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Mental health

OCD worry - DH has it , I pull hair - how can we minimise chances of DD getting it?

8 replies

ocdworry · 03/02/2009 11:39

There seems to be quite a family history of OCD - DH's mother has quite a major problem with washing clothes and avoiding all references to death, DH needs to look at lights before he leaves a room and has a twitchy thing he does every so often - but only when at home, not in a work situation. I sometimes pull my hair - because I like it, not driven by stress and I always make sure I don't do it in front of DD who is 17 months. My fear is that DH exhibits his OCD in front of DD and am worried that she will start to copy - especially as she is maybe predisposed to OCD anyway. Have mentioned it to DH but not had much response. Any advice please?

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TotalChaos · 03/02/2009 11:41

as an ocd sufferer - I'ld say that anxiety disorders thrive on stress - so just do loads of work on DD's self-esteem, ensure she knows her best (or well her respectable effort) will always be good enough for you, encourage hobbies and outside interests as good for reducing stress.

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ocdworry · 03/02/2009 11:43

Thanks Total. Have you ever had any successful treatment? CBT seems to be mentioned by a few people.

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TotalChaos · 03/02/2009 18:01

yes - in theory CBT is the treatment of choice for mild OCD rather than ADs - but in practice of course you can end up on a rather long waiting list for CBT. I've had both ADs and CBT. Both have their merits.

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ocdworry · 03/02/2009 22:23

Thanks Total. Can I ask how you went about getting the CBT - is there a website or something or were you referred?

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TotalChaos · 04/02/2009 08:55

the only websites for CBT I am aware of are for depression rather than OCD - think the one the government recommends is called beating the blues, and there is a reputable aussie one called moodgym. I got referred.

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ocdworry · 04/02/2009 09:17

Thanks very much Total. Will definitely look into it.

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TotalChaos · 04/02/2009 10:12

it's all possible to go private - would be at least £50/h - but CBT tends to be limited to 10 weeks or so, not go on for years. BABCP is the place to find private people.

In general - does your DH has an diagosis of OCD - it is possible to have OCD behaviours that are subclinical - ie. minor quirks that don't affect your quality of life - so not worth bothering to treat.

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ocdworry · 04/02/2009 11:03

Thanks Total. DH has never been diagnosed and I guess can control it in the professional arena but at home - even when my mum, sister and brother in law are around - he will do it and if I speak to him when he is doing it he can't hear me. I guess I'm worried that it could get worse with age - his mother's life is really badly affected by it and consequently our life to a certain extent. Is the definition of the difference between OCD behaviours and minor quirks that they don't affect your quality of life? How does diagnosis occur?