I just feel weird about taking a pill every day from here on out. I have do have OCD and I don't know if the medicine is working because I am still feeling like I was, just a little less, but I don't want to be on drugs forever. Can you overcome this without medicine??
2006-10-23 15:59:49 · 6 answers · asked by motherofthree 2 in Health ➔ Women's Health
I would continue the medication for now and remember it takes time. Some medications take a month or more to start working. Especially since you say you feel some better. I do think it's possible to overcome some things and not have to take medications but the fact that you are still feeling the symptoms at times means you are still there. So, I would wait a while, talk to the Dr. about it and then maybe when things settle down at home or conditions that may have triggered this in you are no longer a factor you may try to cut back but, you should have the Dr. with you on this. It may not be the rest of your life. I had to use some antidepressants because I was having a lot of physical and mental stress at home and at work. It got me through the worst of it and I am now off those meds. So, there is always a chance. Just look at it as temporary and don't get down about the help you are getting from it right now. Just be grateful you have the help. OK?OK.
2006-10-23 16:10:19 · answer #1 · answered by MISS-MARY 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, some people have success with something called cognative behavioral therapy. Sometimes this is combined with medication and sometimes it isn't. It depends on the individual and the severity of the disorder at the time.
In cognative behavioral therapy the person basically re-teaches their brain that there is no reason for the anxiety. This is done the same way overcoming most fears is done. Exposure. For example, if you are a compulsive hand washer, you would intentionally not wash your hands. If you have a fear that if you step on a crack in the sidewalk that something bad will happen, you step on it anyway and tell yourself "so what if it happens".
Many people do this through a therpist who is trained to direct people in cognative behavioral therapy, and needless to say, many have to work up to taking the steps they have to take and this often does include medication in people with severe cases of OCD.
This is not a cure but a treatment. Even if you have full remission of symptoms for many years (though less than 2% of people with OCD do) there is always the potential for the symptoms to re-manifest. The goal is just to get the OCD down to a manageable level.
If you are interested in this approach you should speak with your doctor about it.
P.S. OCD is not from a nutritional defficiency or "fluid imbalances" is the brain. It is thought that OCD can be the result of damage to areas of the brain such as the basal ganglia due to an auto-immune disorder such as PANDAS, or abnormalities within the brain at the microscopic level which cause abnormal conductions of certain signals. People with OCD show increased levels of activity in the frontal lobe and cingulate (a part of the brain that connects the frontal lobe and basal ganglia). Because the level of activity is higher with more severe symptoms, this might suggest that the activity is the brain contiually trying to process something. An exact model of the cause has yet to have been formulated though, but this is expected as the brain is a complex thing.
2006-10-24 23:31:49 · answer #2 · answered by minuteblue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm 45 and discovered i suffered from ocd when i was 22. But now i know i was born with it. it's an unbalance o brain fluids. It doesn't go better nor worse. Don't be afraid. You will not get worse but you will need to counterbalance this problem of fluids. You'll have to find your medicine and your dose. With it your body and mind will be better. Do not despair. I take 100 mg sertraline and 5 mg diazepam a day and that's for life. This treatment may be harmful for other person. It is your psychiatrist who has to decide your treatment to have a balanced brain. The EPR therapy helps very much but without the medical treatment you'll not have the courage to cope with this therapy.
2006-10-26 04:30:43 · answer #3 · answered by marcelo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Look at it this way...you're not having this problem because you have a deficiency of drugs. It's probably a nutrient deficiency or chemical imbalance. Sometimes drugs can help, but it usually will take trying a few to find one that works.
But, if you don't want to be on drugs for the rest of your life, (and understandably so) talk to a dietician and Naturopath. Good mineral and vitamin support will help ease your problems. Take a food allergy test and get rid of the foods that you're allergic to. A naturopath will give you herbs and supplements to support your body.
I have trichotillomania (a cousin to OCD--compulsive hair pulling) and since I took out my trigger foods (sugar, caffiene) and switched to a whole grain and organic diet, things have been better. I've limited my pulling and feel great.
Good luck! There is hope.
2006-10-23 16:13:52 · answer #4 · answered by cheffsta 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give your heart and soul to Jesus.....He will help you with everything. I know I can be anal-retentive a lot, but hey, that's just the way the Lord made me. Organized. :)
I know I wouldn't want to take pills for that...and same goes with antidepressants. With Jesus, you can overcome ANYTHING. We can take all of our problems to the Lord......He is always there with listening ears. If you wish, stop by my page sometime. I would love to hear from you my friend. Always know Jesus loves you....He awaits with open arms.
Love, hugs, and prayers always, in Christ, Sabrina
2006-10-23 16:11:56 · answer #5 · answered by SS 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everybody fears from a particular things when facing it for the first time. But people are brave enough to be cautious in the second time. In short, an experience makes the person fearless.
2016-03-28 05:41:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋