OCD Support Thread

[Helplessandheartbroke]

A friendly thread for support for fellow ocd sufferers. No judgement here.

I’m the same. It’s usually seeing something on tv that sets me off or mostly, people who tell you all about other people’s health problems.
My mil is a very nice woman but she tells me the most awful things about people I don’t even know and it makes me want to avoid talking to her.
My mum does it too.
These things lodge themselves in my brain and when I’m anxious they come to the surface.
I learned in cbt that that thoughts are just thoughts etc but it’s not much comfort really.

Hi all, I am really struggling atm. I have OCD and anxiety. After a long viral illness I have needed to up my food intake but it suddenly started causing extreme anxiety and now I am worried I am developing ARFID with OCD intrusive thoughts about not being able to eat. It is very scary and I am at a loss how to deal with it.

Sorry you’re dealing with this. Have you seen your doctor about a referral to speak with someone who can maybe help?

@Lizzbear Thank you, no I haven't yet but I am planning to. I've looked it up online and doesn't seem that there is much help available? I am able to have meal replacement shakes for the moment which is keeping me going but it's just the constant waking up and immediately panicking about whether I feel hungry, and whether I will be able to eat, which then causes anxiety which makes me NOT want to eat, plus constant intrusive thoughts of it getting worse and worse...I have started sertraline so I'm hoping it will start to help. I am constantly turning to friends and family for reassurance who tell me it will be fine but the anxiety is out of control.

Sounds hard . I haven’t had food-related iced. I just get stuck with resssurance seeking that I’m not going crazy when my intrusive thoughts plague me. Sending solidarity x

Who has prescribed the sertraline? Are you seeing your GP or a psychiatrist?

Hey, sorry I've been quiet. Me and dh had a few days away. How is everyone x

Anyone watching the ocd programme on channel 5? It’s only showing people’s behaviours. They’re v brave explaining in detail.

Just put it on, thank you

I missed the end where they mentioned some course
Astro? Astra?

I can relate to this so badly. Having those kind of thoughts is so terrifying and tiring and the worry that “this time” is different. It’s endless. I can recommend “The Happiness Trap” by Russ Harris. My therapist recommended it and it’s been very helpful to work towards acceptance because I think this will stay with me sadly. I’m also on Sertraline 100mg for several years but heard that 200mg is most helpful for OCD / intrusive thoughts. Can I ask what dose you’re on?

Does it also cover the “invisible” ocd such as intrusive thoughts? Or the more obvious ones like contamination OCD etc.

Sending solidarity too. I hope
the Sertraline will help you soon.

It had a guy in with pure OCD

Thanks, will check it out!

Thank you ❤

GP, I don't have a psychiatrist or a forma diagnosis but I've had it for life and it got worse after my last DC. It runs strongly in my family, multiple family members have been in hospital for it

Thank you x
The sertraline has started to take the edge off. On the bad days I am just in bed when I can be and taking it hour by hour. When it flares up like this it is so exhausting, painful and isolating. Just completely overwhelming and unremitting. But I can feel that I'm slowly getting on top of it.

How does the setraline work? And does it affect your whole mood?

Is there anywhere your GP can refer you?
Your situation sounds very complex for a GP to treat. I know it’s very hard to access help these days but it might be worth asking (if you haven’t already). CBT can be helpful for what you have described. I won’t say it works miracles but I found it quite helpful alongside medication.
I’m glad to hear the sertraline is helping.

Emdr works well. Or can work well.

Oh @Helplessandheartbroke I'm so sorry, I've only just discovered this thread. I remember you being really supportive on my OCD thread about a month ago, and I'd definitely have posted here before if I'd seen it.
I dip in and out of the MN mental health board, and I think after my last message on my thread, I had a little break from it. I just returned to update my thread (some people I didn't reply to at the time, but intended to) and then found yours.
Such a relief to have a support thread. I'll read the other posts first before posting again myself. As you know, OCD can be such an isolating illness, and I often feel extremely embarrassed by my symptoms, so it's easier to find solidarity online in many ways. Thank you so much again; and thank you again for all your support to me last month x

I've just read the first few posts, and am feeling emotional to think how many of us suffer from this devastating affliction 😔
My life for over three decades has been ruined by OCD. The only way I can see it. It's sucked so much potential, caused me to be homeless and very vulnerably housed many times over the years. As it's such a secret illness (or can be) I'm sure people judge my life, and think I've not been focused enough to achieve the things I wanted to, but I've worked extremely hard over the years, just to keep breathing and to put one foot in front of the other. I've felt suicidal many times; but, as I know that would ruin the lives of friends and family, I know I couldn't do it; so, very often, my sole job has been to keep myself alive...
There's a book about intrusive thoughts called 'The Imp of the Mind'. I've not read it yet, but feel the title is very apt. It really does feel like an imp or goblin or something causing havoc with my brain.
I'm sending wishes of love and healing to all who need it ❤️

Lostpotential
Sorry you have been affected by this horrible affliction. I wonder what causes it?
Do you take any medication and have you had therapy? I want to have Exposure response therapy but it’s hard to find a therapist who dies this. Just waiting for some NHS therapy.
Im finding it helpful to label my thoughts as “it’s OCD” not my real thoughts.

Thank you @Lizzbear . I'm so sorry you also suffer from this. It's so debilitating isn't it.
I started writing a long response to your post, then my tablet glitched and it disappeared! 🤦‍♀️
Busy morning, so I'll reply properly again later (trying to remember what I wrote before...) but just wanted to acknowledge your post in the interim. Take care.
PS, I love what you said about labelling your thoughts as 'it's OCD' and not your real thoughts. I sometimes say something similar out loud when the intrusive thoughts are really pervasive 'This is just OCD, they're not my real thoughts!' or similar. Though only in private, obviously not in public!
Anyway, I'll respond properly later...