I have OCD - AMA

[FenellaMaxwell]

Inspired by the fact that there have been a few threads recently where OCD seems to be really misunderstood, go for it - if there’s anything you’d like to ask, AMA.

@camelfinger I think it’s all about putting steps in place now whilst he’s doing ok for ‘mental health maintenance’? I’m not very good at this myself but I’m working on it!

@camelfinger He is actually quite obsessive about tidying things a certain way, but not how it’s perceived to be by others.

Do you mean he is not concerned with what others think? My OCD was internalised I did / do what I do for me, organisation calms me, it soothes me. When it’s out of control it consumes me but I have a great sense of self worth my habits are never done with other people’s validation or opinion in mind if that makes sense?

Thank you for this thread OP
I have OCD very similar to yours. It revolves around harm coming to my kids. It's not about cleanliness but I've had periods of becoming obsessive about contamination and germs causing horrible illnesses in my children especially around food preparation.
Like you, I think I've always had it. I can remember breaking up words into syllables when I was a child and adding up numbers in car plates which all had to be multiples of 3. It was only after having my third DC and becoming very distressed at the idea of harming him involuntarily that I researched my symptoms and self-diagnosed. GP calls it depression and anxiety which is not right at all. I do get depressed when the obsessive or intrusive thoughts take over but it's clearly quite distinct from having normal depression.
Like you I find that being on an SSRI is essential. I'm on the lowest dose but the difference it makes is incredible. I've also had group CBT specifically for OCD and found it truly lifechanging. The insight I got into my illness through the group CBT was incredible

Thanks for this, it's helpful. My teenager has been recently diagnosed - she said she was 10 when she first realised it wasn't normal to hear voices.

She's been quite unwell, and hidden it from us. She's now on sertraline and waiting for review, it's helped a bit but not that much. I'm hoping they'll increase her dose - she's currently not in a good place.

It's hard to watch, so I can't imagine how distressed she has been.

It's very helpful to see so many people on here are managing to live with it.