OBSESSIVE COMPULSlVE DISORDER BEHAVIOR?

Question

Is it at all possible to overcome one obession, one which has been financially and morally distructive? I am attending gamblers annonymous, and I honestly feel I will recover from the devistation it has left me in.
MY QUESTION IS: Is it possible to unconciously replace one compulsion with another? Such as after the gambling has ceased, having the compultion of something positive? I've noticed that I can't sweep my floor enough...I took 4 hours cleaning out my car with not one speck of dirt behind. I wasn't like that before when I was gambling. Is one obession taking over the other?? It sure seems like it.

Answer 1

Mood Disorders / Affective Disorders
-- Depression, Mania, Bipolar Disorder

The fundamental abnormality of an affective disorder is a disturbance of mood, either depression or mania. Depression is by far the commoner; most patients who have manic symptoms are also prone to depressive episodes but the reverse does not apply. In a few cases depressive and manic symptoms occur simultaneously or in rapid succession (mixed affective state/ bipolar disorder)

CAUSE of Mood Disorders / Affective Disorders -- Depression, Mania, Bipolar Disorder
- Genetic Factors have some role in bipolar disorder.

- Environmental factors like

Loss of mother before age 11
3 or more children under 14 living at home
Lack of confiding relationship
Lack of employment etc
are known to play a significant role in mood disorders.

- Physical Illness - A physical illness can be followed by depression, esp. those like cancer, AIDS, and heart diseases etc which carry serious implications. Also mood changes can occur after infectious mononucleosis or influenza and other viral illness.

Depression or mania could be the presenting feature of cerbrovascular disease, neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinsonism and endocrine diseases such as Cushing's syndrome, Addison's Disease, and hypothyroidism.

Mood changes can also be associated with drug therapy, for eg. corticosteroids, beta-adrenoceptor antagonists and other anti-hypertensive drugs. When mood disorder results directly from physical causes they are known as organc affective disorders.

- Personality - Some depressives have personality characteristics which are thought to predispose to the illness. this involves a negative attitude to oneself, the outside world and the future; the term 'cognitive triad' ha been applied to these attitudes.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
Depression of mood is the primary symptom. There may be a diurnal variation of mood, depression being most distressing early in the morning or at the end of the day.
Loss of pleasure in life (anhedonia)
Loss of interest in oneself and others
Low self esteem
Self blame
Hopelessness
Suicidal thinking
Feeling of guilt and worthlessness
Sleep disturbance (initial insomnia, early morning wakening or hypersomnia)
Poor concentration
Fatigue
Headache and other pains
Anorexia (loss of appetite)
Weight changes
Constipation
Reduced libido
All these symptoms may not be present in any single person and the level of intensity of symptoms vary from person to person.

Mood Disorders / Affective Disorders -- Depression, Mania, Bipolar Disorder - HOW DIAGNOSIS IS MADE?

The diagnosis is usually done clinically based on the signs and symptoms.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT for Depression
Homeopathy offers very good treatment possibilities for depression with good results. There are large number of medicines which can be used and the selection of medicine depends not just on the symptoms but also on the cause. Depression is a manifestation of the disorder and to treat the manifestation it is necessary to find the cause. The success of treatment in such cases often depends on the ability of a homeopath to find the cause. The selection of medicine depends a lot on it. Like all psychological disorders, depressive illness also requires good case study and continuous monitoring by a competent homeopath. One should not try any form of self-medication. In qualified and experienced hands homeopathy offers good prognosis in this condition.

Some of the commonly indicated medicines are anacardium, arsenic-alb, aurum-met, ignatia, acid-phos, pulsatilla, natrum-mur, sepia, antim-crud, naja, nux-vom, stann, psorinum etc. The selection of medicine varies from case to case.

CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT for Depression

Antidepressant drugs, cognitive therapy, and electro convulsive therapy are used.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? - ACCESSORY MANAGEMENT

Visit a psychotherapist or join a support group where you can talk about your emotions freely.
Be more open with your family and friends - do not hide your feelings, share them.
Try to remain actively involved in some work/job.
Exercise daily - it not only is good for your body, but also for your mind. Exercise is known to increase the level of many neuro-hormones, which bring a feeling of well-being and happiness.
Eat a well balanced and nutritious diet with ample fluids.
Learn some meditation, yoga, or stress relieving exercises. These help a lot in regaining your control over your emotions.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MANIA
Sense of well being evident as elation or ecstasy
Confidence and self-esteem are high
Grandiose ideas without any substance.
Thoughtless and risky behavior
Delusion of being especially gifted or of being well-connected.
Thoughts come rapidly
Speech is fast
Physical activity is increased
Appetite is initially increased but may be decreased later.
Sleep hours are reduced, but this does not cause fatigue.
Promiscuity may occur.



HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT Mania
Homeopathy offers many medicines which work in such cases. In experienced hands the long term prognosis is good. Some of the medicines commonly used are belladona, stramonium, varatum-alb, hyoscamus, cuprum-met, nux-vomica, tarentula, syphilinum, lachesis, arsenic, cocaine, coffea, platina etc. There are many more medicines and the selection of medicine varies from case to case. The cause and past history of a person play a significant role in the selection of medicine. All such cases require continuous monitoring by an experienced physician.

CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT for Mania

Neuroleptic drugs like haloperidol or a phenothiazine or lithium carb are some of the drugs that are commonly used.

Electro convulsive therapy is given to resistant cases.

BIPOLAR DISORDER
It is a mood disorder in which depression and manic symptoms occur simultaneously or in quick succession. It was previously known as 'Manic Depressive Psychosis'. Each phase of mania and depression may lat for many months.

BIPOLAR DISORDER - SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Read those of depression and mania above:-

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT for BIPOLAR DISORDER
Homeopathy can help cases with bipolar disorder. Albeit the treatment is more prolonged and difficult than that of unipolar disorder. Most of the medicines used are similar to those used for depression and mania. The treatment usually continues for extended periods as each phase can last for many months. Also there is a tendency of relapse in such patients. But homeopathy does offer a better long term prognosis.
______________________________...

My best advice is you should go and consult a good Homeopathic Practitioner.

Take Care and God Bless you.

Answer 2

Yes, that's pretty much how it works. Replacing a destructive addiction with a constructive one can help you turn a weakness into a strength, channel your talents toward a gift for mankind, focus your energy on something great.
Have you been actually diagnosed with OCD? Used to be called "an addictive personality", I bet, which I think a lot of people have but don't know it because they have had the good fortune to be "addicted" to a positive pursuit. It is psychological, after all. Choose your addiction wisely and according to your interests and talents. Art? Business? Writing? Go for it girl, and be proud of whatever you accomplish. You can do great things!

Answer 3

Try something that will be rewarding, such as writing letters to our men and women in Iraq. they often write back and are always overjoyed to know that they are thought about. I have 5 pen pals 2 guys and 3 women who I stay in touch with and them with me. Sometimes I send out a dozen letters before I recieve one back but usually I get 2 or 3 from the same person on the same day.

Answer 4

yes you usually find one thing is replaced by another, and you can get it to different degrees, they do say that is only intelligent people that get the disorder. Its in my family alot, me , my brother, 3 of my children have it too, but luckily not in any bad ways, with me its a personal hygiene, I'm very particular. My kids are perfectionists, a place for every thing and everything in its place, they cant sleep if its not just right.
Its an odd weird and sometimes frustrating disorder.
*hugs* xxx

Answer 5

Everyone to some extent has this behavior. I do. As for replacing one behavior with another, yes. More likely the behavior was there and one of two things; this is being magnified by the change or you are noticing it after the change, I think it is the latter. Good luck!!!

Answer 6

I wish my father may he rest in peace, could have found Luvox, to help him with his gambling compulsions...if you have OCD, then it is likely that you are going to replace one ritual with another...Was yours at a casino? Card room?..on line?..just curious...but the luvox, replaces the serotonin your brain needs, to keep you from repeating the same things over and over..plus, it is a sin...it is in fact, my biggest weaknes...God Bless you dear, I wish you the best..pray for strength, but I would check into the Luvox, it has been a miracle for my son.

Answer 7

Yes, I think people with addictive personalities can kick a habit but will always keep the additictive trait.

Answer 8

Yes, I think that you can rethink and change, that addiction inside of you, and you can refocus, and re channel that energy, into something positive and productive. Good luck with your journey.

Answer 9

Absolutely. The trick is to replace it with a constructive obsession.

Enjoy your day dear!

Hugs,
SME

Answer 10

yes its possible. Definetly.