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.

That sounds tough @GodshmodIwantmymonkeyman, thanks for sharing

I am taking paroxetine for OCD/ Obsessive thoughts. When I was at my worst it was really distressing constantly having thoughts about dangerous things.

I've been a lot better on the antidepressant, it was such a relief that the thoughts quieted down. Having a quiet head is great, it frees your mental energy for other things. I did have one bad patch when it got bad again, but it did pass.

My thoughts have not completely gone but have reduced by over 90%.

In my area, it takes 3 years for a non emergency psychiatrist appointment so I see a mental health nurse attached to my GP surgery who can prescribe. Your first port of call is your GP again, who can definitely prescribe medication for you if you decide that is right for you.

Thanks so much @Gingerkittykat, that's incredibly helpful, and good to hear you're doing well!

Game changer, meds are - Paroxetine was good but difficult to come off. One private psych appt is what you need.

OCD really responds to ADs. You don’t feel numb, you feel more like you.

I was started on antidepressants (sertraline) post partum for post natal depression. Looking back I do think it was also post partum OCD I was struggling with and the sertraline helped a great deal and it completely stopped my problems.

Thanks everyone, really useful insights here! I think I'm going to make an appt with the GP to discuss and take it from there.

My son has OCD that incapacitates him (can't feed himself/shower himself etc) he's on sertraline while waiting for therapy. He can physically function again but that's about it. They're worth investigating but you really need to get yourself in to the right services for a tailored support.

I don't have OCD, but I do have a level of anxiety that involves endless severe rumination and (in times of stress) has required me to make repeated irrational checks that do not sooth the doubt/fear that they were aimed at resolving.

I have found that Sertraline does reduce the frequency, and certainly the severity of these episodes. I don't know whether that would translate into its being potentially helpful for OCD. But I can say that ADs have never 'quieted' my mind. If anything, they loosen the iron circles that constrain the content and rhythm of my mind's noise - allowing a wider, more varied, slightly less distressing noise.

ETA: Also I do agree with th e poster above that you need to ask your GP for a referral to determine your diagnosis and recommend a treatment. You shouldn't feel you need to decide what medication you need