topic Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD in Anxiety

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

millie11 — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 14:47:47 GMT

Hey everyone, first time posting here. I have seen 3 different psychologists this year (diagnosed with OCD, GAD & depression) but I haven’t been able to connect with them or felt any progress has been made. This has made me so anxious that I’ve completely stopped seeing a psychologist.

I am aware that I do need some form of therapy in particular for the OCD. Can anyone offer some tips on finding a psychologist or can recommend any psychologists? (in Victoria). Am I the only one having this issue? Thank-you

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Andre_P — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 15:06:17 GMT

Hey mate, far out I hate ocd. I can relate. It’s soo tiresome that it depresses ya. It’s been a hectic year for me.

as for psychologist. I’m in Perth so I dunno. I am seeing a psychiatrist soon just to get a formal diagnosis, not for the scrips.

I have a plan of approach but it takes time. Mine only ramped up when I developed my phobia. When this goes the ocd will subside back to stuff all.

Hope you’re doing ok mate

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

geoff — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 18:48:56 GMT

Hello Millie11, and welcome to the site.

I also have OCD and had it for a very long time with repetitive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and irrational, excessive urges to do certain actions that don't make logical sense and someone who doesn't have it, just can't understand why they can't stop us.

My last psychologist didn't believe in medication and also thought I could stop OCD, he didn't last long at all.

I once did an OCD online course which didn't stop me from doing it, although helpful, until the course ended.

Psych's can use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) or desensitisation which you can learn to do yourself but to find a psychologist, I would ring the office and ask whether or not they specialise in this illness.

I'm really sorry that no luck has been found from previous psych's, because you need an understanding person so you can talk to.

Please let us know.

Geoff.

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Andre_P — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 16:07:29 GMT

Hey Geoff, been awhile. Yea man ocd would have to be one of the most debilitating and frustrating mental illnesses on the list.

I know one thing when you lose the fear the obsessions will subside, she you lose the obsessions the rituals will subside.

until then I have been doing a fair bit of avoidance. I have read a book but I’m reluctant to finish it as it put me in a tizzy just identifying all my garbage.

im getting there but it isn’t easy some days. I gotta keep positive, in getting better and better everyday 👊

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Andre_P — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 16:12:32 GMT

Ocd is a tricky one cuz you can’t dive head first into your fears or you’ll be bombarded with obsessions and rituals but constant avoidance isn’t good either.

gotta find a happy medium. Yes exposure is good but only gradually and if your comfortable. I find having a back up plan allows you to expose yourself more whilst batting away rituals. That’s why I’m waiting on my specialist app 👊

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Andre_P — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 16:15:15 GMT

Once* also sometimes you can have a lot of rituals when things are going well. It’s like your body’s way of trying to keep things going good. Again ocd is a strange 1. I know 1 thing and it’s all driven by fear. You lose the fear you pretty much lose the obsession etc etc

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Andre_P — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 16:19:09 GMT

Write things down man it does help a lot ay. Paper is better if you have it

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

geoff — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 20:18:24 GMT

Hello Andre_P, you have made some very strong points here, all of which I agree with, because it doesn't matter how you feel if, for example, you feel OK that doesn't stop you from performing these obsessions and/or compulsions, it just makes you feel happier in doing them.

My twin, fortunately, doesn't suffer from this illness, and not once did he ever complain or even make a statement contradicting what I had to be doing at certain times when these obsessions had to carried out, this I can't thank him enough, whereas an older brother, had a field day, mocking and teasing me at every chance, that's when I decided to hide doing them.

People who don't have it may say that that's what they did yesterday, go and check the locks, then maybe I have this illness, no, unless other anxiety behaviours control your life that compelled you to have to perform these, not once but all the time, and I say this a an OCD sufferer.

Please stay in touch Andre.

Geoff.

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

romantic_thi3f — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 01:00:06 GMT

Hi millie11,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for your post. It's great that you've gotten so much support already.

Unfortunately we can't recommend any specific psychologists here as much as we would like to sometimes!

I'm going to share a few resources below and hopefully they can be useful

- https://www.psychology.org.au/Find-a-Psychologist You can then filter by postcode/state and also for OCD.

- https://www.arcvic.org.au/ They have a phone line and a webchat (both free) and do referrals. While it says anxiety recovery it also includes OCD.

- a google search with "melbourne" + "therapist" = "OCD". This can be really handy as there are therapists online who really focus on OCD and make this known on their website.

and finally - when you do see a therapist, feel free to ask them in the first session about their experience working with OCD; how many clients have they seen? what sort of approaches do they use? what would the work look like together? This can give you a bit of insight before you decide to invest in it all.

Hope this helps!

Best of luck

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Andre_P — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 12:50:46 GMT

Yeah it’s pretty annoying man. I think it has something to been a perfectionist and expecting everything perfect. I have to learn to be ok with how things are but it’s not easy.

yes as you mentioned but hiding is worse. Shame shuts down a part of the brain and you end up doing more rituals. I try my best to be comfortable around my mum and she accepts me. It definitely makes it easier.

having said that though it’s still a difficult condition. My ocd has even depressed me. Anyway I got a plan but just gotta wait 👊🙂

you take care as well bro 👊👊

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

geoff — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 17:57:59 GMT

Hi Andre, wanting to be a perfectionist certainly is a symptom of OCD, but there are some people who don't need to be like this, but it doesn't stop them from being perfect in their own way, such as needing to haul everything that could become usable at some stage, it's not as lining up your shoes in a perfect order, but to collect the junk they need, that could perfection to them, but not to anyone else.

We may have to touch an item 4, 5 or some other number, the problem is that we count to that number when doing what we need to do, but actually touch it more times than we need to, as long as count to that specific number.

If you have a plan, then invariably something will happen that interrupts and stops you from proceeding.

The stress of OCD, and the problems that people have as a result of it, could be a depression trigger, simply because our brain is struggling and know how you are feeling.

Take care.

Geoff.

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Andre_P — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:05:46 GMT

Thx Geoff you seem a really nice guy. I know 1 thing Mate if you can eliminate the feared consequence or the perception of a feared consequence then you can minimise/eliminate the obsession which in turn eliminates the rituals. I know once I see my urologist I can turn this around. Now we wait. It’s hard work but cognitive behaviour is still the best treatment for ocd.

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Andre_P — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:06:43 GMT

Thx for chatting. Chat anytime.

take care Geoff - stay safe out there 🙂

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Andre_P — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:07:54 GMT

Cognitive behaviour therapy

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

geoff — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 18:32:11 GMT

Hi Andre, thanks for your compliment and the same goes with you.

If we live or married to other people and unable to hide our OCD for reasons we can justify, then the marriage becomes 3 into of 2, thankfully when I was married I was young and already hiding my OCD and absolutely no one knew about it, that was extremely difficult and if I was ever asked why I did that, I had an excuse but my ex-wife knew and thankfully never made an issue out of it, we were married 25 years.

Please let us know when you've seen the urologist, and only mention what you want to.

Take care.

Geoff.

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Andre_P — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 08:29:34 GMT

Yea shame shuts down a part of the brain. If you are comfortable doing the odd ritual in front of a person then you will find you won’t need to keep doing the ritual and you will feel easier.

ocd is a strange condition and can cause a lot of psychosomatic conditions. I’m good man I’m just not pushing too many triggers lately ay.

I do understand what you mean though. One day at a time, have a good weekend bro 🙂

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Andre_P — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 08:30:02 GMT

🙂

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Petal22 — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 13:39:22 GMT

Hi Millie,

I have now recovered from OCD.... I was lucky enough to attend a clinic that specialised in OCD..... I was able to break free of its cycle...... you CAN break free of it you just need to be shown how.......

Have a look at the threads between myself and 20girl101......

You are best to see someone who specialises in OCD I did a 10 week group therapy.... you are not alone many people have this condition...

OCD is a thinking cycle once you become aware of what the cycle is the easier it is to break free of it 😊

Struggling to find a psychologist for OCD

Petal22 — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 00:26:03 GMT

Also Millie have you googled ocd specialist Victoria...... quite a few come up .... try to see one of those.... even a clinic like I went to.... don’t be afraid to do a group therapy it can seem daunting at first but it was the BEST thing I ever did..