To People Who Have OCD, How difficult your life is with having this condition and how it effects everyone?

Question

I been having OCD for 18yrs. now and let me tell you it's hard for me to control my bad thoughts or impulses to go do my routines. Mine can happen any time of the day.( just like every one who has it.) Mostly it happens doing the night hours before I go to sleep. Every Night I constintly go check the bathroom and fix it the way I like to see it. The problems I have with OCD is, lots of hand washing( Which is mostly comonon) Cheching to see if the red light is on my PS2 when I done playing it. Keeping my bratz boy dolls nice and straight when I'm done using them and having my room most of the time clean with nothing to pick up off the floor. There's plenty of others I think, but that will do. I been taking medicine for OCD which is helping my anger agressions of being frustrated doing the same routine over and over again untill I'm fine. But it doesn't make it go away completly and I know that darn well no matter if I take it or not it doesn't make it go away complety faster. Help me.

Answer 1

The worst part is when people, especially family and friends, tell you just to "not let it get to you" or "just stop obsessing over it." They treat OCD like it's some switch I just turn off and on.

I hate when I have a job and my employer calls me on something that is a result of my OCD and dresses me down in front of everyone. They usually make me promise to never to the same thing again and as much as I want to, I know I can't change as easily as I want to. My boss was upset with how I came into work an hour early every day and reorganized all my drawers. If I didn't, I couldn't think straight. I didn't ask to be paid for the extra hour and I still stayed an additional 8 hours. But she didn't want me in the office an hour early every day.

The medicine helps a little, but it isn't a cure-all.

People don't seem to want to accept this, but OCD is a disease. No one would think it would be acceptible to say to a person in a wheelchair, "Just stop being lazy and get up and walk already!" They wouldn't keep saying to that person, "Have you asked other doctors if they could cure your paralysis?" They just accept that their friend or co-worker is disabled. So when you meet someone with mental illness, please don't ask us if we tried every medication out there or if we're doing enough to cure ourselves.

Answer 2

There's no reason why someone should have to be lonely as fadia suggests. Should people with diseases be treated as outcasts? I would like to know how fadia would feel if she or her child had OCD and was being treated as an outcast because of a disease that she or her child did not chose to have.

The fact that you accept that you have OCD and are getting treatment for it is a good thing. Are you in a support group? I've heard that people suffering from similar conditions feel better when they're able to share their experiences with people going through the same thing. Check with your local hospital. If you don't live in a big city, though, you might have to travel a little to find a group.

Answer 3

You can't expect people to fully empathize all the time. That's just the way it is. Be your own best friend and be kind to yourself whatever you hear in criticism or advice. You'll always be a bit lonely with this condition, I am sorry. You are seeking help and taking medication. If you think you could get better help, get a second opinion, maybe a different behavioral approach along with the medicine. At least, your OCD does not seem to encroach on other people. My sister just keeps repeating to us the same things. She'll want something, and want it now, and can't accept the idea that we either can't provide it or can't get to it immediately.

Answer 4

My mom and sister prayed for me and I got a lot better. I'll pray for you!

Read a book called the Fourth Dimension by Paul Cho.