i obsess and constantly worry about whether things are evenly spaced and aligned. right now, i have to make sure my computer screen is straight, neither of my hands is touching the desk more than the other, and my elbows are resting equally on the handrests of my chair.
before i seek medical help, which i am going to, does anybody have any advice as to how i can deal with this without medication? i'm not against medication, i would just rather be able to keep it under relative control until i can get medical attention. please help!
thanks in advance
2006-09-11 20:03:57 · 5 answers · asked by kitten 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
It appears to me that you have OCD. I cannot remember a day in my life without it. It has waxed and waned over time and my rituals have changed throughout the years, which make me believe that it is not in my head, but is a product of the stressors in my environment. I stress this because OCD has a very poor success rate with meds (the poorest I believe) and for those that see an improvement it is usually temporary or because the medication addressed a second underlying condition besides the OCD. I have tried every SSRI, SRNI, sedative and a few anti-epileptics. Most made me sick, some did nothing, others made me worse and one provided me some relief (Topamax).
When I was in college, I had very similar rituals to you. Everything had to be aligned perfectly. It got so bad by my second year that I was sleeping on the floor to avoid the 45 minute task of making my bed. Sometimes a roommate would innocently bump into my desk chair which would shift everything on my desk—I’d cringe in horror. Once out of school much of those rituals abated; however, when my ex-boyfriend was scheming behind my back, I developed an intense fear of germs--something I never had before. When that relationship ended, these rituals ceased too.
Today my OCD is the best it has ever been. I take the time out to listen to the deeper meaning of its message. People with OCD are often imprisoned by their rituals; they approach whatever their compulsion is from a habitual, repetitive, or ritualistic mindset with the irrational fervor of an addict. They are also usually chasing perfection and chronically frustrated that they haven't done enough or done a task well enough. This inhibits many perfectionists from life’s successes. They are afraid of failure, so they don't do anything at all. By getting to these underlying issues you can help reduce the symptoms of your OCD and live a more fulfilling life.
Another important distinction, and hardship for people who have OCD, is that the task itself is the comfort. This leads people to create chaos in their life so they can keep cleaning it up. OCD rituals, are not about being efficient so you can get on to more fulfilling things, it is about being fulfilled by the endless tasks to mask or relieve internal emotional chaos.
Today, I am obsessed with order. I’ve convinced myself in desperation (to cope with my fears) that there is a particular order to things. My key to ultimate safety is simply a matter of determining and maintaining this order—working it out…learning the rules. For you, it may be something else, but if you can deal more directly with your “fears” via alternative coping mechanisms (friends, yoga, meditation, writing, empowerment classes); you will have less of a need for the OCD.
If you want to give medication a try, do so, but don’t get discouraged. And remember, although the OCD may feel like some nasty puppeteer on crack/cocaine dictating your arms according to his bizarre rules—it is a part of you. Make peace with it…talk to it…ask it what’s going on. And when it gets really bad…take a deep breath and tell the OCD, “There, There”.
2006-09-14 02:47:09 · answer #1 · answered by LUCKY3 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are obsessive compulsive personality. Did you see the movie, "Good as It Gets", with Jack Nicholson? He was like that, but he did take some meds and went to a counselor. I think that some people are just like that. I am like that but not that extreme. I just began to leave things, and not care, just to see what would happen. The end of the world did not happen, but I eventually did straighten things up, but it made me realize how much energy I was using on little things. It is a control type of thing, making everything perfect and under your control. Being a perfectionist is ok, but you soon realize that you are just knocking yourself out over nothing, that is not really that important.
2006-09-11 20:44:20 · answer #2 · answered by shardf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have issues with control which is what OCD is all about... controlling ones environment. You will most likely need medication, but that won't stop your underlying need for control. Good luck and please see a psychiatrist who can prescribe medications for you, along with a psychologist who can help you to modify your behavior but who cannot prescribe medication.
2006-09-11 20:17:49 · answer #3 · answered by Lola 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do people need labels? Personally in my experience I don't see why people need labels. You may be a neat or organized person doesn't necessarily mean you're OCD.
2016-03-26 21:29:47 · answer #4 · answered by Marion 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just learn how to relax,and enjoy the ride,then your mind will be content and happy with all.
2006-09-11 20:58:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋