can someone recommend a psychiatrist for OCD in central London?

[unaangrybird]

Many thanks!!

I have moderate OCD which is increasingly affecting my daily routine. I am worried for it to increase as I had mild OCD for some time, I was able to control it on my own but it has worsened and now cause me quite distress.

I have other stresses too and I spend a lot of time by myself at home which is not helping either. I don't have any friends where I live. In my family, we all had intergenerational childhood traumas. They life far and are dealing with their own stresses. I feel I should be there to support them, but I am struggling myself.

I think I need a treatment of medication and therapy now. I would eventually want to stop taking medication.

Also if you know of a really good psychologist for OCD, that will helpful too. Thanks a lot!

I have had cbt and medication for ocd and never needed a psychiatrist

If you haven't talked to your GP already: You can ask your GP about medication (they may be able/willing to prescribe without you seeing a psychiatrist) and can ask them for a referral or recommendation for therapy. If they think you need a specialist psychiatric opinion they will tell you. You can ask the receptionist if there is a GP at your practice with special interest in mental health.

Ps good luck I hope you get better soon

Thank you odenenough. In our surgery, GPs keep leaving. It's almost impossible to find an appointment with a GP and the one who is available in 4 weeks was very rude last 2 times I saw her.

On calling, receptionists are in a hurry to hang up. I guess they are overloaded with work and have staff shortage.

I want to see a private psychiatrist who can listen properly and then prescribe medicine.

What kind of therapy did you try? ERP or acceptance based. I hope it worked for you and you feel much better.

Ok I hope someone near you comes along with a recommendation.

I had ERP/CBT plus an SSRI. For ERP you have to be brave but it's 100% worth it

then private psychotherapy for other stuff after that (expensive!)

Yes I am better now thanks but if I relapsed I wouldn't hesitate to go back on the SSRI

Oh also, for nhs you can try googling IAPT and the name of your borough some of them treat OCD and take self referrals

Thank you @oldenoughtobehavebetter for your replies. I am glad you are feeling better now.

I feel my OCD is having more and more control over me.

I am assuming you don't take SSRI anymore. How much time medication took to show its effects and how difficult was it to get off it? Did you take one medicine or more?

I am sorry if I asked too many questions. I am just very worried about being prescribed multiple pills and have too many questions.

Thanks for information about IAPT. I checked, mine requires referral from gp.
Have you read a book called Brain Lock?

Hi I don't want to talk too much about the medication I took as everyone is different but yes I am fine now I was lucky the first one my GP prescribed suited me well.

There's some good info about ocd treatments on the rcpsych website I would link it but it says currently being updated. I had perinatal ocd actually and there's a separate info section on that.

Also the NICE guidelines for OCD are very informative

All the best

Thank you @oldenoughtobehavebetter