topic OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI in Anxiety

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

Hylo46 — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 08:40:21 GMT

Hi there,

day 6 on SSRI (meds) and my intrusive thoughts are more prevelant and nastier - keep thinking I will act on the them due to the thoughts - anyone out there have a similar fear?

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

MsPurple — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 10:51:24 GMT

Hi Hylo46. I'm sorry you are struggling with intrusive thoughts. I know how terrible it has to have them constantly there. I know how scary it is.

SSRI can take up to a few weeks to take effect. They may not have taken an effect yet. I wouldn't be too concerned if the intrusive thoughts haven't decreased yet, this is normal on day 6. I would talk to your GP or counselor if they have increased. It could be due to increase stress or possibly the medication, as I am not a professional I can not tell you. Do not stop taking your medication unless you have been told to stop buy your GP or other dr/professional. It can actually make it worse taking yourself off them without medical supervision. I know it is frustrating. I have been there too, but stick at it and trust the dr. Unfortunately the first medication you get put on my not always be the right one. Mental illness medication works differently for different people, it isn't like antiobiotics and you can't tell how a person will react to it. I hope you get on the right ones soon, but just don't worry too much know. This is normal on day 6.

If you are really struggling with your intrusive thoughts feel free to call 1300224636. This is not just a suicide hotline, it is a generally counselling hotline too. If you are just needing someone to talk to help you through your intrusive thoughts they can help. I haven't personally called them, but my best friend did after a break up when she had intrusive thoughts and they really helped her.

Keep well and hope this has helped.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

MsPurple — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 10:53:56 GMT

Sorry I just re-read this and I realised I had a fair number of typos. I used know instead of now and buy instead of by and buy instead of by. I am dyslexic so I do tend to miss these things until later.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

Hylo46 — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 11:02:55 GMT

Hi Ms Purple!

thank you for taking the time out to reply to me. I have been on them before but for some reason my intrusive thoughts have returned. My thoughts and obsessions are different off them, but when I go back on them they get nastier and I link the pills to me doing something horrible to my family etc... it's frustrating because I know the pills can help,yet they make the thoughts even more distressing because I think I'm going to harm someone impulsively, acting on a thought. Damned if I do, damned if I don't get!

thanks again.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

MsPurple — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 11:59:55 GMT

Hi Hylo.

I know the struggle and frustration. My depression and anxiety didn't fully improve when I was on my meds. I had been put on them when I was 12, off again then on again at 15 then off at 19 then on again at 23. When I went back on them at 23 they weren't really working for me. They had to fiddle with my meds again. It does suck having to change meds or being worried they are not working as they should.

I would talk to your dr again about it. They may need to take another approach. It is ok to talk to your dr about your concerns. They more you discuss and the more open you are the more they can help you.

I know my advise is general and it can be frustrating to here but its the best I can give. When is your next appointment? Maybe see if you can get an earlier appointment

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

geoff — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 20:11:18 GMT

hello Hylo, our intrusive thoughts are always terrible, either using medication or not taking anything, but I've been on SSRI for longer than I can remember and had OCD for 56 years, and yes my intrusive thoughts are in my dreams, but as awful as they are, none of them have ever come to fruition.
Can I tell you years ago I always wanted to hurt my dear Mum, but I loved her so much, so it was very distressing but nobody else ever knew about, but it kept on happening for several years, until the day she was put into a nursing home and then they suddenly stopped, I suppose because then she was in helpless position.
I used to talk to myself why on earth would I ever want to hurt my dear Mum, I love her, but day after day it tormented me to the point of exhaustion, but since that day when she was put into the nursing home, I know that none of them no matter how ghastly they are, they would never come true.
I would love to see what I look like when I'm asleep and have them, but as soon as I wake up I dismiss them all.
I know how terrible they are for you, but please trust me none of them you would ever follow through with, but this won't stop this debilitating anxiety unless you learn to know they won't happen. Geoff.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

Hylo46 — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 08:03:26 GMT

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for sharing!

I feel like sharing a little more too after you opening up 🙂 My intrusive thoughts once upon a time, say 8-10 years ago were only about me, getting cancer, catching aids, it seemed easier to deal with... until I met the love of my life and it all did a 180 about 2.5 years ago, I started having intrusive thoughts that i would cheat on her, or that she would out something from my past and she would leave me. i agreed to go on meds, but then my intrusive thoughts went to another level, i read the side effects of SSRI and couldn't get out of my head that I might do something every bad, hurt my niece and nephew, poison a family member or someone close to me, it became so much more full on and criminal in a blink of an eye... a far cry from me just thinking I would get sick etc. The guilt that comes along with this is the hardest bit. I try to tell myself that I would never do these things but the images are so powerful and thoughts are so distressing. I lost my partner anyway because i couldn't handle my thoughts. What I would give to just rewind and have the intrusive thoughts of sickness, I could deal with those much easier!

Thanks for listening or should I say reading. oh and the dreams bit you mentioned - they freak me out too, they feel so real and are hard to wipe, they can be just as powerful!

Hylo.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

geoff — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 22:29:03 GMT

hi Hylo, thanks for getting back to me, and I couldn't agree anymore than what you are saying, so it's a battle between what the thoughts are telling you to do and then your thoughts that there is no way on earth you could possibly do any of this, and yes this will go on until you can realise that it would ever happen, now that's easier said than done when you are struggling with these awful thoughts.
You know that people who don't have OCD may never understand why we have these thoughts or why we have to check the locks 3 or 4 times, because they ask themselves 'why', why does a sensible person have to do this, they must be crazy, hell no, believe me we aren't crazy, we have an illness that is so difficult to understand, so partners or spouses decide to leave because they think it's ridiculous that a normal person has to do any of this, if only they would understand that a chap aged 62 (that's me)has to touch objects 4 times, however I always hide it when doing it, so no one can see me.
You have to remember how you coped with having these thoughts about your sickness, how and why did they disappear or why were they overtaken by these other thoughts, it's an anxiety that is causing this, and sometimes we have them is because we feel insecure in ourselves, so we have these awful thoughts to then feel as though we are taking back control of our mind in a situation where you may not feel comfortable.
Have a battle in your mind between the thoughts of sickness and hurting someone, let them battle their way out of it, yes I know it will cause some problems but it maybe a way to help you accept that none of these are ever going to happen.
Write these two down on a piece of paper and keep looking at them, this will show you what you are struggling with.
If you don't understand what I'm trying to say then please get back to me and let me know it goes. Geoff.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

CheeseSlices — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 01:13:05 GMT

My intrusive thoughts are also worst on SSRI and "low dose sleeping medication" aka antipsychotics

I am appalled at the responses on this site - OCD is a side effect of SSRI medication. It is awful people are telling you to put up with WORSENING of your symptoms to wait it out for a drug that might actually be making it worse. There are thousands of accounts online of OCD impulses being completed whilst on medication. It can be hard to find because they do not want it being mass knowledge - but the data is there back to the early 90's.

You do not have to put up with worsening symptoms. Medication can take affect mere hours after ingestion for some people, even SSRIs.

My ocd was easing as I dropped the dosage. But I cant drop the dosage further unless I want to live in the toilet the rest of my days with the damage long term medication use did to my stomach. I cant get off the drugs that are causing my symptoms. Its worse than what you describe now and imo not worth the risk.

Observation is an interesting way to look at intrusive thoughts - but I found this near on impossible while clouded by overmedication.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

Verita — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 13:11:36 GMT

Hi, Its worth going straight to the doctor and airing your concerns about the medication if the side effects are a real concern to you. Fear is so crippling and finding an experienced psychotherapist to help talk you through dealing with your fear. and the right medication if necessary is important. Have Faith, if you want to see a doctor straight away then dont hesitate thats what they are there for, you want to get best possible advice for you and your situation. and they can refer you to a suitable therapist for your situation. Are you able to talk to your family about your concerns?

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

geoff — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 17:08:18 GMT

hi CheeseSlices, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and there maybe some truth in what you say, however SSRI is a medication given to people because they do have OCD, so if you google 'is ocd a side effects from ssri'it will explain a lot for you to consider, so I disagree that OCD is a side-effect of SSRI. Geoff.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

CheeseSlices — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 03:43:23 GMT

If you want to hear from people who are have also been affected in similar ways please visit other forums. Specifically US and scandinavian countries. Those threads go back years and show the thousands of people with similar worsening symptoms. Also many people have dropped medication for this specific reason - you can find those people on withdrawal forums. Goodluck.

I have years of doctors saying meds dont cause this or that. They dont even know how the meds work.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

Verita — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 06:36:56 GMT

HI Hylo46, i was reading the conversation between you and Geoff and also feel the worst part for me is the shame and guilt and how the thoughts then slowly feel like they are degrading your whole self until you see yourself as this horrible evil person. I am a loving mother of a young child and my thoughts and fear and anxiety stem around him. It used to be external threat like i needed to protect him and i spent about 8months paranoid about dying and not being there for him and i would have to walk around near all the medical centres just in case i would think of it 24hrs a day , it then turned into what if i could do something wrong to him and a random compulsive suggestion in my head said you could do that.. and as soon as it became this internal threat of what am i capable of doing, the innapropriate thoughts escalated toward him. which recently became devestating to me and heartbreaking and i hated myself . You need to view yourself as you would a friend, forgive yourself you have done nothing wrong and say i am a good , worthwhile person. Try to view your thoughts as seperate to you and beyond your control , "ok thoughts i can see you there but i dont believe you , i know what is important to me and valuable to me" Give yourself a friendly voice in your head one that stands up for you and tells you that you are a wonderful loving person and this is precisely why you are suffering so much with your thoughts because you do care, you do have values and morals that are important to you, i think the suffering goes to show that these thoughts are not in line with your true nature. Trusting and believing in yourself is important you need to balance these thoughts with concious attempts to discount them and then as you slowly discount them , the next hard part is starting to ignore them, or say no i dont have time for you today and quickly divert your thinking to other things. this is a long slow process and im just trying to figure out strategies to phase these thoughts out somehow. I am just struggling along to figure this all out myself and i plan to get a psychotherapist to truly help me, i hope you can find a therapist that you are able to share with also. Have faith

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

Ness_ — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 09:40:48 GMT

I went through a very traumatic time two years ago and just after that I could not go into multilevel shopping centres. As soon as I reached level 2 and 3, I had something telling me to jump off. I would go into shops to get out of the area. I was all anxiety and did not feel in control of my thoughts, other times I had to control myself from throwing myself in-front of cars and buses. Horrible, as I remember, but stopped now. I don't know why it stopped.I really empathise with you. So sorry this is happening to you. I didn't want to do the things in my head at all and I felt fearful of my own thoughts.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

Hylo46 — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 06:19:35 GMT

Wow Verita that sounds terrible! So happy for you that it stopped, how exhausting!!!

my thoughts were never of a criminal nature, they firstly were just around getting ill, aids etc... I then met my partner and had a terrible time, intrusive thoughts of cheating on her, obsessing over my past. I agreed to go on SSRI and that made me think I was going to do terrible things to other people due to the medication. I came off them and feel so trapped, I'm left with the criminal thoughts now, I wish I never went on them. These thoughts have changed everything and so much harder to shake... I need something, I can't go on like this, but now I'm too scared to start the meds again. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

CheeseSlices — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 06:40:05 GMT

I acted on intrusive thoughts today 😞

I am so ashamed.

I am trying to drop my dosage of medication in the new year but need to find a GP who wont laugh at me for needing to wean off a smaller dose.

Its hard to know - as it was a behaviour i followed through (and found much relief/benefit) yet it was so impulsive and so fast, I dont even remember having the thought before I found myself doing it. Scary.

I am so so so thankful I am off the antipsychotic that gave me intrusive thoughts of harming children. It has been a much easier chirstmas.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

geoff — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 17:20:56 GMT

hello Verita, a good reply and I agree with you, so the technique is that people have these intrusive thoughts about harming or hurting someone they love, so you can think about this, then why can't you do as Verita has mentioned, to begin with, to think of a person who is always telling that you are good and would never do any of them, that's how I eventually never believed any of my intrusive thoughts would follow through.
Actually this started when I was watching the Flintstones, believe it or not, where there were two imaginary figures of Fred, one telling him to do something bad and then the good angel figure of Fred saying to him not to do it, so the battle between these two figures continued, the bad Fred yelling at Fred to do it, while the good Fred kept talking to him in a quietly spoken voice, not to, eventually Fred did the right thing and believed the good imaginary and told the bad Fred to go away, funny analogue, but yes it sent a strong message to me, to bring in the good in you, as strange as it is this is how I overcome these awful thoughts.
It will take some practice but persevere. Geoff.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

keeping_positive — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 06:33:16 GMT

Hi hylo

Sorry to hear you are going through this. I have contamination ocd, its horrible, my intrusive thoughts are more just constant thoughts of everything having something harmful on it. But i also have the compulsions, to try and alleviate the anxiety. They used to only be "needed" if a situation happened, like i walked in something that i believed was harmful, panic would start and it wouldn't go until I cleaned or whatever i felt needed to be done. Now well its just a constant battle of everything is contaminated ALL the time, but Im working on it.

You say they have worsened have you looked in to methylation.. over or under methylation play a big role as to how you would react to ssri. Mensah medical or biobalance australia are great sites to look at.

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

Kat017 — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 23:22:55 GMT

Hi Verita,

I found your words here so profound and helpful to me. So much so, that I wrote them down for me to look at when I'm next in a fog of anxious thoughts.

This is my first experience of somewhat debilitating anxiety, I'm seeing my doc in a couple of days for assistance, after coming to the realization that I'm actually not ok. I wish you all the best. I hope we are both able to accept and move on from the unwelcome thoughts.

thank you again ❤️

OCD intrusive thoughts worse on SSRI

kath92 — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 13:58:03 GMT

I struggle with intrusive thoughts as of late, I am so embarrassed about them and hate myself. I can say with such gratitude thank you!!! Thank you for your post I was meant to see it. I've been scrolling for an hour trying to find someone I can relate to so I didn't feel alone. This was put so simply and perfectly. Thank you Verita you may of just saved my life xx