topic Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening in Anxiety

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

MrAnxiety — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 02:45:18 GMT

Hi all, I have just joined as a member recently, I feel the need to say what is going on with me as I am not fully cognizant as to what is happening. I sometimes get racing thoughts throught my mind and it’s difficult for them to stop, this can happen at anytime and sometimes when I am watching TV or listening to the radio, the thoughts can begin and seem to distract me from what I am listening to/watching and I tend to tune out unwillingly as the thoughts seem to just take over, I feel as if I barely have any control or any way to make them stop.

The thoughts can start at any random time and sometimes consist of events that have happened in the past or conversations I have had in the past or a future conversation I am planning to have.

It also happens if I may be about to see someone, eg, on the way to work and I feel that they may ask me a question and I am thinking what the question may be and I plan my potential responses in my mind, it’s kind of like a version of how the conversation could go is going through my head.

There are times where I will also start thinking that my boss is going to call me and either cancel a shift on me or tell me off for something that I may have done wrong, I understand that this falls under the category of timorousness as I work a range of different hours and rarely see my boss and therefore cannot know if she is happy with my performance etc at times, this is usually only ephemeral and passes once I know she has left work for the day.

I feel that a lot of this is due to my OCD, I sometimes get random feelings in my body like kind of like some kind of stabbing pain in my chest and it’s kind of like a semi hot feeling, it doesn’t really last that long but I often get scared when it occurs and think I may be having a heart attack or stroke, I try to convince myself that this is not the case but it’s not that easy to do, it scares me that it may happen in future, this event just happened to me last Sunday in the movie theatre and eventually passed, I attempt to manage it with a breathing technique that I was taught and it works quite a bit, the movie started and it eventually went.

I’m putting my story on here as I want to know if others are experiencing something similar or have in the past, it would be greatly appreciated if people could answer and attempt to assist in any way or at least share similar experiences. Thanks in advance.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

Bethie — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 03:04:31 GMT

Yep i can relate to most of that. Projecting is the worst of my anxiety and depression triggers. That hot feeling is so not fun. Even trying to find a aircon to stand in front of sometimes does not work.

It would be a good idea to go talk to your GP and tell them what your going through.

Good luck and please let us know how your going on both good and bad days

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

MrAnxiety — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 10:44:05 GMT

Okay thanks, feels good to at least know there are others out there experiencing what I am, yeah not fun at all, yeah it can become really hot that feeling, I have been to my GP and had counseling in the past, what I was taught has helped a bit but not for the voices aspect, I have a lot on my plate atm which is making it difficult to find the time to see GP and am trying my absolute best to manage it for now, I should really do it though, thanks, that was really nice that you asked me to keep you updated, you too, what exactly triggers it for you? For me it’s work pressure, money and doubts over my future, I think talking about it will be good and possibly help us both.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

Bethie — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 11:08:20 GMT

Mine tend to be i think others expect a higher standard from me and will be upset if i don't achieve it. My head tells me i should be able to do everything without asking for help. Simple things like going into a new shopping centre and trying to find my way around can start the stress and panic but me no i dont do logical mostly. I wait till I'm all worked up before either leaving or looking at the information board. It's only the small things. Big life stuff is as easy as breathing. I work when i want and am anal with time management so you could say I'm a control freak. My husband and son are used to it because most of my family is the same. Over achieves with more letters after their names than in them. Only problem is the constant bouts of stress and breakdowns. I programme everything into my phone to keep me focused now, even down to simple things like toilet finders and where i park my car

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

MrAnxiety — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 22:40:59 GMT

Yes I get that, I sometimes feel pressure of what others expect of me too, yes I see how getting lost could cause panic etc, especially if you are unfamiliar with your sorroundings, they are small things like you said, kind of like me most seem to be small things or it can even begin at random.

I’m very hot on time deadlines in management even if only short term deadlines, I’m really organized cause of my OCD I feel, I’m always setting reminders and alarms as I don’t like to leave anything to chance and eliminate even the most modicum chance that I will forget something important related to work etc.

I also do that with my car, I tend to write down the level or the exact space I/we have parked in.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

geoff — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 16:00:24 GMT

hi Mr. Anxiety, you are not alone when you have these feelings or thoughts and it is probably your OCD causing this, and it does happen with me even though I've had OCD for 58 years, if you can relate to someone who has OCD and thinks that they need to check the door lock believing that it's not locked, exactly the same happens with someone who has these worries/thoughts. Geoff.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

MrAnxiety — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 23:51:33 GMT

Hi Geoff, thanks for answering my message, I do the same thing with the house door and my car door quite often, especially my car door and am always thinking my electronic rolla door may not have closed, I sometimes have to sort of picture it when I pressed the button and see it going down in my mind to confirm with myself that it’s done. I have many other little OCD related habits I guess you call them, may I ask how you manage yours or attempt to lesson the impact on life etc? Thanks 🙂

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

geoff — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 01:13:17 GMT

hi MrAnxiety, I haven't forgotten about you or your post, it's only because I start very early in the morning 2 to 2.30 am and I seem to get immersed in 'new posts' that come in so I am very happy to hear back from you.

I have written down your avatar and will definitely reply back tomorrow, in the meantime I hope someone else who has OCD can join in, because you have asked a very complex question, but please check your post tomorrow. Geoff.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

MrAnxiety — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 12:00:36 GMT

Thanks buddy, it’s all good, I get very busy with work too at times, wow that’s nice of you man, take your time though if you are busy buddy, yeah would be good if more happen to see my post and get involved.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

geoff — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 16:38:38 GMT

hi MrAnxiety, people who have OCD have compulsions/rituals and habits and hope that by doing them will prevent something bad from happening, once that feeling starts it becomes a necessity and if you are susceptible to OCD then that's how it develops.

Some people don't have this necessity after awhile, so the compulsion doesn't form, but for those of us who it, it can be a nightmare, but we do it to relieve our anxiety and that 'certain something' from happening.

If circumstances change for you, such as changing house, job or r/ship then the habits you did while being in any of these will stop and replaced by something else.

As a kid I couldn't step on any joins on the concrete when walking anywhere, now because I've changed residence twice it doesn't bother me any more.

I'm also spot on for appointments and get there 10 mins before hand and this relates to you being organised, the same as I am. Geoff.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

MrAnxiety — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 19:18:23 GMT

Cool thanks, that at least explains a bit of the reasons for the OCD habits,I also have that habit with the concrete and I still do it today (depending on the design/layout) quite often as well as doing it when I was a kid, I’m also always early and have checklists and sheets set out for my work shifts etc, I don’t wanna lose any of the good parts of the OCD if I was to seek proper or more professional treatment one day, that’s a kind of fear I have I guess.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

Bethie — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 21:39:40 GMT

I suppose the question is are you happy to live with your OCD or does it impact your life to much. I know in my case my OCD i live with happily as its basically a security blanket and my family just accepts that i need to be organised or get as my son tell me Mum starts flapping. Work loves it because i meet every dead line. My husband loves it because he knows where everything is and that bills get paid or extensions organised.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

geoff — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 21:55:32 GMT

hi MrAnxiety, good to hear back from you, but whatever habit you have to do is not your fault, and just because I had to not step on the cracks in the concrete, then what you have to do is your OCD telling you to do this.

If you move away, such as change houses then it may stop, the new surroundings, different houses or maybe the concrete has been replaced by brick pavers all it needs is something small to be different which may stop you from doing what you have to do.

You don't have to be conscious of changing, it may just happen, that's what happened to me.

I also have to use checklists, but what you consider to be good with your OCD you won't lose because they have a strong priority and will work around them. Geoff.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

MrAnxiety — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 09:47:48 GMT

Yes it is, well the thing is I don’t wanna lose any of the positive aspects of it, the organization etc, yes it can be a security blanket, it has many positives that I see, like the organization aspect, it’s a big key to running a life efficiently and achieving goals.

I strongly feel that without it I wouldn’t take work and money as seriously as I do or perhaps set the goals I do, it’s a lot to think about, even anxiety has it’s good parts I feel, it really helps and feels great to talk about it, see it has good advantages for you too.

I don’t wanna lose those qualities, I fear doing so, am I correct in saying you do too? Talking about it on here is definitely a great start or move to help manage it.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

MrAnxiety — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 09:52:33 GMT

I have a very high stress job atm I feel, it’s one I am not planning to do forever, I am aiming to just manage my anxiety/OCD for now and then see how I feel when things steady a bit more and im in a different job with a different setup etc, hard to explain and I don’t want to go into too much but it definitely makes sense to me, so perhaps I will decide if I need proper counselling in future, thanks to you a Jeff for your replies and help, truly means a lot. 🙂

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

MrAnxiety — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 09:55:42 GMT

Okay that’s great, I really hope I don’t should in the worst case I end up needing medication etc.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

MrAnxiety — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 09:58:49 GMT

May I ask you both what you make of the voices in my head I mentioned in the original post or the sort of conversations that go on in the head? That’s probably what bothers me the most as well as the panic attacks or physical feelings equally.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

geoff — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 01:25:23 GMT

hi MrAnxiety, before I can answer your last comment I need to think as I'm logging off, but absolutely to you and Bethie, it is our security blanket, our comfort zone, something that will finally make us feel comfortable but only for a short time. Geoff.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

Bethie — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 02:20:00 GMT

I get voices in my head but its like having a conversation with myself to figure out what i need to do. Its commonly called self talk. If im having a bad day i can talk in my head and calm myself down by telling me that i am safe, have done this before and been ok.

Please help, I have OCD and don’t know exactly what’s happening

MrAnxiety — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 09:58:38 GMT

Okay I see, I get that too but it’s slightly different, I can run things through my head like the next three tasks I wanna do etc and in that exact order, I do also talk my self internally, good to know I’m not alone.