so much pain

Hi.
This problem has plagued me for several years and seems to never leave me, not even for a minute of my day.
I have this overbearing urge to keep thinking and reciting certain things i want to happen and
even more strange i keep on reciting numbers that pop up in my head time and time again..
eg the measurements of my height etc..

No matter how much time and effort i put in to stop myself giving in to these thoughts, it is of no prevail and have lost any hope for living a confident stress free life.

can anybody tell me what i have and how it can be stopped please.

Thankyou

Charlie

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

charlie, you are describing an obsessive compulsive disorder...it is very treatable,and you should seek a consultation with a psychiatrist.

[vick007]

thankyou for a reply.
can this condition be medically treatable or can it be resolved only through consultation with a psychiatrist?

[2ofmeme]

Thats sound just about right.but I have the same problems but where I work at I do phone payements and we find the customer by therr tellephone numbers so I dont know if I have a compulsive problem or I just have one to many phone numbers I have to remember.Not only that I do all the math for change in my head.Do you have a job that involves numbers

[vick007]

no i dont actually.
I believe this whole thing has to do with fear, fearing the unknown i guess..
This might be a compulsive disorder but im sure i can beat it by having faith
and stop worrying about the things in my life that are not in my control.

[irmavale]

You cannot beat a compulsive disorder with just faith, because it is not a matter of faith or being stronger and control yourself.  It is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in your brain, you need medication to correct that and counseling learn what causes the fear and how to manage it.  It is common among people with mental disorders to blame themselves.  Learn more about your problem and get professional help.  I overcame many mental problems that way and believe me, it is very hard and painful but being able to have a normal life is worth it.  I hope you get well!

[vick007]

thanks for your response.
Although, what would a psychiatrist be able to do for me that i couldnt do?
If it is indeed a chemical imbalance then wouldnt the only solution be drugs?

[momofbipolar]

A Psychiatrist is the only person who can look at all of your symptoms over a life time, and make the correct diagnosis.  Please do not just go to any doctor.  I took my child to a neurologist for ADHD and later my son needed an antidepressant for anxiety in school he was prescribed prozac.  Unless you know for sure that you have no bipolar in your family, then you put your child at risk.  My son went manic within one month and had to be hospitalized.  If I had taken him to a psychiatrist he would have been put on a mood stabilizer first then the prozac.  You see, there is a difference.  Psychologist can help bring deep feeling out that even you may not know you have.  Hope this helps.  I too have a 6 year old who has started obsessive compulsive stuff, we are really watching how this goes for my child.  I have come to the understanding with my son who is bipolar, that I will not medicate my kids until they feel it is a last resort.  Medications are great, but they do have many side effects.  You really need to weight the good and the bad. Blessings!

[vick007]

thankyou very much for your input.
i do have to look in to finding a decent psychiatrist.

[klin]

I have been battling anxiety and depression. My shrink just put me on zoloft 25mg for 2 weeks to start slow since I have tried others and they made me sick. I'm supposed ti increase to 50mg next week.He also has me on kalonpin 1 1/2 2x a day. Has anyone had any luck with this combo.thanks klin