I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder AMA

[namechangeick]

Thought I'd do a thread on here as OCD is quite misunderstood and a much broader range of symptoms. My condition is typically nicknamed checking

Is checking where you do things like try a door handle 16 times to confirm the door is locked? My FIL has this version and it's very painful to listen to (he checks all doors and windows in the entire house every night before bed, so if you're in bed before him you can hear him, and the pattern of the counting). He does it with other things too - things that go on and off or open and close.

If this is similar to what you do, what does it feel like after you've reached the point where you can move to the next one, or are finished? Is it active relief, or do you feel like everything is neutrally balanced?

Does your OCD stand alone, or does it come along with something else? My FIL has Aspergers and this all started when he found himself in a long standing uncontrollable work situation prior to the massive life change of retirement.

*sorry to be clear, it's painful hearing the window and door checking because we care about him and he won't go to a therapist and we feel it arises from a sense of pain - and the number of checks usually increases each visit. I'm pretty sure he's not feeling bad though when he's doing it.

hiya, I can understand fully that ocd is frustrating to listen to, my OH finds it extremely annoying but has settled into the patterns. yes my OCD sounds similar to what your fil has in regards to checking all appliances. before going to bed I have to check front, back door, heater, all plugs and taps. taps are the biggest ones for me and then once i'm in bed my partner has to double check them as I tend to doubt myself.

The only way that I can describe OCD in this regard is like you're out of the house and you realise you have left an extremely important document for example with all of your bank details etc. at home but you don't know whether you lost it on the journey or it is in your house. so you have to turn around to go and find it and the anxiety you feel whilst on the drive home is similar to not having checked to make sure that everybody is safe. and then the realisation that you did leave it at home and it's not in the hands of some stranger is the relief.

If I have not checked everything and go to bed then I feel sick with worry, sometimes even having to take photos of appliances for when i go to bed to double check in the night. it also gets worse with external anxiety and no I am not diagnosed with any other condition but it shares similar trates, i.e. extreme noise sensetivity, dont like being touched at all, social anxiety.

@namechangeick just seen your reply now. That's a great way to explain it and from what I've witnessed of FIL I bet that's how he feels too.

It's not frustrating to listen to at night, it's hard to hear because it makes us sad that he has to do it every day and can't just go to bed even when he's really tired. Maybe I'll concentrate now on how he feels afterwards though, as you say is essentially a massive relief.