I have diagnosed OCD AMA

[minieggsqueen]

I'm 20, diagnosed from age 7.
I feel a lot of people don't understand the condition and just joke about it or think it's only about being clean etc.

I was admitted to a psych ward age 14 as I wasn't coping and couldn't attend school due to panic attacks and having a rigourous morning shower routine as I thought I smelt. (I didn't)

Do you know what triggered your OCD at 7 years of age? How did your parents deal with it?

@LovingLola My dad leaving. He had issues with cocaine and depression at the time. He also is diagnosed with OCD. At the time my ocd was about checking my mum was still home near me, checking doors and windows, tapping and having a bedtime prayer routine to keep us all safe.

My dad came back a year later after successfully completing rehab. He hasn't relapsed with cocaine but still suffers from depression and OCD. His mum killed himself when he was around my age which I think triggered his.

Mum took me to the GP who diagnosed me there and then with anxiety (I couldn't each much at the time either and had bad stomach aches from anxiety) and OCD. Apparently it's thought to be genetic.

Now they deal with it really well. Mums always fought my corner hard for getting treatment and ensuring my education is still good whilst unable to attend school. Dad is always there for me and a call away if I have a panic attack.

That sounds very difficult for you

I was reading your post about cleaning. Do to have a baby now?

You ! Not to ..

@LovingLola No I don't. I would love a child in the future though (we have baby gates for the dog!).

@LovingLola thank youx

What obsessions and compulsions do you experience? Do they change over time or stay the same? I've been reading about ocd recently. I have anxiety and some of my behaviour/thoughts fit ocd. Thanks

Sorry about baby gate confusion
Does your boyfriend understand the complexity of your situation? I hope he does

@LovingLola That's okay! I realised after I mentioned that people would probably get confused

Yes he's great about it, though he's more challenging to me about it than my parents are. He'll try and make me challenge myself/see things as a normal person would.

@Aaaahfuck Mine have changed over the years. I've had the cleaning and germs ocd since I was around 16.

I used to have the tapping, praying, checking ocd like I mentioned when I was young, probably from age 7-10.

From then I had ocd about washing myself excessively and ensuring I didn't smell etc.

I developed an eating disorder from the stress! Diagnosed with anorexia age 13-15. Binge eating and laxative abuse from then on.

How do you feel when people use the term so flippantly?

I have heard people say they have OCD because they like milk putting into the cup before a spoonful of coffee!

My internal voice says " No you don't have OCD, you are not consumed by the illness, you are able to work, you don't get treated medically" etc etc.

But I just smile and let it go.

Have you experienced such situations? How does it make you feel when the term is used like that?

@Iamgoingtobehonestwithyou it honestly angers me so much, it's such a cruel disease and mentally painful to live with daily.

I'm sure those people don't have panic attacks and get stomach aches and cry over their coffee being prepared wrong. They probably aren't exhausted thinking about it all day even though it's already happened etc.

I've had some people when I've mentioned it in my real life say 'oh isn't that where you clean all day?' Or 'you're so lucky! I'm so unorganised!'

It's so irritating.

Another DX OCD sufferer here. DX in 30's but I was VERY good at hiding it and didn't seek help until I had a full breakdown. Personally with hindsight I feel I had it all my life but with a significant worsening first in my teens.

Do you know or wonder whether your grandmother, your fathers mother also had it?

I'm pretty sure at least 4 members of my dads side of family were/are undx and there is believed to be a genetic element.

I agree the flippant "I'm a bit OCD too" or "I'm so OCD" when clearly they're not is annoying and dismissive. I'm currently housebound as a result.

However I did once meet someone who said this and I didn't believe him (I was a customer in his shop) he showed me his office which was indeed everything spotless and perpendicular and as we chatted more we empathised with each other. And I of course apologised for thinking he was one of the flippant ones but of course he got it cos he's come across them too.

And Yyy to it being bloody knackering!

@Graphista what is DX?
I'm sorry you've suffered. You're right, it is bloody knackering!

Yes my mums dad did have mental health problems which contributed to her suicide. Bipolar is one I know for sure, not sure about OCD though.

Oh no! That poor guy

Sorry old habits

DX = diagnosed

That guy - I know one of those "ground swallow me up please" moments

Yea it's a bugger alright. Currently struggling to find meds that work and don't make me either loopy or physically ill.

I like reading of fellow sufferers who are doing better than me gives me hope.