Is this anxiety disorder? OCD? Help please!?

Question

I'm schooling now, and I know that when people think they've screwed up a test, they get upset and maybe shed some tears over it. But eventually, they snap out of it. In my case, it's like I'll keep worrying about the test to no end, and then I'll find even more mistakes (which sometimes may not even have existed) and I have to keep talking myself out of this mild depression I go into whenever I feel I've done bad on a test/ exam or just something I want.

For instance, I had a chemistry practical test two weeks ago, and for a whole week, I wouldn't stop worrying about it. In fact, I had to keep talking myself out of the depressed mood I'd go into, and eventually it became like a mantra whereI had to reassure myself that things would work out fine.

My friends all find me very stressed whenever certain important things roll around. It's like I just can't snap out if it.

Please help! If there's anything I can do, I'd do it because worrying excessively ruins my day completely!

The thing is, I know I have at least a mild case of OCD. Or maybe a mediocre case. I display all those horrible handwashing symptoms, counting excessively symptoms etc.

And I mean test overreaction has its limits right? After every thing that matters to me, I can sit down there for like half an hour straight calculating whether or not I would have passed or done well, and constantly looking up internet sources and notes.

It's really freaky. I'm going to try getting involved in activities like exercise because those do seem to take my mind off stuff.

Answer 1

Probably a bit of both, with a little bit of chronic depression thrown in for sauce. Anxiety disorder makes you worry excessively. OCD makes you obsess over everything. Depressive tendency makes you stay upset for a long time. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt from my therapist. You need a (constructive, non-drug/booze/sex-related) distraction, like excercise or a hobby. Trust me: if you have a bit of OCD, it is more constructive to excercise yourself into exhaustion than to sit around and cry all day.

Answer 2

Anxiety, can be genetic. Or it can be caused by some kind of trauma, or both. The OCD, comes in because that is your minds way to try and bring that awful anxious feeling down. OCD, IS a coping mechanism for anxiety. I would suggest you seek help with this, and try cognitive therapy, to bring the anxiety under control, when you do that the OCD, goes down, Also cognitive therapy, will help identify what triggered the anxiety. And what other triggers there are now. God bless.

Answer 3

my sister has anxiety disorder and i have ocd, and it doesnt sound like you have either one of those. It seems like you are a perfectionist, which i also used to be. I recently failed a test, the first in my whole life and since then i havent been as worried about always passing tests. Just remember that there is life after tests and failing, and that you dont have to be perfect, just try the best you can because the best you can do. Good Luck :)

Answer 4

A lot of people have anxiety when they are in school. Especially over tests. You have to exhibit the negative behaviolrs for at least 6 months on a daily basis with negative consequences that disrupt your life for you to actually be diagnosed with a disorder like that. Everybody stresses and obssesses over tests. If you statrted obsessing over whether your shoes were still tied every 10 seconds then I would start to worry. That's what kind of stuff OCD patients deal with.

Answer 5

you could be suffering from Generalized Anxiety
Disorder..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/general_anx...

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cognitive_b... worked best for me, with mild anti-anxiety meds. I suffered from social anxiety for over 15 years. I've tried individual therapy, and group therapy and studied psychology for 10 years, as a profession, but also with the hope to cure myself.

Depending on your comfort level, you could go to a psychologist that practices CBT and specializes in anxiety disorders, seek a group therapy, or create one. Usually those that do attend the group therapy are a bit more high functioning because as you know, it can be difficult to speak in a group.

Another idea is to see if there are any local research studies being conducted that you could participate in.

The program that finally worked the best for me is this one: http://www.socialanxiety.us/findinghelp.... and I was lucky enough to have a structured behavioral group to go along with it. Sometimes the people that actually attend this program come back home and form groups.

I recommend a mild anti-anxiety med in addition to CBT therapy.

Any questions, let me know ... I can't tell you how much this has improved my life!

Answer 6

Sounds like you have a good old fashioned case of test anxiety. It is actually kind of common with students your age. My advice would be to talk to your parents, have them find you a good weekly counselor, and talk to your school guidance counselor or psychologist. Your parents can help you work with the school to put a 504 plan in place that can help you ease the tensions of the tests. My son has 1:1 testing, He is not timed, and if it is not an MCAS or state test, he is allowed the opportunity to fix his problems if he did not do well. He has severe anxiety at school to the point that he digs at his hands with pencils till they bleed. He does see a doc and counselor and he has an IEP (individualized education plan) that is constantly being monitored and changed to help him be more comfortable.
Good luck. Being aware of the problem itself is half the battle, now you need to get the right team of people in place to help you understand and deal with it.

Answer 7

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 8

I have anxiety disorder and what you sound like you have is not the disorder itself but just an overreaction to things... you need to calm down sounds more like it

Answer 9

I can't think of anythign you can do on your own except for a lot of introspection, reading about philosophy, and the like.

I found in college that reading about Zen and Buddhism helped me a lot, but it took like 2 years.

You might need to talk to a counselor at school to see if they have some ideas for you.

Answer 10

I am not a doctor, but you may consider seeing a counselor - it sounds like anxiety but you may want to speak to a professional to make sure1

Good luck