Ocd

[Jimbo86]

Can't get the thoughts out of my head that I'm going crazy or insane ocd ?

[Zeal]

Hi Jimbo,

Welcome to the forum!

I'm sorry to hear that you're overwhelmed by incessant thoughts. Unfortunately trying to get rid of the thoughts usually doesn't help. I highly recommend that you see your doctor (GP) for a referral to a counsellor or psychologist. These professionals don't prescribe medications. Their role is to work with you to find psychological (mental) strategies to help make the thoughts more manageable. If you already have a diagnosis of OCD and would like further information, I suggest you buy or borrow a copy of The OCD Workbook by Hyman and Pedrick. A mental health nurse photocopied this book for me, and I found it very helpful.

If you'd like to talk more about what's bothering you, you can post back here at any time 🙂

Best wishes,

Zeal

[BballJ]

Hi Jimbo86,

Firstly, welcome to the forums.

Are you able to go into a little more detail of what is going on so we can try and help and assist you at all?

We are just here to help and give advice as best we can, please also know you can call the Beyond Blue helpline on 1300 22 4636 to discuss anything you are going through.

My best for you,

Jay

[geoff]

hello Jim, please be assured that you're not crazy or going insane, it's an illness that many of us have developed, learnt to do or you could have been born with it, where sometimes it may not manifest itserlf, but will occur if you are triggered by a traumatic or stressful event, which is why I've had it and for 57 years and as Zeal has said 'trying to get rid of the thoughts usually doesn't help' and in fact could make it worse.
There could be many reasons why you are feeling this way, but maybe the one which is annoying you is by having 'intrusive thoughts', thinking about doing something to someone you are close to and who you love, that are incessantly annoying you on a constant basis, that suddenly come into your mind.
There are many other symptoms that could be frustrating you, like continually washing your hands, checking the locks, but before we go on it would be good to hear back from you. Geoff.

[Bush_resident]

Not letting my ocd control me has worn me out today. Right now I can't stop pushing the page refresh button

[BballJ]

Hi Bush resident,

I hate that feeling when you have to keep doing something over and over again, I have many OCD things that annoy me so much but I have to them. My biggest one is checking things are locked even though I know they are locked because I locked them myself.

My best,

Jay

[geoff]

hi Jay, I'm really upset to know that you also have OCD, I don't think I ever knew about this, and yes ditto for me, can I ask if you a certain number to do this, mine is 4, however I may still do it 6 or 7 times, but only count to 4, but do all of this when no one knows, in other words, I hide it. Geoff.

[Guest_9809]

I understand where you're at Bush. Always checking, counting, straightening ... it goes on and on. When uncontrolled, OCD just does not give your mind or body a moments break. OCD is exhausting. Yeah I know, because I have it too! Luckily for me I am able to control it most of the time, or at least to disguise the worst of it from others. But whenever I get anxious about something, back comes the OCD with a vengeance. The more you try to stop them, the worse they become.

Its important to learn to accept your thoughts for what they are - a symptom of your anxiety. Dont shame yourself for the thoughts you are having, and dont try to push the thoughts away. Acceptance is the key - acceptance that these thoughts and rituals are all part of the disorder. When your anxiety is treated and managed, so too will the OCD, intrusive thoughts and compulsions. You can definitely learn to control and manage them.

You may find it helpful to write down your OCD thoughts in a journal or a diary. There are also a number of psych therapies which are very successful in treating OCD. Exposure therapy is one. Have you tried that at all?

Also mindfulness is very beneficial to many, as is meditation. Exercise and distraction. They all help.

I hope you get a bit of a break today Bush.

Taurus

[BballJ]

Hi geoff,

I don't have a number of times I need to do this... just have to double check really... in my mind I know they are locked but I need to double check and make sure. I think the worst is that if I change routine like for example if I only check a door is locked once and then for some reason check it again.. I will need to do it a third time to even if it up, if that makes sense... all in the mind... it so strange and has become a bug bear with many things. I am not diagnosed OCD by any means however I would be surprised if I didn't have it.

My best,

Jay

[geoff]

hi Jay, if we happen to change the way we do things, it will make us very anxious, feeling uncomfortable to the point where we have to check it once more, then that eases our anxiety.
It sounds to be strange to those who don't have it, because they will say 'you know it's locked so why check it again are you crazy or what'.
It's impossible to avoid these tendencies, now compare OCD with say a tennis player who has to bounce the ball several times before they serve, this isn't necessarily considered as having the illness, but rather a routine they need to go through because that's what they're been doing for years.
Maybe your number is 2 or 3 and I'm not saying that it is, but 'you need to even it up' and it could be something that you're not aware of.
As Taurus has said and how true it is when she says 'The more you try to stop them, the worse they become', absolutely, just as they can be constant when you have been drinking alcohol, which could let your guard down by hiding it.
Google this if you want to 'OCD test online', but certainly, from what you have said to me you have it, and I am really sorry. Geoff.