OCD and how to cope?

[Vanillabulldog]

I have severe OCD and lately i have been waking up a lot feeling like i'm drowning. I want to scream help help help all the time at the top of my lungs. How does everyone find they deal best with severe ocd?

[MsPurple]

Hi Vanillabulldog and welcome to the BB forums

Sorry to hear you are currently struggling with your OCD. Have you consulted a GP? If not I suggest you make an appointment (long appointment) and discuss your anxiety concerns. They can refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist or whoever they think will be beneficial. This is the part that took me the longest. Once I finally went and got help it got easier to deal with. I was given strategies on how to deal with my anxiety. I remember how horrible the physical symptoms are (still have them sometimes, but not as often or as bad) and it is really important to make sure you have support.

When I saw a mental health nurse (I saw one at headspace, as there were no psychologists with openings, he was amazing and also did therapy with me) he suggested I give a few things a try

-meditation. I use the app called calm but I have also heard headspace and smiling minds were good. When I first tried it I didn't think it would work. But I promised my mental health nurse I would do it every night before bed for a week. I found it was really beneficial, especially the more I did it. I only do it for 10 minutes. It helps me stop my racing mind and anxious thoughts. I also have GAD so stopping the racing mind is half the battle

-Deep breathing. I do this when my anxiety is heightened, I do this to avoid a panic attack. I breath in for 7 seconds and out for 9 or something like that. I find it really helpful as I try focus on my breath and not the thing causing my panic

-distraction. I try distract myself by watching a funny movie, reading a book, seeing a friend etc

-Self care. Make sure you look after your mind and your body. If you need a break, take a break. I try have a relaxing a bath once a week. I also try make sure I get regular exercise and eat my vegetables.

I know it is hard now but it does get easier over time. I can manage my GAD so much better now than when I was first diagnosed. Looking back I can't believe how far I have come. I didn't think it would get any better but it did. Opening up here is the first step.

Hope some of this helps
MP

[RadDad75]

Hi Vanillabulldog,

MsPurple is spot on. I never thought meditation or mindfulness would work for me but it is unbelievable. At first its a little hard to relax but once you do a little each day makes an amazing difference. Smiling minds is great and so is buddhify. Good luck and do let me know if i can help you further as i have a lot of the similar problems you do.

All the best.

[geoff]

hello Vanillabulldog, I also join the ranks of having OCD myself, MP has given you some great advice, and your doctor can prescribe medication which may reduce some of these feelings, but what I would like is for you to tell us more about your OCD, and please don't worry I've had it for 57 years. Geoff.

[chap10]

Hi Vanillabulldog

I have OCD too and at it time it was severe and unbearable but I have massively improved and seen a dramatic reduction in obsessions and compulsions. What worked for me was seeing a psychiatrist who prescribed medication (although it took some time to find the right one) , really reading a lot about OCD and how best to help myself-- right now I urge you to buy the book Brain Lock by Jeffrey Schwartz, literally stop what you are doing, go online and buy this book. And really I worked hard to resist doing my compulsions and to resist entertaining my obsessions and intrusive thoughts. You have to do a lot of the work yourself and it is hard, it is painful and at times you will think you cannot possibly handle it another second, but you can, and you will. And things will get easier and things will get better. I promise you this.