Is this OCD?

[nicolettemarg]

Hi I am new to this forum. Ever since I was a teenager I have always fantisized. I pretend like I have other people around that are not really there. Mostly famous people. I pretend like they are part of my life. I used to do it when I was only alone but over the years I have found myself doing it even when other people are around. I just kind of mumble to myself as if I am talking to them but there really itn't anybody there. I know there isn't anybody there! My husband recently caught my mumbling to myself and asked me who I was talking to and I just played it off. I am very embaressed by this and don't understand why I do this. I recently started taking prozac about 6 weeks ago for anxiety and was hoping it would help but haven't noticed any difference. It has helped my mood though. I guess I was a bit depressed and just didn't notice it. I also have been taking xanax for the last 10yrs. as needed. I also would like to note that my grandmother was schizophrenic. I guess I worry that that might have something to do with it. I'm never paranoid or anything though. Is there any hope for me? BTW I am 35yrs old. Thank You.  

[Ted A Grossbart, Ph.D.]

This is not OCD or schizophrenia or any other diagnosis. I think it is a creative attempt to deal with feeling lonely and powerless.  It also goes with having good visualization and hypnotic ability.

There is a therapy technique called the Inner Advisor Technique in which I teach people who don't have your native ability to do this to develop a version of it.  

I think the only way it is a problem is your feelings of shame and need to hide it from your husband.  

I think if you can come to understand, value,  and accept it you will be much better off. Probably worth doing it silently when with strangers, although with cell phones it seems many people walk around talking outloud.

Could you 'come out' to him?  If he is an even halfway compassionate guy and you present it in a low key way, can you imagine him being supportive and amused?

Doe this approach work for you?

tg

[lildgsbee]

Hi I am also in the same boat as the lady n I have all the same things happening to me. I have gotten on a anxiety med. And it gives me all the symptoms they said so I am considering switching but I also think I have ocd as well I never had my parents around during my life n moved out when I was 16 I also have trouble letting things go that have happened in the past either in my fiances life or the emotional abuse I always got from my stepdad. Whenever I am confronted at work or by random people n they start yelling at me I break down n cry is that normal? I also get a lot of bladder infections and headaches a lot and have lost interest in a lot of things I use to do. My fiance also has a anxiety diorder and somewhat ocd. I have bad acid reflux all the time also and I have no idea what to go to the doctor for anymore. Please help. Also I am 20

[Ted A Grossbart, Ph.D.]

Thanks.  I have forwarded this to the admin and hopefully we can get it sorted out.  Glad it has been useful.

tg

[spring3]

Hi I'm new to this site, and I'm so happy I found it.

I'm having difficulty figuring out how to actually post a question under this forum. I'm probably just looking over something but it seems like all the other Ask A Doctor forums have a green post a question at the top and I don't see one for this forum?


Help?


Thanks!

[nicolettemarg]

I just made an appointment with a psychitrist yesterday. Thank you for your help.

[Ted A Grossbart, Ph.D.]

I would urge you to get into therapy.  While meds have their role, I think therapy would have a lot to offer you.  Certainly one way of looking at the symptom is that it is telling you you need someone to talk to!

tg

[nicolettemarg]

Just the meds.

[Ted A Grossbart, Ph.D.]

That is all very understandable.  Have you ever done psychotherapy or just meds?

tg

[Ted A Grossbart, Ph.D.]

That is all very understandable.  Have you ever done psychotherapy or just meds?

tg

[nicolettemarg]

I'm not sure if I would be able to come out to my husband. Maybe with time. He is a really understanding guy and I don't think he would have a problem with any of it. It's just embaressing for me. He's the one that said he thought I was OCD cause I like to keep the house tidy. I do have some nervous ticks along with counting. It seems to be brought on be stress. I also find myself obssesing over things. I always have a fear that something bad is going to happen to my baby daughter. I also fear I am on the verge of liver cirrosis even though my doc assures my that my liver panel is fine. (I had Hep C and stage 2 fibrosis. I did treatment and by the grace of God have been SRV for almost 5 yrs. now.)
I'm thinking I do probley have mild OCD. I just thought the fantisizing might be part of it. I think that I have'nt seeked help cause I fear of being put on a bunch of meds and I never thought it was that severe. The fantisizing bothers me more than anything. I was actually hoping it was part of the OCD cause then I thought there might be some kind of med to help me stop. Even though I hate meds I would take it if I knew it could potentially help me stop fantisizing.