ocdsufferer

[ocdsufferee]

I have been suffering from ocd for so many years it has wrecked my life.  I have the whole gamut. Stare compulsively where I shouldn't, intrusive "evil thoughts" and so forth,. I also have ADD and the combination is a killer. I am on Lexapro and Strattera.  I am trying to find a forum that deals with older adults since I am in my fifties, and any new research that can help bring more quality and happiness to my life.

Thanks so mucb!

[JGF25]

Did you ever have a period in time where the medications were working and you didn't feel completely overwhelmed by the OCD?  Did it ever get better for you?  

Incidentally CBT is cognitive behavioral therapy which is something a psychologist can teach you.  Actually visualizing a stop sign is a part of CBT.  They are techniques that a person can use to stop the irrational thought process.  It also includes controlled breathing.  

Exposure therapy is used depending on what types of thoughts you are having.  For example when I had the thoughts of harming people, I would go into a dark room, close my eyes and actually picture myself carrying out the thought.  It helped me to realize that I was not a person that would ever do the things I thought.  So for me, that was kind of an exposure therapy.  Another one as sitting in an AIDS clinic to alleviate the fear of HIV.  

[ocdsufferee]

Hi!

What is exposure therapy?

[ocdsufferee]

What does CBT stand for?

[ocdsufferee]

I have been on Lexapro and Strattera for at least 10 years. I was on Celexa five years prior to that, and then was switched to Lexapro.

[ocdsufferee]

When someone approaches me, I will zero in on their breasts, no matter what age, from 12- 99, if it is a woman. If it is a guy, it will be his fly. Weird crazy and humiliating. I try to focus on something else, but it is always in my line of vision. Been suffering with this since I am twelve.  In a movie theater, I am always uncomfortable, my peripheral vision working overtime seeing every hand movement and leg movement by whoever is sitting on either side of me. Arm chairs make me uncomfortable, certain tops, can only wear v necks, the sleeves if there are too loose will drive me crazy and make me nervous. I feel at times I am going mad even though my closest friends and husband are not aware.

I am more successful with my intrusive thoughts. One post that I read helped me. I visualize a stop sign when I find myself cursing somebody I really care about, and the thought goes away for awhile and I have some peace.

Anxiety and pressure exacerbates my OCD symptoms.  I have what one therapist calls "magic thinking", where if I think something bad such as a disease or death, and it actually happens, I think guiltily that I caused it.
Makes life quite joyful. I avoid social situations when I can, but it is difficult
because I am married, Jewish orthodox, and holidays and such and temple make it difficult otherwise I would be a hermit.

I am socially isolated accept for some close friends that are flexible and see beyond my "behavioral aberrations".

I started at a young age working with yoga, and now I am doing Iyengar yoga which helps me relax and stay somewhat centered.



I

[JGF25]

Hi there.  So how long have you been on the Lexapro and Straterra?  I have OCD as well, I am 48, and I believe I have undiagnosed ADHD.  I just love to ask questions and never bother to listen to the answer because I'm already on to something else!   I have also had the same types of thoughts you have had.  What symptoms are you having currently OCD-wise while on the medication?  

[RainLover71]

OCD ruined my life aswell,I lost everything and had to start again.You can get better,there are treatments--CBT,exposure therapy and the right meds,you have to find the correct ones.There are many SSRIs to pick from.Find the right one for you--this process may take a while.