Please be considerate in your responses. I'm having a really rough time and the last thing I need is for something to chastise or judge me.
I am in my 9th or 10th session of therapy which my family can barely afford. I have OCD and I have a huge problem with people (especially my brother) getting sick. Now that Christmas is around the corner, I'm terrified that my brother will get sick and will do his usual coughing that, for some reason, bothers me to an extreme. I feel that, even though therapy doesn't have a time limit, I should be noticing some improvement by now. I was hoping that by now I would not be so bothered by these things, but today I really flipped out and panicked. My mom keeps questioning my progress and my therapist, saying that maybe she isn't the right one for me. But we can't afford anyone else and I do not want to resort to medication. I feel so utterly helpless. If a professional can't help me, what else can I do?
2006-12-21 14:58:57 · 10 answers · asked by kid_at_heart 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
It does take time for therapy to work, and I know it's really frustrating! Please stick with it! You may want to talk to your therapist at your next session about some techniques for coping with the holidays - you are NOT helpless!
Please direct your mother here or to a reputable source on the web if she is questioning your therapy. A lot of people don't realize that there is a great deal of work that is involved with therapy - it's more like re-training or physical therapy, and it's not usually a quick thing. It is hard for people who don't know what it's like to understand, and your mother may benefit from doing some research or talking to family members of others with OCD.
I would recommend having a second think about medication. There is a strong organic (chemical) component to OCD, and the medication can help regulate the chemical flow. It doesn't mean you're crazy, it just means that your body has a hard time managing certain chemicals (like a diabetic's). It might make the therapy easier for you.
(Please skip this part if the above upset you)
My two major concerns about getting on medication were that it would change my personality and turn me into a robot, and that I would have to take it for the rest of my life. When you are on the correct medication, it DOES NOT affect your personality, only your symptoms. The OCD isn't you, it's a symptom.
I did turn out to be one of the people that will have to be on medication for the rest of my life. But again, I've come to realize that this isn't really any different from being a diabetic or having high blood pressure, and it's certainly no judgement on me as a person. However, it is YOUR call.
2006-12-21 15:39:21 · answer #1 · answered by annoying_the_neighbours 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are some good responses here. The best are those who are telling you that therapy on it's own can take a long time. Therapy is about learning what triggers your reactions, how to minimize exposure to these triggers, how to minimize your reaction to these triggers, etc. You can see where this could take quite some time to learn these answers, let alone develop tools to allow you to deal with these problems. Especially since there is always more than one way to deal with things and it's a matter of which method is the best for you.
You may want to give the use of perscribed drugs a second look. OCD is difficult to cope with, often one compulsion can be replaced by another when drugs are not used in treatment. A Psychologist would have no way of knowing that a new compulsion was being displayed if the obsessive side was showing itself away from treatment. The use of a drug that minimized the obsessive side, as many antidepressants do, would help you releive more of the anxiety you feel when you attempt to withstand a compulsion. I have a friend that has a minor component of OCD, and I can tell if he fails to take his meds. I know it's very hard to deal with, but like him, meds may allow you to deal with enough of it to allow you to feel much better which in turn gives more time for developing your tools. Good Luck.
2006-12-21 15:48:21 · answer #2 · answered by Greg I 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you and your mom feel like you're not making progress, and your therapist is being honest in that she doesn't seem to be the right person for you, then it's definitely time for a change.
Since money is a problem, there are many clinics that charge based on a sliding scale, and they usually have more than one therapist. I would check those options out. Also ask your current therapist about places you can go. She wants to help you find someone who will be right for you.
The situation is not hopeless.
2006-12-21 15:13:15 · answer #3 · answered by Jen 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes you "click" with a therapist and sometimes you don't. That might be the case, or you might not have spent enough time yet to see and feel progress. I don't know your financial situation, but helpful programs exist so that no one should have to be without good mental health care.
Is your concern about medications the cost, or is it for some other reason? People with OCD problems frequently get good results from medication. "Resorting" to medication isn't a bad thing if it helps you feel better. Again, if cost is the issue, there are ways to make medication affordable.
You WILL get better in time. You WILL find the right sources to make you a healthier person.
2006-12-21 16:02:06 · answer #4 · answered by doug k 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear, I am no therapist or a doctor but I have been in and out of depression most of my life. I know that my therapy is also taken with me seeing a psychiatrist who takes care of my meds. It is very difficult to get over depression and most of the time you can't do it on your own. I have had the help of friends and my family many times when I was not seeing a doctor, and it worked and most cities have a mental clinic that will help you for free if you can't afford a therapist on your own. You must listen to your therapist and practice the things they tell you to do and please love yourself, remember all things pass sooner or later, so don't give up and talk to people, that always helps. You have to succeed for you and your family's sake. You can do this, I know you can.
2006-12-21 15:24:01 · answer #5 · answered by lynnerr55 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you have tried a good period of time with just the talk part of the therapy, why don't you use the medical benefit of medication that is proven to alleviate these OCD symptoms? For the cost of one session, you could be symptom free. My whole family would be bonkers if we didn't get the medical attention we needed. It is like a diabetic refusing insulin. Best of luck to you and I hope you find an answer that works for you and your fam.
2006-12-21 15:10:00 · answer #6 · answered by whrldpz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like your mom could be an issue in this situation consult your therapist and mention "My mom keeps questioning my progress and my therapist, saying that maybe she isn't the right one for me. But we can't afford anyone else and I do not want to resort to medication. I feel so utterly helpless. If a professional can't help me, what else can I do?" If you think you're doing good then I'm proud of you. Just don't think about your brother getting sick as much as you can. You should be able to pull through. If something goes wrong don't take it too harshly and it the situation would be better. That's the best advice I can offer for now.
2006-12-21 15:27:05 · answer #7 · answered by The Platinum Mage 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you can not afford your therapist you could check with your local hospital to see if you can get on some sort of assistance program. I truly believe you need to see someone else if you are not making any progress.I'm with your MOM in this.
GOOD LUCK
2006-12-21 15:06:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it takes awhile for therapy to "kick in". I went to counseling for severe clinical depression for over 2 years, before I managed to start figuring things out. At the time I was 37, and figured, "it took 37 years for me to feel this bad and finally get help, and if it takes me another 37 years to come out of it, it was worth it".
2006-12-21 15:03:01 · answer #9 · answered by Tweet 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to go to a doctor. No joke. I know this sounds stupid, but you obviously are having some problems. If you have like a close family friend or something like that(or if you trust your parents enough) TELL THEM. Please don't do anything bad to your self. Get help. Please. I beg you. p.s. - 14 is to young to die no matter what the circumstance. obviously the person above me didn't read your description lol
2016-03-13 09:33:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋