OCD Action

thinkingincodes
Member

Today I said 'No' to my OCD when I was in the shower, I knew I was clean enough to get out, so I did..My OCD didn't like that but I soldiered on!

What have you achieved this week so far?

Codes

Mon Dec 5 2011 14:10:47 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Wonderful stuff, mr TICs! -

more of this, please... the mere fact that you 'talk' to your OCD in a dismissive way is a double whammy. First, you treat it totally as something separate from yourself, and second, you give it a good kick in the ar*e.

Respect!

Cheers from Cuthbert.

Mon Dec 5 2011 14:33:08 #
thinkingincodes
Member

Hi Cuthbert,

Thank you very much.

I've pressed post 2x by accident and it seems there are two thread for this one..how do I delete the other one?

Mon Dec 5 2011 15:32:11 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Oh, no worry, I will see to that... and thanks for the reply!

Mon Dec 5 2011 15:33:51 #
slogsweep
Member

Well done! That's a huge step.

For just over a week I've removed one compulsion from my before bed routine and whenever the intrusive thoughts arise, I'm starting to have success with the Brain Lock technique. Last Wednesday I had my first meeting with a therapist and found that it was perfectly understandable for me to be under mental stress, giving me the belief that my intrusive thoughts were complete rubbish (for a few blissful days at least).

Great idea for a thread,

Slog

Mon Dec 5 2011 16:02:48 #
thinkingincodes
Member

I just published this on Facebook for all to see. Hope it's okay! :

I was diagnosed with OCD in 2008. It was a terrible and emotional time for me, and my parents.

It all started when my Nan was in hospital in 2002, I remember having to do certain things, for example, tapping the side of the bed four times over and over until it felt right. When my Nan passed away the OCD rituals got a lot worse.

I say certain words in my head, four times. If I don't, someone else would die. I will repetitively check the locks, four times, making sure everything is locked. A Killer will get in if I don’t check and hurt my Mum. Plugs have to be switched off, or a fire will start. If I leave my hair straighteners on, my cat will get burnt alive. Everything happens in fours.

There were so very hard and dark times, the thoughts and rituals over took my life. I felt crazy, horrible and alone. Surely everyone would think I am weird? Will I be locked up?

Scary images entered my head. I felt imprisoned inside of myself. Tortured by these rituals and compulsions. There were times where I didn't get out of bed, I couldn't or something bad would happen. My school worked suffered, people started to notice the rituals and my facial tics. I remember one incident where a group of girls in my English class mimicked me by putting on glasses and doing the ticks. I have to wash my hands with bleach, or I will get a disease. I have to get the right amount of sleep or my OCD will play up. OCD affected my whole life, what I did, how I thought. I always (and still do) think the worst will happen. It's a natural occurrence to me now. It's my automatic thought, and that is what OCD does. Positive thinking patterns, out the window!

Once I started seeing a Doctor I slowly, over the years started to realise that I was normal.
OCD is a medical condition; OCD sufferers have a lack of the chemical serotonin in their brain.
The therapy and medication helps. Yes, I have been through therapy, yes I do take medication for my OCD. With the help and support of my parents, my friends and my employer I am slowly getting better. (In fact, today in the shower I said NO to my OCD as I knew I was clean, it was trying to make me wash my hair again.)

Just like with a cut, you bandage it. When you have a broken car, you fix it. When you have OCD you take medication to help you overcome it.

It is not regarded as normal to be on medication, see a Doctor for Mental Illness etc.
However, much too a few peoples dismay, it is normal. People with OCD are not mad and do not carry out their unwanted thoughts.

OCD affects around 1.2 million Britons. 2-3% of the UK population have it, and often many are not diagnosed as they are afraid of being judged, bullied or hurt.

If you think you do have OCD, seek help. Message me if you want to talk. Please see a Doctor as OCD is exhausting, it's a daily battle with yourself, the low moods, the rituals stopping you from doing things, etc. Don't go through it alone.

I am still severely affected by my OCD in many ways and I am posting this today to build awareness of OCD. I am not ashamed to admit I have OCD, I am a strong person who will defeat her OCD. destroy the bad stigma for the sufferers and maybe help others who think they have OCD.

Help end the mental health discrimination!

Mon Dec 5 2011 16:26:23 #
aishah
Member

Hi Thinkingincodes,

Very well done on your achievement today! And I hope it continues for you.

Bridget

Mon Dec 5 2011 16:48:53 #
chloe
Member

Hi Thinkingincodes,

What an amazing post, my OCD is a mirror image of yours, which over the years has taken over my life. Through therapy I have managed to stop a lot of rituals and my most recent achievement is managing to leave the house without the fear that I have left all the plugs switched on and that my cats are in danger because I I have locked them somewhere where they might suffocate.

Well done on your achievement and your courage in writing about this terrible illness.

Looking forward to hearing more victories over OCD.

Chloe X

Mon Dec 5 2011 18:33:05 #
wannabefree
Member

H everyone, Hi thinkingincodes, wow! That is really good! Well done on writing a really clear and positive thing about suffering, and then recovering from OCD... This is the stuff that gives inspiration, thank you ever so much, cos I need all the inspiration I can get, after a shopping trip went slightly wrong today, but I recovered from it I think... I'm popping on a thread about it...
wannabe

Mon Dec 5 2011 21:20:10 #