OCD

[Jessican]

Hi I have ocd and I’m really struggling to the point it’s affecting my personal hygiene I know it sounds disgusting and I hate myself for it but lately somethings being telling me not to do simple things like brush my teeth or my hair and I really can’t cope anymore I hate the things I think about and I’m scared does anyone else have thoughts of being harmed if you don’t do certain things certain ways because I’m struggling so much

This is a really good book that might support you, you could read some of it on Google..
www.amazon.co.uk/ACT-Workbook-Ocd-Mindfulness-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/168403289X?pd_rd_w=ZwcSN&content-id=amzn1.sym.66d7527c-6da1-488a-a4ec-7fb13777a972&pf_rd_p=66d7527c-6da1-488a-a4ec-7fb13777a972&pf_rd_r=86JSBZ7R0PYHMZC76MC9&pd_rd_wg=iQsnf&pd_rd_r=a8be721e-aa9a-43b5-bb0b-a585ea673fa8&pd_rd_i=168403289X&psc=1&ref_=pd_basp_bia_rpt_ba_s_1_sc

You need help. Please see your GP ASAP.
My now 16 year old daughter has OCD and it is debilitating. She has been on medication since age 10, and is in regular therapy. These have meant that she has been able to get on with her life.

I'm sorry you're going through this 💐

Big hugs. OCD is such a difficult condition to live with a lot of the time.
But, it is a beast that can be tamed.
Have you had any support for it before? Therapy/CBT does have really good results. My DD has a form of OCD that mostly centres on intrusive thoughts and it's exhausting and distressing - but with the exception of the occasional flare up, hers is under pretty good control most of the time.
The solution is in your hands even though it might not feel like it right now.

Thank you everyone I have started taking citalopram and have being thinking about counselling but it’s just so hard to talk to people I don’t want people to think about me like this

It's very isolating as I don't think it's very well understood. Most people think OCD is about being really clean or tidy and that's just not the case.
My DD doesn't really talk to her friends about it, although one of her close friends has recently been diagnosed and I think it's been helpful for her Mum to talk to me.

Counsellors will not judge you.
OCD often centres in on shameful or taboo subjects, but really it's 'just' a thought. Everyone has them, to a surprisingly large amount, but most people disregard them.

Last Wednesday I spent 3 hours in the shower and still didn't feel clean. I self referred to my local IAPT service and have just had my assessment, now I have to wait. If you can muster up the course to get help then do!

You need to get help with it. OCD is not rational and it's very hard to not escalate if you leave it untreated. See your GP, consider medication and try and get CBT or ERT if you can. Sending love, OCD is horrible xx