OCD Action

jessie
Member

I am just looking for a little adivse and to see what everyone else does to cope. The thing is my OCD and anxiety seems very bad at the moment so I can feel my brain starting to anaylise the room whats in the room, whos in the room, what I need to do, how I need to do it, counting the walls and things around the room (just to mention a few). But I am trying my hardest to stop and not follow the pattern but I have to or I get this pure overwelming feeling of anxienty.

I am finding it impossible to break my habits (keep looking at my exs fb) I go on it so much but theres nothing to see but its such a drilled in habit now, how do people stop these habits from taking shape?

Any advise would be much apprichated.

Jess x

Sat May 21 2011 19:20:01 #
bunnymad
Member

Hi Jess,

I am also having a bad time at the mo, my ocd is a lot worse than it normally is. I do a lot of what your doing and its a bloody nightmare. I have a bad back and its causing me to compulsivly ruminate over everything i do and its so mentally draining. I hate it, i tried hard but sometimes i just cant help it.

I tend to Start to feel my anxiety levels rise rapidly and i getnervous and on edge and get this feeling of wanting to run or scream or just lose control and its horrible i have to fight it and may brain goes crazy and i start going over and over in my head, its like my brain goes on overload and i dont know how to control it.

I have been try focused breathing because you can do it anywhere and when i get a thought, compulsive or impulse i breath and focus to bring my attention away from the thoughts.

I hope some of this helps

Hugs from me Laura

Sat May 21 2011 20:11:50 #
jessie
Member

Thanks Laura,
Im going the the excatly the same thing. Im sat here crying Im so depressed all the time, I really am. I hate it and feel so alone I just feel utter dispare and duno what to do

Jess x

Sat May 21 2011 21:04:28 #
Tess
Member

Hi both of you
I've done all the breathing and relaxation therapy and tried meditation and I know it works for some people but I've had little success with those techniques because my mind lives in overdrive and objects strongly to slowing down. But I can focus my mind and get absorbed into things I enjoy doing. To start with I felt guilty for spending time on myself, doing things for my own pleasure but then I rationalised and decided it was better to do that than spend my time trying to do the things I felt I should be doing which I hated and ending up a miserable wreck achieving nothing. So my advice to you girls is pamper yourselves and don't feel guilty - because you're worth it.

Sun May 22 2011 8:47:49 #
bunnymad
Member

Yes, hi Tess, I totally know what your talking about because whenever i do something for myself, i feel guilt and then try and rationalise my actions which just leaves my head spirally round and round in more obsessions and compulsive ritualisation. Its bloody horrible and i hate it, hate it, hate it.

Yes you must spend time on yourself and not feel guilty and even if it just a cup of tea or a bath, or painting your nails. Enjoy it.

Its utterly horrble Jess to feel like this, i was sat there on wednesday night, feeling like dying and thinking what have i got to live for and what is the point trying anymore. But you must battle with your OCD and not let it win or let it beat you down too much. I am having trouble accepting that there must be highs and lows when living daily with ocd, as if life isnt hard enough as it is.

Hope any of this helps and feel free to pm me if you need to.

Laura xx

Sun May 22 2011 19:27:46 #
nettlenoo
Member

hello jess im sorry things arent getting too much better for you at the moment. i understand how isolating this can be and i too get very lonely with it and very angry too, who wants to live like this i know i dont. with regards to fb i deleted my account i too was a little into looking at pages or peeps profile but it made me feel so bad they looked happy and have fun filled lifes while mine was really unhappy. facebook isnt great for everyone. i too cry alot i grieve the old me the person i was i need to get my head round i am that person maybe a slightly altered version but im me ocd/anxiety or not. with regards to stopping the thoughts i do something busy busy, read a book put the washer one or iron lol and i hate it put the radio on change the thought pattern. do something you enjoy hun take a lovely bath watch a soppy movie and cry eat some lovely chocolate play a game come on here anything that stops the thought where is started. do you have anyone you could walk with? i really enjoy that i moan alot when i start but once i get home i feel great and a little cloud lifts and i can feel some happiness. i hope you find something that works for you hun. hope your feeling better hun take care nettle

Sun May 22 2011 20:24:14 #
jessie
Member

Thanks Everyone,

Im trying to be positive and beat this depression atm but nothing seems to be working. I think the problem is Iv been back and forth and now Im finally back in one place I feel like crap to be honest as I no now I have the whole summer to sit and dwell on everything. I feel like going away forever and running away from it all.

I agree Nettle about the facebook, as I look at peoples pictures and status of them going out and having the time of their lifes yet I sometimes dont evern want to live. I do think im going to cut down and eventually delete it as it causes nothing but problems.

Laura and Tess I no what you mean I feel guilt for everything atm, I have found it impossible to relax my entire life I dont im just on the go 24/7, even when im going swimming I have to get out after a short time and do something as I cant bear the thought of needing to get things done. Its like tonight for example I sat in on my own (prehaps an ideal sunday evening for most people) but not me trying to watch the tv, but im looking around me right the ironing needs to be done, I need to put that away, I need to do this and that. So I give up and I find my obessions go once iv fulfilled the task ic set but I have no energy for it anymore. I used to take pride in my appearance and now I just dont care!

I wish I could go away and sort all this out, Iv looked into treatment courses but I so scared Im unfixable and really dont want to drag up my whole life, I just feel mentally and phyiscally drained.

Jess x

Sun May 22 2011 21:57:44 #
Ratwomble
Member

Jess

Treatment doesn't involve dragging up your whole life. OCD is a psychological disorder that is treated through behavioural therapy and medication. It is not like you see psychiatrists on tv.

You've been through so much in the last few weeks. Just give yourself a week at home to settle back down, regain your equilibrium, get over events. If you can delete your Facebook then go for it. It isn't doing you any good.

Hugs

David

Sun May 22 2011 22:03:41 #
Tess
Member

Hi Jess
David's absolutely right - I've done all the impetuous things in the past - I even ran away once, hitched a lift with a lorry driver and ended up in another county, I've moved home umpteen times - but at last I came to realise you can't escape form OCD, you have to tackle it on your own doorstep.
Depression will turn minor chores into mountains and every time you reach the summit there's another one on the horizon. So while you are feeling so fragile you need to rest your mind - so allow yourself to do the things which stop the endless thoughts about what needs to be done. If you were in bed with flu you couldn't do the ironing but you have been much more ill than a dose of flu. The motivation will come back once the depression lifts and daily tasks will become less of an issue. Your parents want to help you so make use of them, your priority at present is to rest and try to enjoy yourself.

Mon May 23 2011 10:35:23 #
mattwords
Member

Re energy levels, mental illness is just as physically debilitating as physical illness. It even burns calories!! Are you being treated for the ocd? i was like you a very restless constantly anxious person and a combination pof three things have helped.

1 the right medication. Most modern anti-depressants are stimulants to the mind and therefore don't have a great effect on ocd in my experience. I am on clomipramine which is one of the older type and has a side effect of drowsiness which I actually find very useful as I used to suffer terribly from insomnia. If you are on medication perhaps it needs reviewed?

2 An excellent psychologist who is working me through CBT in a way I am comfortable with.

3 Mindfulness - a relaxation method that isn't a relaxation method. I had a superb CPN at my last GP's (have moved since) and she conceded that standard relaxation techniques do not work for ocd. She and I were going to use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as an alternative to cbt which I felt wasn't working for me. Part of this is mindfulness, sort of like meditating but instead of emptying your mind you fill it. Sit calmly and breathe slowly and focus all your senses on your environment except seeing (eyes closed) what can you hear feel taste smell? Look it up I find it very helpful

For milder attacks I do puzzle books, play games on the computer any kinda non ocd distraction.

hth

Mon May 23 2011 21:23:01 #
Trinity
Member

The best ways i deal with it are remembering:

Ocd gives you obsessions on what you care about the most( its like a school playgroud bully), the fact that your obsession is so painful to you means you wouldnt possibly harm those involved. Take it as a reminder of what is important to you and thank your ocd for this reminder.

The more you resist your obsessions the more it will take you over and you will feel like you are becoming the very thing you are resisting when in the hightened state of your anxiety. What you resists - persists!

Remember this at all time:

R- 'Recognise' and 'rename' it as OCD
I- 'Ignore' it
D- 'Defy' it, do the opisit
E- 'Enjoy' being back in control of your life

Remember the RIDE and you will find some distance between you and your OCD.

Be well friends

Tue May 24 2011 0:33:16 #