Is some OCD 'normal'?

[kizzie]

Hi everyone - I didnt want to add this onto Tammyloves thread because didnt want to hijack it - but would really love to hear your views on this.

I have suffered from PND and panic attacks and the after effects for the last 5 years.

Previous to this I had never suffered any depression but Ive recently been questioning whether Ive had a low grade OCD for a long time which then got dramatically worse with PND.

So when I was little I was often scared that there was a monster in the cupboard. i had to check 3 times that there wasnt anything there. Once to check, twice to make sure, and three times just for good luck.

When I was at college I often had to go back and check that I hadnt left the oven/iron on-sometimes 2 or 3 times.
But are these OCD - or does everyone have them?

While I was pregnant (IVF - last chance so very anxious) I became obsessive about cleaniness - handwashing/ food being fresh/ toximoplasmosis risk etc. This continued after babies born - worried if things sterilised properly etc.
Again is this OCD or just something that most 1st time mothers go through?

As PND took hold and then later when I went through a very difficult AD withdrawal I developed frightening ruminations. Terrified would hurt someone. Frightenend of knives etc. Would just go round and round in my head. What if I kept my foot on the peddle and kept going through the red light.
I thought this was only triggered by the PND but wonder now if my previous behaviour meant that I was always predisposed to OCD?

My sister is the only RL person I've ever really discussed these thoughts with and she said that id be suprised how many people without OCD/Depression have such thoughts.

Anyway - sorry to ramble. would just be interested in your thoughts.
Kizziex

not sure I am teh best person to help but I have Ocd compulsions usually when I am undre stress

Hi Kizzie, I can't stay and chat right now, will come back, but just want to say that it does sound like classic OCD.

I think you should chat to everyone on the thread Tammy started. I spoke about my sisters OCD there and everyone was great and like they said, tammy inc, in so many words, that it was a general thread for support with people suffering from, or with loved ones suffering from OCD.

You wouldn't be hijacking, you'd be sharing your experiences.

My sister suffers terribly with OCD and it's a cruel illness. i hope it doesn't effect you too severley.

Love TC x

Like all these things I think it depends on how much it is affecting you. A certain amount of checking/repetitive thoughts is definitely normal- and I'm sure many people have brief episodes of this during times of stress. However if it starts to interfere with your life then it is time to get help.

I remember my antenatal groups having a discussion once about weird thoughts we'd been having after having our first children- things like what would happen if we dropped them down the stairs (similar to standing on a boat and having a feeling of wanting to jump off). We'd all had variations on those thoughts, and only one member of the group had PND, so certainly I think these thoughts can be part of a normal continuum- providing their not all consuming.

My son has OCD as part of his autism and it will actually means that (this week's example- it changes) he can't get through the front door or into school as he gets stuck looking at cars and sniffing them. He literally has to be dragged screaming away from them. At other times his OCD is much less consuming, he wants to look at cars, and is a bit obsessive about it, but he can leave them if he has to.

So in summary- yes you probably have a tendency towards it (it goes with anxiety anyway) - but if its contollable (rather than controlling you) then you could safely ignore iyswim.

Hi - thankyou for the quick replies. Wont have anymore access to computer today so will log back in tomorrow to read.
Have a good night everyone.
Kizziex

Hi Kizzie. Pretty much agree with all that Jimjams has said - my views is that 1)everyone has these thoughts to varying extents/frequencies and 2)there's no need to put any label on these thoughts - whether anxiety/depression/OCD unless they are affecting your quality of life and you are seeking treatment.

IMHO PND seems to be characterised by more anxieties than other types of clinical depression - so there can be a bit of a crossover anyway between obsessive concern for your child's safety due to PND and similar concerns due to OCD.

In terms of treatment; the medication used to treat OCD is very similar to that used to treat depression. Main point of difference is in terms of the talking cures; counselling doesn't do much good for OCD - CBT is far more useful.

HTH

hope that helps

Don't know if this will help .. but its my perspective and I don't think I'm remotely OCD (though have had panic attacks)

I will on occasion have to check things more than once, because I don't remember whether I did actually do it before or just imagined doing it

I've never been obsessive about cleaniness but I did make sure I followed the sterilisation procedures with DS (first child) .. didn't do the handwashing thing though nor worry unduly about anything once he was over 6 months and eating snails (long story involving friend's garden in summer )

Yes, I think a small amount is 'normal', and just as someone who has occasional depressive thoughts is not necessarily 'depressed', someone who has occasional OCD behaviours does not necessarily have OCD. I do a lot of OCD like things, especially before my period!! But I always check myself and sometimes will just REFUSE to repeat the behaviour, so I know that I am always in charge... IYKWIM

That's the difference, mp - with OCD, you can't just refuse to act on the thoughts or shake the thoughts from your head, certainly in my case I can't control them. I think a certain amount of obsessive or repetitive behaviour is "normal", in that we all check things sometimes, even if we're sure we've done something, but when it interferes with your life, or when you start to feel that it's not easily controlled anymore, then it's gone beyond what is "normal".

The problem that I found was that OCD escalates very, very quickly, and you suddenly find that what was once a little quirk is now dominating your thoughts.

Kizzie, your thoughts and actions do sound to me like a tendency towards OCD, if they are beginning to interfere with your life or you are beginning to feel uncomfortable about them, then perhaps you could have a word with your GP for some reassurance. And if you want to talk about it there are several of us who are using the thread Tammy started for support.

Thanks everyone - your replies have really really helped to clarify my own thoughts on OCD.

I think there's no doubt that I had some form of OCD at the same time as the PND and withdrawal but that the odd need at the moment to check the cooker is definately off - is within the 'normal' range.

As it seems to be something I'm prone to then I'll definately keep an eye on it and act if it develops into something more again.

Thanks again everyone for all the advice.
Kizziex