I just got diagnosed with OCD

[DaffodilDarling]

Hi everyone,

I'm always a little nervous to post in these forums and haven't done so often so please bear with me. This week I received confirmation of what I had been suspecting for a few months-- I have OCD, 'Pure O' to be exact. I was expecting to feel relieved once I got this diagnosis, because I thought that once I knew what was going on, I could start working towards feeling better. But instead I felt the opposite? It kind of felt like this huge weight on my shoulders, like a big heavy label on my forehead that meant things would never be the same again, and I'd always be carrying the weight of my OCD with me. Did anyone else feel this way at first? I have great support from my family, but I'm struggling to explain it all to my partner. How do you tell someone about the awful, horrible, intrusive thoughts in your head without them looking at you differently? These thoughts go so against who I am and what I stand for as a person, that it's just so hard and embarrassing and terrible to explain.

Any advice or words of wisdom would be so appreciated!

Daffodil x

[Summer Rose]

Hi DaffodilDarling

Welcome to the bb forum and congratulations on having the courage to share your story. You’ve done really well to seek help and obtain a diagnosis, I know it’s not easy.

My daughter was diagnosed with OCD when she was 13 and I remember feeling very much like you. I thought that things would never be the same. It was devastating…sitting in the psychiatrist’s office, listening to him speak and just wishing that he would stop talking. My daughter felt the same.

It took time for this feeling to pass. And it lessened as my daughter worked toward better health and her condition improved. The evidence was irrefutable: recovery is possible.

Please know that there are effective treatments for OCD and it is possible for people to learn to manage their illness. Persevere until you find what works for you.

OCD is a hard illness to talk about because most people just don’t know anything about it. Or they think it’s some cute and quirky condition.

I’ve found when it is properly explained many people are shocked at how devastating it can be and very empathetic.

The key thing to remember is that you are not OCD. Thoughts come and go and they they are just that, thoughts. They can’t hurt you and they don’t define you.

Your partner knows the “real” you. You know the “real” you. You have nothing to be ashamed of. People fall ill, but they also get better.

Kind thoughts to you

[geoff]

Hello DaffodilDarling, and a very warm welcome to the site.

It is impossible to try and explain what OCD or pure O is if that person doesn't have it, they can't imagine why we do these compulsions/obsessions and in your case those thoughts, which also happen to those with OCD and can understand the logic nor the reason why we struggle with them, and so often criticise us for having thoughts that they believe are impossible and certainly couldn't happen, but that's what this illness and how it controls us.

I've had this for 60 odd years and have learnt to hide everything I do, only because back in my early days all people would do is laugh at me and make comments which can't be printed, I wonder whether this happens.

If you could type 'intrusive thoughts' in the search bar at the top of this page or in your search browser and read the many comments people have made.

If you visit a psychologist try and get one who specialises in OCD, then the appropriate techniques will be provided, and please get back to us.

Geoff.

[Petal22]

Hi DaffodilDarling,

Well done for getting a diagnosis I understand completely how it feels to be sitting in your psychiatrists room knowing something isn’t right with yourself and the feelings of severe anxiety running through your body and all of the what if thoughts and the intrusive thoughts that totally go against everything you are …..after your psychiatrist witnessing your behaviour they say to you….. You have OCD …… Obsessive Compulsive Disorder….. I understand completely because this is what happened to me………. I was diagnosed with OCD…… I remember when I was told I had this disorder I said to my psychiatrist well “ I don’t want it” my psychiatrist replied “ You have it”……..

It took me a few visits with my psychiatrist to accept that I did have this disorder…….. once I accepted it I was able to work on over coming it!

AND I have …….. 4 years on from diagnosis I’m now recovered and I’m living my BEST life ever and so can you…….

I did an 8 week group therapy this therapy was called Metacognitive Therapy….. it was an intervention into the OCD…… this is we’re I learned to master my OCD! I’m now free of the vicious cycle of OCD……… if you can find this therapy in your area please think about doing it….…. It really can change your life….. it took perseverance and practice to master the skills I was taught but now I’m flying…..

I also at first found it difficult to open up to my partner about my intrusive thoughts but my partner knew the real me and never once thought I’d do my intrusive thoughts…. That’s what they were just thoughts…… please try to talk to your partner so they can understand……

Ive written two threads please have a read:

From someone who had OCD and recovered

Effective treatment for OCD Metacognitive Therapy

Ask me any thing

[Petal22]

Please have a read of my threads…. 😊

From someone who suffered OCD and recovered

Treatment for OCD Metacognitive Therapy

[DaffodilDarling]

Thank you so much! This was so helpful. I talked to my partner about it last night and though he shared many of the views about OCD that lots of people do at the moment, once I explained to him what OCD truly is he was very open to listening to me and understanding me. I didn’t go into detail about my intrusive thoughts but spoke generally about them and what lots of people experience, and I’m quite happy not to delve into those details with anyone by my psychologist as, like you said, they are just thoughts and don’t mean anything about me as a person. Thank you again for your wonderful advice 😊

[DaffodilDarling]

Thank you very much! It’s wonderful to hear that you have recovered and gives me so much hope for the future. I will definitely be reading your threads x

[Summer Rose]

Hi DaffodilDarling

I am so happy that I was able to support you in a meaningful way. You've made my day by letting me know this!

I am hoping that along with your professional diagnosis that you also received an appropriate treatment plan. There are different ways to treat OCD and the path you embark on should reflect your unique circumstances. Not all people are the same, not all OCD experiences are the same and so not all treatment plans are the same.

My daughter was fortunate enough to reach what we call "recovery". The recovery word is tricky because it means different things to different people. When I use this word here, I'm referring to a state where she can manage her symptoms.

As you move on to start to deal with your illness please feel free to post anytime if you have any questions or concerns or you just want to vent. We will all be here for you.

Kind thoughts to you

[Petal22]

Hi DaffodilDarling,

Im so happy I have given you HOPE please hold onto it even in your hard days……. When I went through my therapy I learned OCD works on a sliding scale some days will be better than others….. eventually the good days will out weigh the bad ones……

I also just wanted to let you know that when I did my group therapy I didn’t have to disclose my intrusive thoughts to the group it was a intervention into the OCD… I was given so many tools and learned how to disengage from the vicious cycle of OCD…

Please know I’m here and chat to me anytime x I understand

[quirkywords]

Daffodil darling.thanks for your honesty for starting this thread.

Many people will read your post but will not comment so you will help them not feel alone.

Many thanks to Summer rose, Geoff ,and Petal for your informative and helpful posts.

I have learnt a lot from all of you and l think by understanding more about how people

experience OCD it has give me some insight.

Thank you all