pure o, obsessive blinking

[redwingslions]

Hi guys,
its been a while since i've written but i am struggling now and hoping to seek some knowledge on this subject. I suffer from Pure O, intrusive thoughts. It has gotten better now that i know what it is but we all know it still bothers us in a way. But i just picked up this new obsession 5 days ago... its blinking... im constantly aware of my blinking and its hard to enjoy life. i try to distract myself with sports or reading but its always there. I started taking my Paxil 30mg again, on monday, and this blinking thing started tuesday. i remember i used to have this obsession before but the longest it would last in half a day. Any suggestions? i fear that itll be with me forever. could it be the meds just starting to take affect? feels like i trapped in my own body and all my brain is saying is "blink, you just blinked" ughhhhh

any feed back would be great. Thanks

[DanielGabriel97]

Hi, could you explain exactly how you went about doing the exposure therapy for blinking...what specifically are the techniques/methods used?  Anything you have tried I am willing to try.

[vinvent]

Ive recently come across this blinking obsession or awarness, I used the exposure thereapy, as I needed to it for other obsession, and axiety is not what it used to be. I would classify it annoying now. It does get me down

[Paranoy]

Hello, I had very stressful childhood because of pseudoneurotic schisophrenia (including OCD). I have suffered every day. Thinking about suicide end ending my torment was my only hope and thought that actualy gaves me strenght to relax. I cured myself during my puberty, I was very rough guy. I was rinking, smoking weed and sometimes even taking drugs. It was the best time in my life, I completely forgot about my schisophrenia. But now, there was great changes in my life and I started suffer from sensorimotor ocd. I feel like I will overcome it again. Im strong. It's very hard because it's body function and you can't just not do it (like manual rituals of ocd). I just want to tell you guys. Be strong! It's your brain, your mind. Think about suicide? Imagine your head crashed on the street. The blood, the pain, all that ********! It's stupid. You have to think more positive. It's you! Your body wants to blink? Allright, blink! Why not? Breath? You fear it? Ok stop breathing. Nobody force you to do it :) It's natural. Look at the trees, the animals. Life is going on, and it's wonderful! Just go somewhere, play basketball, go swimming, get a bike, buy yourself a prostitue ( :D ) go spray on somebody's house ( just joke :)). Get my point boys and girls. Eat some vitamins, exhaust your body and mind. Think about who you really are and go for the better future. Im just somebody who successfuly overcomed much more difficult disease than any of you (lookup for pseudoneurotic schisophrenia) and Im telling you. No fear! Controll your world! Now, Im struggling with you guys. Let's do it together! We are strong! Love is always stronger than fear. Seeya. (Sorry for my english Im from Czech republic and Im learning english from the movies, hehe)

[BobZ777]

I developed the same problem and a miserable one it is too. That said I have started to do the exposure exercises and although it's extremely tough  I am beginning to make progress. Basically you have to learn not to fear the awareness of blinking and to do that you need to allow yourself to feel it. It's uncomfortable at first but if you sit with it long enough the anxiety starts to die down eventually. By repeating the exposure in the end it won't make you anxious and when it's not anxiety provoking you will stop wasting your time worrying about it. I have had a few uncomfortable evenings recently where I have deliberately focused on it all night and am starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. Takes a big leap of faith to do the opposit of what you want to do I.e distract/forget about it , but the more you try that the harder it gets. Got to break the cycle and face it until your brain gets bored. It's tough but it works and if you want to get better you have to face your fears. Good luck

[Koala30]

http://www.steveseay.com/treatment-body-focused-obsessions-ocd/

sorry I forgot the link.

[Koala30]

Hi, I am suffering the same thing. I focus on body fonctions and its very hard to distract me. Recently I read an article from a Therapist who discribed exactly our symptoms. Like redwingslions said, it is called sonsorimotor OCD. They propose un exposure therapy. I am not sure if I should try this. Perhaps you can read the article and we can discuss it.
It is good to know, that we are not alone and that there are professionels who make reserches about this kind of OCD.
Dont give up!
Diana

[JGF25]

These medications only work when taken as prescribed. They have to build up to a steady state in your body or they won't work which is why your half a pill every 3 or 4 days really didn't work at all.  Do you have insurance?  Is there a generic for Paxil?  I think you will find that you will be much better when the medication is at full strength again.  Right now you have to go on the past experience that you were able to get better and it is just going to take a little while and you will be yourself once again.  Those past positive experiences always help me.  Take care.  

[redwingslions]

Hi, thanks for replying.
well, i didnt completely go off the paxil but i did start taking only half a pill every 3 or 4 days just for financial reasons. but now im on a full pill every day. i hope this doesnt last forever cause its always in the back of my head and every time i blink i can tell im blinkning. sounds weird, i know. but yes, its quite distressing. and i also try to distract myself but nothing seems to be helping? hmmmm, write back. thanks again

[JGF25]

Now what you have going on may be sensorimotor OCD.  The problem with OCD is that it does change.  A former checker may become afraid of germs, etc.  

So from your post, you were on Paxil and then went off.  Any reason for that and how long did you take it?  As you know, if you have cleared the medication from your system it is going to take another 4 to 6 weeks before it really kicks back in and you may have to deal with the OCD until that time.

Let me know a little back history.  I remember your name.