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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for any advice on OCD?

20 replies

RoundOf · 20/08/2019 14:25

I've suffered dreadfully from it for years and I'm sick of it controlling my life. Has anyone ever managed to 'cure' it or will I be stuck with it forever?

OP posts:

TiggerOfThigh · 20/08/2019 14:26

I have medication that controls mine well, except for very high stress situations.
I’ve also switched to a product called Koh, it’s a ‘green’ product, less chemicals etc, better for me.

Hotpinkangel19 · 20/08/2019 14:28

I'm sorry I've had it for 22 years. I take medication and I've had CBT but nothing has ever cured it. I'm 35 now and I think I'm stuck with it ☹️

Ponoka7 · 20/08/2019 14:29

I haven't known anyone who's completely cured themselves, but they've got to a point were they can live a life that isn't hampered by it, or more importantly, is no longer damaging to those around them.

When I've watched the television programmes, there's people who have got over it.

I suppose it depends on yourself and the services and others, around you.

Original poster

RoundOf · 20/08/2019 14:29

Is medication really helpful for it?

I'm fortunate in that mine doesn't manifest itself in cleaning. I do sometimes manage to break one compulsion but it's swiftly replaced by another.

OP posts:

Original poster

RoundOf · 20/08/2019 14:31

I don't think it impacts upon anyone but me,Ponoka. I don't think anyone is even aware I have it.

Yes, Hotpink, I'm 31 and I've had it since I was a teenager. It's hard to imagine not having it now. I envy people who don't so much.

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LadyFidgetAndHerHandbag · 20/08/2019 14:31

I was told that you cannot cure OCD but can learn to manage it. I've had it for over 20 years and finally got some help for it a few years ago. It's not easy and I'm in no way better but I'm much better at living with it and challenging my compulsions. I'd recommend talking to your GP about a referral for some talking therapy.

Pukkatea · 20/08/2019 14:33

I've suffered properly for about 4 years, but I recognise symptoms of it that have occurred my whole life. The last 2 years became debilitating. I took medication but it didn't help. A couple of things that did:

A referral to Silvercloud CBT program online. Helped me to manage my anxiety and gain perspective to break that stupid OCD goblin cycle.
Challenging my compulsions. I started off easy with superstitions, so walking over 3 grids etc. then with my phobias, so getting nearer to spiders etc. then eventually with refusing to carry out my compulsions that cause and increase my fear and its hold over me (i'm a chronic googler and ruminator)

I'm not cured, and can occasionally get triggered or have a new obsession pop up, but they are much less severe, don't tend to last as long, and cause me a lot less distress. I'd say I'm at the point where I'm happy, I no longer fear my illness, I understand it and understand why it affects me the way it does.

pigsDOfly · 20/08/2019 14:35

I know someone, although this was a young person 15/16 who managed to be 'cured' with a very long course of CBT - used inverted commas as one is never sure what might happen in the future, although the person is now in their 30s.

It's a horrible condition and there doesn't seem to be a lot of help coming from NHS for it and waiting lists are very long.

Wish you luck and hope you managed to find some way towards getting help.

Your GP is going to be your first port of call.

Treaclepie19 · 20/08/2019 14:37

I had a very good therapist who did CBT with me for my OCD and it has helped. I'm nowhere near as bad as I was. I don't think I'll ever be cured though.

NeverHadANickname · 20/08/2019 14:42

Like others I am not cured but CBT helped and challenging myself on my compulsions, questioning why I felt the need to do it and making myself not do it and realising the world didnt end because of it (simplistic version).

pigsDOfly · 20/08/2019 14:42

LadyFidget is absolutely right, it's more a matter of managing the compulsions than a cure.

Although, having said that, I think a great many of us have odd little quirks that nobody would think anything about.

The problems start when those quirks are uncontrollable and take over your life of course.

pigsDOfly · 20/08/2019 14:47

@NeverHadANickname Absolutely.

Original poster

RoundOf · 20/08/2019 14:47

I did try EMDR and it did help the anxiety but not the OCD. I've started exercising more and I think that's helping.

I have heard about cases of people eating only fresh, natural foods who have been close to cured, but I don't know how true it is. I've heard similar about probiotics but, again, it might not be true.

OP posts:

PullingMySocksUp · 20/08/2019 14:49

I would worry that a diet based approach might become a new obsession tbh.

Original poster

RoundOf · 20/08/2019 14:52

I would worry that a diet based approach might become a new obsession tbh.

It's usually around numbers, having to do things a certain amount of times a certain way.

OP posts:

AlunWynsKnee · 20/08/2019 15:13

I've had CBT and it's taken the edge off the OCD. I can do things now that were impossible at its worst but there are still very many things I can't.

ittakes2 · 20/08/2019 15:21

We have OCD in our family through generations - officially been diagnosed as genetic OCD. Actually, it depends very much on your motivation to change. OCD is how your brain works - you will always have a compuslive obsessive brain...BUT you don't have to have compulsive obsessive behaviours. CBT is brilliant at a) helping you to understand how your brain works and recognise the triggers b) helping you to tell the difference between what are normal behaviours and OCD behaviours c) giving you the tools to build your resistance to giving in to compulsions d) and tools on managing anxiety which is the main trigger. To be honest, I was happily managing my OCD until I realised I was passing it on to my children - as their role model I have to get rid of my OCD behaviours completely - I'm working on it and I will get there but I have a strong motivation to succeed. It takes a while to unpick what is OCD and what is just a preference.

LadyFidgetAndHerHandbag · 20/08/2019 16:10

I have heard about cases of people eating only fresh, natural foods who have been close to cured, but I don't know how true it is

Sounds like absolute bollocks to be blunt. Eating healthy food won't do you any harm but it won't make your OCD any better either.

Original poster

RoundOf · 21/08/2019 15:54

This is the article I read about diet and OCD medium.com/@JohnZoshak/i-had-severe-ocd-for-decades-and-then-i-changed-my-diet-eefe3a087bf

I had hoped that other people would say just eating right sent their OCD packing put you're right, too good to be true!

OP posts:

pigsDOfly · 21/08/2019 23:04

Can't read the article as it's not loading, but if this person did get relief from OCD by following a particular diet I suspect it would have been a placebo effect, rather than any actual effect from the diet.

If you believe it enough then it probably will make a difference for a short while, which I supposed could be seen as a means to an end, but very unlike to be long term I imagine.

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