What actually helps treat ocd?

[rainydaysun]

Have suffered for years now and it always gets worse when I'm pregnant.

I've tried citalopram, sertraline at varying doses and for long periods of time - never felt like anything made the difference.

Tried talk therapy, tried CBT (nhs and private), tried self help books, tried talking to family and friends, forums, ERT.

The only thing that really seems to actually work for my compulsions or anxious thoughts is time. I just have to suffer for weeks until finally something else takes over and I forget about the previous one.

Please someone tell me that they've found a way through this

hmmm I found Citalopram and therapy/ERT helped, but im still dealing with it every day. Wish I knew how to get my old life back, but like you say I think time has helped me
massively

Medication plus therapy is the gold standard treatment for OCD.

The right meds- for me, Olanzapine has been life changing. And seriously committing to ERP.

@SaltedChoco Can I ask please where you found an ERP therapist?
Thanks.

The right meds as pp said, for me that’s a high dose of sertraline and very small dose of risperidone.

CBT and also actually DBT helped me with managing uncertainty and ambiguity.

When I’ve been in crisis (usually when I’ve come off my meds and/or pregnant) the best thing for me has been to really focus on dampening down my sympathetic nervous system. Claire Week’s Self Help for the Nerves is very good.

Oh and the weekly peer support groups run by OCD UK were brilliant for me at low points.

I'm interested to hear from people who've tried medicinal marijuana or CBD oils?

^^ because it was helpful for my friend's (admittedly low-grade) anxiety, according to her