ocd

I have ocd,it constrols my life every day,ocd thoughts running through my head every minute,hand washing,checking things,etc,keeping things in order straight line,cleaning,counting,and so on,drives me insane,feel so alone with having ocd,any 1 have the same ocd problems as me?any input please,many thanx

[LivingwithOCD07]

I have OCD, I suffer from contamination fears, reassurance, checking, etc. all that apply to fear of contamination. I also feel alone as I know that there is millions of people who have OCD but no one that I know, and my husband thinks I'm dumb for worrying about things over and over. I guess repitition is insanity though, ha. I know I'm not crazy, I feel like I'm doing things that aren't apart of the image I have of myself, or who I want to be. OCD shouldn't have this control over anyone, but it's hard to fight off your brain. Anyways, if you need to talk, I can relate to you, and your not alone!

[joanna28]

Thanx for your comment,i know many people suffer from ocd,but i just feel so alone with it,cause i have never spoken to anyone with this illness ocd,and no one realy understands what its like to live with ocd everyday,thats in my life,family,partner etc,my kiids r picking up on it,it just makes me drained with the checking cleaning etc and so on,i have to do it all my checking and stuff,as i dont feel settled until i do,then i do it all over again,i also suffer fron social anxiety,depression,panic attacks and so on,so ocd runs my life in the house,and when i go out i have social anxietys i so cant win,im on meds,prozac,ive suffered from ocd from such an early age,Joanna,28,Belfast,x

[LivingwithOCD07]

Dont check things over and over, even if it feels wrong. Limit yourself to 2 checkings, then go and do something else. You will feel wrong, but it doesn't matter. That is your brain firing off danger signals when there isn't even any danger.
Same with washing. Wash it once (hands, clothes, dishes, floors, etc. whatever it is your) and make that be enough, even if it feels wrong, which it will, once is enough, twice is more than enough. Write down your feelings. Log what your obsessing about, why you are obsessing about it, and what you think will happen if you don't act on your compulsion. Wait 15min/30/60 minutes before giving into the compulsion (if you even need to after waiting) and then log down how much time you waited. You will see that nothing happens when you don't wash or clean as much. You have to do this for your well being, for your life, and also for your kids. If you are serious about beating this disorder of the brain, then you will find the will power and the strength to start resisting your OCD urges. Get in therapy, and do CBT, and ERP with your therapist. Find a therapist who treats OCD specifically. (OC Spectrum)

[beemer5]

joanna you are not alone,tat728 has some excellent advise and she responded to a post i made.its not easy of course but as tat said her response to me no one should have to live like this.and she is right.i get immobile and everything i touch i want to check once or twice and at times a lot more,so of course i can't get much done and it bothers the heck out of me. until i take control over the situation i know i will stay like this and i hate it.so i am going to let go of a lot of it and see what happen's.i know me and it won't be easy,but i always tell myself i am the one stopping me,no one else is.im going to make another post which i know will sound crazy but i have to do it,because we are all here to help each other.

[ScuderiaSF]

I suffer from the same problems, gives you restless sleep and well consumes your day and life, but because we have a over active brain our brain uses it to cope with the days issues and stress, generally to keep it self bussy, and keep you from going in to a mental hospital. It is a struggle I know, find something to keep your brain bussy, example reading but non fiction books.