume you will have exams next year and it could be a stressful time.

Wed Dec 28 2011 10:57:13 #
wannabefree
Member

Don't be in a hurry to come off meds, Slog... You may feel better now, but it is like antibiotics, you keep taking the full dose until treatment completed, and it is the GP who decides when treatment is completed, not really ourselves... I don't think I'll be on meds for years, but if that's what my GP recommends, then I'll do it... I'm certainly staying on them until my CBT finishes... It's gonna be stressful, just like your times at Uni, so do be careful...
wannabe

Wed Dec 28 2011 20:28:09 #