Does anyone else have obsessive thoughts without compulsions?

[chocoluvva]

Just that. I fixate on things and annoy myself by the way I keep thinking about them but I don't have OCD.

Anyone else suffer from this?

Thank you for all the kind and thorough posts - lots to think about. As I don't have 'typical' intrusive thoughts about disturbing subjects or visual intrusions I don't know if I'd get any diagnosis other than generalised anxiety disorder.

The thought of being slowed down by meds is not appealing. If there was something to rev up my body and slow down my brain......

Compared to other people my symptoms are mild and I'm certainly functioning - but only because I only work seven hours a week and comparatively few demands on my time (my DC are teenagers and my DH works 9-5 usually). If I had a proper job I'd have been off sick and things would probably have come to a head.

I quite agree. No-one can medicate away difficult circumstances and difficult circumstances make it harder to be relaxed and positive. I'm all for counting my blessings. I know that my circumstances would be viewed by some people as quite difficult, though by no stretch of the imagination, horrendous.

But I feel like my mental health (possibly linked to my physical health) only lets me live half a life. I have two much-loved healthy DC, nice friends and a home in a nice area: a good life then. But I don't feel able to have any hobbies or much in the way of a social life and definitely not a 'proper' job. I would quickly grind to a halt, barely able to string a sentence together, take in things I'm told, make the simplest decision or keep track of my pen/purse/keys/documents/remember to do things I've been asked to do. I don't look forward to anything and can't imagine a myself having a positive future.

Perhaps CBT?

Chocoluva
All any of us can do is comment on our own experiences and share them with you.

As I have said, the experts I consult take me and my concerns seriously, and that is what matters to me.

I support therapeutic options but I don't see them as a panacea.

I feel it's a case of mix and match between the therapeutic approach and meds to find what combination works best for me. This might mean meds only or therapy only, or a bit of both. In this instance meds worked for me.

As therapy on the NHS can be a long wait, meds might offer a quicker route to alleviating things in the here and now. In my case I certainly didn't feel mentally slower or sluggish as a result of the meds in this regard.

I guess I figure that if I didn't like the meds I could stop taking them anyway whilst waiting for therapy so it was worth a go.

I used to suffer Pure O after my eldest was born as part of Birth Trauma. It's mostly better for the last five years but I can struggle with it.

WithanAnotE - I am not in any way trying to contradict or dismiss your advice - far from it. I've never discussed AD's with anyone in RL so I really appreciate you telling me what your experience of various meds has been. Thank you. I am frightened of the potential side effects of meds and know my symptoms are not severe but then, nothing ventured nothing gained.

Brain 'wiring' - (affected positively) by CBT - 'rewired'? Brain chemistry improved by the correct meds?

Thank you very much for all the posts. I'm touched by all the careful replies.

Thank you all for this interesting thread. I have done CBT in the past and found it helpful but once I've slipped out of the habit it's hard to get motivated to get back to it on my own. I've just met a new CBT therapist and have a good feeling about her. Also, whoever said something to the effect of being honest with your therapist, that is important. I have obsessive ruminations about suicide. It is very distressing but I have always held back from talking about it because I was afraid of the police and social services taking my kid away. The first step is to be able to be honest now matter how dark your thoughts or feelings are.

"And somehow living in a paranoid obsessive culture of fear we still buy the notion any fear or distress is probably abnormal unless something terrible has happened to you and everyone else doesn't suffer it quite like we do." - Sillylas 79 - so true. I am obsessing about my obsessions and what is wrong with me, trying to find a solution because clearly there is something wrong with me because I can't cope with the stresses of daily life.

I have tried Mindfulness but only on my own with a book and CD. I find sometimes I spiral into worse obsession/depression and then have to put it away.

Anyway thank you all for sharing.