OCD

[samb80]

I'm looking for some advise.
I have OCD, diagnosed and treated with medication - when I was married (separated a few months now very abusive relationship) it came out in the form of cleaning, checking and need for even numbers.
When I separated from my husband all symptoms seem to disappear. Now I've met someone and my OCD symptoms are back! The cleaning and checking so far not the numbers but I seem to be obsessing over him - and over thinking it all A LOT!
I don't really know what to make of it, but it's exhausting me.

I have pure o so a little different but it's hell I know
It might be that your anxious about the new relationship beginning as it's uncertain
And OCD looks for uncertainty in everything! I recommend u read a book on ocd xx

It can get worse with any kind of stress. Have you considered cognitive behavioural therapy in a specialist clinic?

Thanks for the responses- I've had CBT before but didn't really help. I'm looking into getting some sort of treatment again.
I think your probably right it's the 'uncertainty' I didn't think of that before.
It's very consuming and I get really frustrated with it.

Read

Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques
Book by David Veal and Rob Willson

I will have a look at that.
The thing is my OCD comes and goes, it can come over me 100 times a day or stays with me for a week. And I get myself motivated to deal with it and then completely loss momentum. I really really want it to stop its consuming me and there are times when I find it actually boring - is this normal?

@Egghead68 pure o, when I was with my husband I suffered with this terribly. Since splitting from him it's less about inappropriate sexual thoughts and more sex in general. I literally want to have sex with as many men as possible. Sex consumes my thoughts and again exhausting.

I second the Overcoming book. All the ones in that series are good.

There are specialist clinics in London (like the one David Veale works in) that will often take on people where non-specialist CBT has failed. Not sure what's available outside London.

The more you try to stop the thoughts the more you will have them (try to stop yourself thinking about pink elephants and you will probably find it's all you think about!) It's perfectly normal to have all sorts of intrusive thoughts, particularly about sex. What can cause the problem is the meaning you place on having these thoughts (what you think it says about you). Maybe for now try just noticing that you are having the thoughts in a curious sort of way, without judging them, trying to stop them or arguing against them. You could just think "Oh there's that thought again" and carry on with your day.