OCD

[jane1995]

ive had OCD from quite a young age, but when I got pregnant September 2012 it got out of controll, I was so scared something would happen to the baby that I would be literally washing my hands after everything (pointless stuff like opening a door, changing bed sheets, touching the tv remote) it got so bad that I was experiencing severe anxiety attacks where my whole body would shake. When the baby was born this may i got it more under controll, now my son is 7months old and as he is becomming more mobile and touching/holding more things the OCD is comming back quite bad again, I will hoover the front room at least twice a day because im so scared of him getting germs (I know they need some germs) but my son has an autoimmune disease (not as serious as it sounds) but basically his red blood cells and antibodies attak eachother so hes more at risk of getting tummybugs and viral infections because its harder for him to fight them off, its incredibly stressfull on my sons dad aswell because I give him a rough time about washing hands and eating on the sofa ect. I used to get obsessive thaughts that something horrible wwould happen to my baby if I didn't carry out these cleaning rituals but their not as bad anymore. Im seing my gp for councelling but does anyone else suffer from OCD and know of any ways to keep it more at bay? thanks x

Hi, I didn't want to read and run.

I have been diagnosed with OCD recently, although I'm sure I've had it for years. After having my 3rd DC just over a year ago it got out of control and I'm only beginning to get on top of things now after months of cbt.

I've been experiencing a number of issues with intrusive thoughts about something bad happening to the baby or my other children. I also hand wash excessively and worry about contamination.

Unfortunately I don't have a great deal of time to reply now, but just wanted to say your not alone and Ill be around to chat tomorrow hopefully.

thanks, I know it's difficult for other people to understand as they usually think its just wanting everything tidy..

I know what you mean, tbh I'm actually quite untidy as the OCD doesn't manifest in that way for me. People often don't get it, they think you can just stop doing what your doing when it just isn't that simple. Or they say that they are 'a little bit OCD' because they like cleaning and don't realise how debilitating it can be.

I think often as well, particularly as a lot of my OCD involves mental rituals, people don't always realise what I'm going through. Outwardly I can appear as if I'm coping day to day when inside my brain is stuck in a loop.

Have you been offered cbt and/or anti d's? I'm just coming to the end of a course of cbt, I still feel like I am quite bad at times but if anything it was someone to talk things through with. I haven't tried medication yet as I'm breastfeeding and want to wait till I've finished, although I know it is possible to do both.

I was offered cbt when I was pregnant but I felt like I never had the time to go so I turned it down, do you think it would be worth going to? & yeah it does my head in when people say things like 'ugh im so ocd im always tidying' when they have no idia what it really is

It might be worth looking into, but there can be long waiting lists for NHS treatment in some areas. Unless going private is an option, which can obviously be expensive. I guess it depends how you think you are coping with things generally and if it might be useful.

I don't think CBT works for everyone though and although I'm coming to the end of treatment now, I still keep falling into the same repetitive thinking / behaviours. It's something I have to keep working at.

I'm possibly not a great example though as I'm trying to struggle on without meds, which would probably help to take the edge off.

It's a case of finding what suits you and your family best, which hopefully the G.P can help you with.

HTH