My OCD is out of control.....?

Question

It is ruining my life, I cannot get anything done in a timely manner. My anxiety is getting worser especially when I am stress out. I am tired of doing my same old routines such as checking doors and the stove and iron. Checking to make sure the water faucets are off. Just making sure everything is in order such as clothes, shoes, etc. What can I do to treat this condition. I have been on medicine before (Luvox) but it seem to make it worse. I have to do something about this. It is out of control. I even try to avoid doing things so that I wouldn't have to be checking things over and over. It is taking a big part out of my life. My obsessions are checking, counting, touching. Any advice or experiences that you could share with me regarding the ocd. Thanks

Answer 1

hun, ive been going through the same thing for almost 7 years now. i count EVERYTHING, and i like odd numbers, and i always have to have 15 chapsticks in my purse at all times, and i put it on aprox. every 3 mins, and i organize things in color order,...so believe me i know what youre going through. i just recently in the past couple months have been to a pyshiatrist and have been put on Lexapro. I have only been on it for about 4 weeks, and i havent seen much of a difference with my OCD (it usally takes 4-6 weeks to kick in) but it has helped wonderfully with my anxiety and headaches (which were from OCD). You should def see a pyschiatrist for a med that works for you, but you also need to meet with a therapist every so often. Meds dont usually work alone. Meds and talking to someone unbiased helps the best. I truly feel like im on the road to recovery. I knew i needed help when other people started noticing the things i did. Im glad i got help. I truly hope this helps you, because i completely understand what youre going through, just know that youre not alone. Please, if you need me just to talk, email me :)

Answer 2

Don't give up. I've been on a number of medications in the past few years, and some have only made me feel worse. You need to let your doctor know, and ask if they can prescribe something else. Always keep track of your episodes in a notebook and monitor if it's getting better or worse over time with the medicine.

In the mean time, keep up with your therapy or counseling. It can help you find some perspective in why you engage in these destructive habits.

I suffer from OCD myself, and I have to weigh myself 29 times a day or else I feel like I have no control over my weight and life. It's the worst feeling in the world, especially when people criticize me or ask why I just can't stop. I've tried so many times and it can feel like my world is crashing. I've suffered with an eating disorder for the past 10 years, and my OCD contributes to a lot of my bad habits. I guess I'm a perfectionist about a lot of stuff in my life, and I can take days to scrub a counter, just so that the bleach will kill all the bacteria. It's almost sick to admit all of this aloud, because I know it sounds crazy, but I just can't stop or else I feel like everything will crumble. I know it's not true, but it's such a hard habit to break.

There is help out there. Don't give up. Talk to a therapist or counselor. A lot of my friends and family think that they can cure it by telling me to distract myself with other stuff, but sadly they're misinformed and they only make me feel worse. Education is key as well. If you decide to tell your loved ones you have a problem, provide them with information about itand ways that they can help you overcome it.

Answer 3

when you feel you have to do something like that then do something else with it, how can i explain

well, today i watched something on tv where a lady was OBSESSED with spending money on gifts for people, she would spend hundreds every day. so her therapists made her wrap up bricks in gift paper and walk up a steep hill, she was in pain, and tired.

this cured her because when she ever needed to buy another gift, she remebered back to that experience and it made her stop because if she would buy the gift then she would have walked that hil, and got those blisters for nothing.

im trying to think of a concept like this for you condition.

just take each day as it comes, lets say you have 200 obsessions a day, maybe reduce that by one each day, and when you dont do that thing just think about it logically , like an outsider, and make a note that it did not change anything around you, but only your own feelings.

these things will NOT happen if you dont do these ocd's. just keep saying that over and over again.

after about a week of refusing to do one obsession a day, then increase it to 2 a week etc....

sorry if i wasnt much help


good luck

xxxx

Answer 4

I had a friend going through a similar problem. he would pack stuff up, unpack to make sure he didn't forget anything, then repack it, only to repeat. he would check all the lightswitches and everything else everytime he left. i will say that he has gotten a lot better, and this is one thing that helped. he would try to be logical. think of things in his head before running routines. think things like, did i use the stove? no. good, i won't check it. it takes time to break habbits, but try to be logical. try letting the faucet drip... is it the biggest deal? leave the house with the light on. anyway, i'm sorry that it is interferring with your life, but it is something that you can overcome in time. i wish you the best...

Answer 5

Don't take any more drugs to treat your condition. Trust me just don't. Try to distract yourself from your obsessions. For instance, you could join a club or sport, hang out with people, meet new friends, read, or go to the gym. Make sure you eat healthy as well.

Answer 6

I am OCD too I think ( never been to the doctor) but my wife says I am, I don't see anything wrong with you. Just prioritize your list of things you do. If you are a numbers person like me just jot down the times things take and commit to a limited amount of time you are going to do what you do. Love yourself! Who cares what others think. They have there problems too.

Answer 7

im kinda ocd too and i used to have this habit of jumping at random moments, but i only did it in my house
to burn off nervous energy i guess
but you need to distract yourself. like if you know you're about to check something, say to yourself "i'm pretty sure the doors are locked, i think i'll go do something fun like watch tv." if you're wasting time counting things, chances are you actually have work to do and you're nervous/stressed about it so your body is putting it off. just do the work and then you'll feel better!
also sometimes when you are hungry your body cant concentrate so you start doing ocd stuff--if that is the case, eat someting! take care of yourself and the OCD will go away

Answer 8

My son suffered from OCD. Go back to your doctor/counselor.
You need professional help. I feel for you. Please don't just give up or keep avoiding. There is more that Luvox out there. Call the doctor tomorrow....please! And ask if there are support groups. Most people (thought they may care) here don't fully understand OCD.

Answer 9

Someone once told me they did everything the opposite of what wanted to do and it cured it. I would try a different medicine. All medicines react different per person.

Answer 10

Everytime you think of doing something STOP

I used to think I had the problem, but I stopped it.

No matter what you feel like, just do everything once.

Once you get into a habit of doing it, itll be like normal.