ANY ADVICE ON OCD LONG I'AM A LONG TIME TERM SUFFERER

[lexi1906]

I'am a long term sufferer of OCD been living with it since i was very young i'am now 26 and in the past 5 year since i was told i had this condition i have been coming to terms with this disorder now i'am looking for others who have advice or just wish to disscuss it in general feel free to leave a meessage lexi

[ocdisnotcool]

I am 26 as well.  I have been suffering from OCD since I was about 12.  My OCD takes different forms.  I had harm OCD for a while, when I was younger it is germs.  I sometimes feel that I am maintaining it, and other times feel like it totally has control over me.  I know I am stating the obvious, but it definitely spikes up during hard times, losing a friend, boyfriend problems etc...  

I have read a few books that help.  I would love to have someone to talk to OCD about in general who understands it.  My family, friends, and boyfriend try to be supportive but do not fully get it.  

Laura

[aej]

Re: OCD. I have it and my daughter has it....I really know I needed to find a way to stop or temper it when I saw her following in my footsteps. This may sound really strange but what worked for me was to create a personality in my head sort of a mental avitar. When I would start obsessing, she(her name is Jennifer), I have her talk to me, using rational reasons why I don't need to obsess, like I will obsess about being late, and I pull her out and she goes over all the reasons why I don't have to..Like, she will say, "first stop it..now why are you so worried about being late, what will happen if you are and you also know you an leave a little earlier etc. she always wins the argument :-). She is also good with compulsions, she will say (always) Stop it, now why are you doing that and what can you do to distract yourself, If I want to wash my hands a 2nd or 3rd time, she will have me do some writing, or some painting and then I can wash my hands once only because it is needed now..she will point out that see, that made you feel better not to give in to the compulsion (which it does) and put the hand washing in proper perspective. The more I do it the easier it is to do...NO, I do not hear voices or have an imaginary friend, it is like the voice of reason or the voice of before I started OCDing. It is a redirect method that works for me. Harder at first easier the more you do it.