What is it like to take ADs for OCD?

[QueenRefusenik]

I've been living with OCD all my life but a combination of menopause, toxic job situation and general sandwich-generation rubbish is making me spiral. I might need more than counselling and my usual self-help techniques! Obviously I'm looking at medication options too but reading a lot online (too much, obviously, hello rumination spiral of death!) is worrying me. In particular those who say it worked for them tend to say their brains went quiet... I don't know if I like this idea or not?! I don't think I'd know who I was if my brain went quiet! Can anyone tell me more about what that actually feels like?

Have you been diagnosed with OCD?

No formal diagnosis, I never bothered, but yes I definitely have OCD, and my GP constantly seems to want to give me ADs anyway (already on HRT and while it's helped, it is becoming clear it's not going to be enough in the short term).

Does your GP want to prescribe antidepressants for OCD?

I haven't approached her specifically for that yet. Trying to decide if I even want to ask! Do you have any experience of this you can share?

My husband does. He's on escitalopram and has been for several years. It's made a difference alongside psychotherapy and it's not as overwhelming for him. He's less likely to seek reassurance and ruminate but it's not completely got rid of the intrusive thoughts. They're still there but the compulsions are hugely reduced and he's less anxious about the thoughts.

His brain definitely isn't quiet but it's less distressing for him. He's still his same personality but without the anxiety and fear OCD brings

That sounds really positive @HobnobsChoice, really good to hear!

You shouldn’t be trying to decide for yourself what treatment you need ie. antidepressants. You need to go to your GP, get a referral to a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, get diagnosed and then they decide on a treatment plan.
GPs are not qualified to diagnose or treat patients with OCD. They can continue to prescribe medication for patients who have been discharged to them from mh services.
If you are prescribed an AD for depression or anxiety, it may not be one of the ones that are effective for OCD.
Counselling is unlikely to help much. The talking therapy that is used to treat OCD is CBT/ Exposure-Response Prevention Therapy.
I was diagnosed with OCD about fifteen years ago. I’m on three types of meds. I also suffer from depression and severe anxiety.
I can’t function without medication.
Being on it doesn’t make my brain quiet. It feels a lot like being high on weed or cannabis actually but without the pleasure. It slows my thinking down, can be quite hard to concentrate or hold on to a thought. Increased appetite, low energy. Fatigue.
The meds help because they give me the ability to be somewhat objective about the thoughts I’m having and to question them using techniques I learned in CBT. I get less intrusive thoughts but they are certainly not gone. When I go through something stressful or have to break from routine the OCD sort of breaks through and takes over.
The meds also help because I can sleep on them and without them I cannot get my brain to shut up so I can sleep.
I feel very flat though in my mood and outlook.
I wish they made my brain go quiet. When I was on much higher doses it was actually way worse.