Struggling with OCD

Tvdforeverfan · ‎25-04-2018

Hi everyone I'm new here so I'm not sure how to use these forums properly but as you can tell from the title I struggle with obsessive compulsive disorder daily and I've tried to overcome it on my own which isn't working very well. I'll try my best to keep this short and I'm so sorry if I sound weird or crazy.

It started about 2 years ago when I started over thinking things which then turned into compulsive behaviours that I felt like I had no control over. I would check the stove over and over about 8-10 times because I had this thought in my head that if I didn't check it a certain amount of times then my house will burn down and I had the same thoughts about this with light switches and a few other things.

It got better after a while and suddenly got a thousand times worse. In almost everything I do I need to tap things a certain amount of times and I replay scenes of a tv show if I look at fire or jewellery because I'll have a thought that something will happen to my family if I looked at those things before the scenes changes. It's weird I know and I can't understand why I'm like this and I never get a break from these thoughts. The worst part is recently I'm always thinking about blinking and how many times I should blind and I don't understand it. And it's the same with swallowing, if I think about it a lot Its like I forget how to swallow and I end up struggling to eat meals. I have googled this and it could be something called 'sensorimotor obsessions' but I'm not a doctor so I'm not 100% sure.

Sorry for rambling on but these obsessions have been really irritating and time consuming and I would love some advice of any sort.

Chloe_M · ‎25-04-2018

Hi there,

firstly welcome to the BB forums! You are using it properly don't worry, and we are all crazy so you'll fit right in 🙂

Ok, so I am the queen of overthinking. And me overthinking has made me a little obsessed with something. It started as a 'you had better check ediary (online diary that high schoolers use) and see what homework you have'. It then grew to a 'you had better check ediary you never know they might have added extra homework and you don't want to get into trouble' and then it's now a 'check ediary now Chloe otherwise you'll get in trouble when the teachers see you haven't checked it this period'. So I end up checking it up to 15 times a day,It's kind of intense.

sorry i was just rambling... Made it all about myself once again 😬. I have learnt to restrain myself from checking my diary with this method. Might not work for you but worth a try.

So I have this app called ReachOut WorryTime, where you can add a worry (in your case the obsession). You then set a time where you get worry or think about the obsession. When WorryTime is up, you aren't allowed to think about it until the next WorryTime. It might not sound that effective but trust me, it works. I'm not OCD (well I don't know, I don't actually have a diagnosis but I think I have anxiety and depression).

Can i ask, do you see a psych? If not you might consider going to one, they would know way more than anyone on here. With the swallowing and blinking things, ask a doctor or psych about them.

You weren't rambling, I can understand how they would get annoying and time consuming.

take care of yourself and stay strong.

chloe x

Summer Rose · ‎25-04-2018

Hi and welcome to the bb forums.

I am so sorry to learn about your struggles with OCD. My daughter has the illness too and I have supported her for a number of years. I understand your pain.

I may be wrong but it sounds like you have been trying to manage OCD all on your own. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult this must be for you.

I really want to encourage you to make a double appointment with your GP. This will give you time to explain what's happening for you and to discuss treatment options. I suggest this because with the right professional help you can get on top of your condition and heal.

It would also really help for you to have some support at home. Is this possible? Do you have friends and/or family that could possibly assist you?

I am happy to keep chatting and there are many others here that can help as well. Post again if it helps.

Hang in there. It gets better

Tvdforeverfan · ‎02-05-2018

Thankyou and sorry it took me so long to reply!

i don’t see a phsycologist and I really want to but I don’t know exactly how to? If that makes sense

Tvdforeverfan · ‎02-05-2018

Yeah your right I am trying to handle this on my own and it is so difficult. And I don’t really have a friend I can trust and I’m not very close with my parents.

i asked my mum if she could help me organise an appointment with a doctor or phsycologist but I haven’t worked up the courage to tell her why.

Thankyou for the advice, I really appreciate it

Chloe_M · ‎02-05-2018

Hi!

Are you still in high school of uni (just trying to see where you are at and how much independence you have). Also if you're in school/uni if there's a counsellor onsite you could ask them for advice on how to approach this whole psych business.

if you want to see a psych, the first step is to go to your GP. You can get a metal health plan and a referral to a psych they think will suit you. I am going next Monday. I am only fairly new to this mental health issues business.

It was great to hear back from you, hope all goes well x

Chlos

Chloe_M · ‎02-05-2018

Aaaaand of course I spell my name wrong 😂🙄😳

^^Chloe 😉

Summer Rose · ‎02-05-2018

Hi again

Chloe has given you some good advice. The best place to start is with your GP. I would like to add, however, that you need to make a double appointment so you have time to talk through the issues.

Your GP will provide you with a Mental Health Plan and a referral to see a specialist doctor, which might be a psychologist or psychiatrist. You need this Plan to ensure that Medicare provides a rebate, or in other words, pays for part of your appointments with the specialist. You will initially be covered for 10 sessions.

If all that seems like too much, you could also try contacting your local Head Space centre. These centres are found across Australia and are designed to help young people aged 12-25 with mental health issues. Maybe have a look at headspace.org.au and see if you think this could work for you.

It really would be great if your mum or dad could help you with all this. My daughter was nervous talking to me as well. It's okay and it's normal. But I know that once she let me in, she felt a lot better. And, perhaps more importantly, I was able to provide her with much needed support.

Can I ask how mum responded when you asked for help making an appointment? Do you think you could tell her a bit more about what's happening for you?

Tvdforeverfan · ‎03-05-2018

I'm still in high school and i think we have a counsellor at school, I'll have to check it out.

ill book an appointment with my gp after I open up to my mum because I would feel a lot better if She was supporting me in all of this. Thankyou again x

Tvdforeverfan · ‎03-05-2018

I was thinking about going to headspace but a few of my friends go to our local headspace and I'm not ready to tell them yet and if they see me they will just keep asking me why I'm going which will become even more overwhelming.

she didn't look surprised and didn't ask why but she said she will talk to her physcologist about it. But her next appointment isn't for another 3 weeks.