Mind if I have a bit of a moan? Am getting concerned as a year ago last Xmas I developed severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I also because what I call emotionally, psychologically, physically and spiritually exhausted with everything and now I can't cope with housework mainly because of a fear of the floor being contaminated and partly due to exhaustion. I have trouble touching certain things so my floors get covered in tissue paper s use it to touch stuff then I get too scared to clear it away. Meication has helped as without it to be honest I'm not sure I'd be here but counselling isn't helping. I am having Reiki now and she seems to underand more than my counsellor did. I really need help around the house if I'm honest but too proud and too obsessive to ask for it. Don;t expect you guys to have a solution oust wondered if any of you struggle like this or have struggled like this and what you did to cope.
I haven't had OCD.
My granddaughter had phobias and obsessive fears.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy helped her.
This is creating a step by step plan for changing some part of the pattern, knowing that it will be really hard and then doing the one thing new and different.
Doing scary stuff is very hard, but essential to moving along in life.
Best wishes
Keep us posted
Hugs
Elaine
Thanks Carolina for your input. I tried CBT though and it didn't help, in fact it made me worse.
I am so sorry to hear about your OCD challenge. Please, please, please find someone to help you with this. It is such a limiting and controlling health challenge.
I'm with the others, can you seek out assistance with someone that is fluent in OCD issues?
I know that its a long and tough road ahead, but you can do it.
Hang in there and I'll keep the old digits crossed that you find someone that can help soon.
Take care of yourself, okay?
Patze
My counsellor is a CBT specialist and as such fluent in OCD issues however she did say that my OCD wasn't like 'regular' OCD and didn't respond to treatment as most people with OCD do.
I know a person with OCD and they found a counselor that really helped. She also got off of her medication for a while also.
There are so many causes for OCD and you need a very special counselor who can help you work out a plan to make your life easier and also to help desensitize you to some of the issues.
One thing for sure is that stress makes OCD worse and with the stress of an illness and fatigue,etc., you have a lot on your plate. The more you feel lousy the more you will stress and the OCD increases.
Please do some research to find a counselor or group that can add to your arsenal of needed treatments. Good luck. Keep us posted on how this goes. There is hope. TAke a deep breath and just do one thing at a time. EVen those of us who don't have OCD have trouble doing one thing at a time. An overload of housework makes all women really uneasy. Irish ;D
I don't think that very special counellor is out there to be honest. I'm on my fifth now. Most of the counsellors I approached (and I did thorough research before approaching them) turned me down because they felt they couldn't handle the severity of my illness. At the moment only the medication is holding me together. Without it to be honest I dont think I'd be here. I think I turned a corner today though clearing out the bathroom. Still got a lot of sorting out to do but made a big step today.
Good for you!! Glad to hear that you made some progress. I know that it is insurrmountable stress trying to do something when OCD is in the picture. Makes life a real challenge.
I hope that you can find a good counselor. There are quite a few medicatioins our there that can help plus learning to forgive yourself is very important.
Also, I have heard that most people have a certain amount of OCD in their life and I believe this to be true. I think that we all use this for coping at times and the severity of the OCD is what makes the difference. Most likely a genetic link, but I think there are some behaviors that are learned and carried on through life. Good luck and keep up on doing one thing at a time even if it is only one thing a day. Steady gets the job done. Irish ;D
I am glad to hear that you made some progress today. My son has this disorder, and he went to a few therapy sessions years ago, and was on some medication, but he doesn't do either now.
He always carries hand sanitizer with him, and doesn't want any germs on him. When we visit for dinner, he always brings up have we washed our hands. :)
He stays on the go though constantly that causes me to be concerned about him. He has a long travel to his job, and then with time off he has so many other interests which is a good thing, but he doesn't get much sleep, and his heart races a lot, and has for years.
He has had it checked out before, and nothing has showed up, but it causes him a lot of anxiety.
susanep :)
WildThing,
I'm a bit late here, but wanted to say "Good for you!" with your progress today. I can't say that I know first-hand what you're dealing with, but I know OCD is very stressful and I'm sure your physical issues must make it worse.
I also want to encourage you that help is out there. I know you've gone through several counselors, but the right one must be somewhere for you. In the meantime, if the medication is helping then so be it. Whatever works for us, right? ;)
Please keep us posted; we're here with you!
Melinda
Meld256 is right. You can't give up your search for the right councelor. It's to your advantage to keep on trying. Even with our Rheumies for out treatment of SJS sometimes we have to go through lots of doctors before finding the right one for us. Hang in and keep on trying to find one. You are making some progress--keep it up.
Thanks for the support guys. I got rid of another 6 bags of rubbish yesterday. Feels like I am finally starting to get on top of things. I gotta say it's only since the doc upped my medication and I had reiki sessions it's cheaper and more successful than counselling. feel tired and grumpy today though. had to get up early to see a podiatrist and didn't sleep last night as I was super hyper.
Susanep your son does sounds highly strung. I use that hand sanitiser like all of the time. I can't tell you how many bottles I go through. It's OK though as long as it doesn't interfere in your life my counsellor said. Sounds like you son is struggling a bit though. Have you expressed your concerns?
Take a break, pause, and reward yourself. Enjoy the way things look, give yourself messages about how good it looks now, and stop. Take time off. The message to yourself is "When it's the right time, I'll tackle the next step." And you will, I'm sure of it.
Much success,
Soycoffee