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Can you feel a needle stick when you sleep?
Well, I slept in a same room (not a same bed) with a guy I didn't know very well, because of limited space. Now I am so worried about he somehow poking me with a needle when I was sleeping. Frankly speaking, he is a really nice and fit guy and I can tell my thought is crazy. But once I got this thought, I couldn't get rid of it. Guys, please help me, I don't wanna live my life this way. Thanks a lot!
Best Answer
Have you had any other irrational thoughts? Why do you think this one popped into your head? If somebody stuck you with a needle, sleeping or not, you would feel it. How long have this been going on?
Thanks for your reply. I do have irrational thoughts once in a while. For example, I felt nervous when I received injections, because I was afraid that the needles could be dirty.
I think I have had OCD about health and diseases for a couple of years. I went to see some psychiatrists, but I didn't get cured. I think this one poped into my head, because there is not a single reason for me to believe that this guy might poke me, not at all. But I just cannot get rid of this thought.
I think I have had OCD about health and diseases for a couple of years. I went to see some psychiatrists, but I didn't get cured. I think this one poped into my head, because there is not a single reason for me to believe that this guy might poke me, not at all. But I just cannot get rid of this thought.
Have you been diagnosed with OCD or health-related anxiety by any of the psychiatrists?
If you have OCD, stress can make the symptoms worse, i.e., thoughts start to pop into our heads more often. The best thing in my mind to combat these types of thoughts is to use cognitive behavioral therapy. Controlled breathing, replacing irrational thoughts with statements of fact, self-coaching. For example you can try the following.
Breathing -- Take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for 5 seconds and count this out in your head then let it all out through your mouth. This helps to bring your heart rate back down to normal so that you can think more clearly.
The second thing is to try imagery...so for instance picture a red handle and picture yourself pulling it toward you and say STOP in your head.
Or say to yourself "NO, I AM NOT GOING THERE AGAIN, MOVE ON!" the second the thought pops into your head. When you kind of yell at yourself it brings you out of your head.
Typically CBT is taught by psychologists and psychiatrists usually do some talk therapy and prescribe medications. Have you given thought to meds?
If you have OCD, stress can make the symptoms worse, i.e., thoughts start to pop into our heads more often. The best thing in my mind to combat these types of thoughts is to use cognitive behavioral therapy. Controlled breathing, replacing irrational thoughts with statements of fact, self-coaching. For example you can try the following.
Breathing -- Take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for 5 seconds and count this out in your head then let it all out through your mouth. This helps to bring your heart rate back down to normal so that you can think more clearly.
The second thing is to try imagery...so for instance picture a red handle and picture yourself pulling it toward you and say STOP in your head.
Or say to yourself "NO, I AM NOT GOING THERE AGAIN, MOVE ON!" the second the thought pops into your head. When you kind of yell at yourself it brings you out of your head.
Typically CBT is taught by psychologists and psychiatrists usually do some talk therapy and prescribe medications. Have you given thought to meds?
Also, what I am concerned is, we had a party that night and I got pretty exhausted. So I slept very soundly and deeply that night. I am afraid I could not feel anything when I slept so deeply. Can I still feel the needle stick?
Yes I have been diagnosed with OCD but at a low level. My psychiatrist didn't think drugs were warranted in my situation. I stopped my therapy after I felt better. Maybe I just felt more stressed these days.
Stress can make OCD worse. That I have learned the hard way! What you have to remember is that we are never OCD free but rather we learn to manage the symptoms we are experiencing. And then sometimes we get stressed, the OCD symptoms ramp up and we are no longer able to keep them under control. So if you feel you are back to square one, then I would suggest therapy again. Did they teach you cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) such as the things I mentioned above? If not, then you should find somebody that does. If you truly have a low incidence of OCD, then you can probably get by with using a few simple techniques when you do have flare ups. I use CBT in conjunction with medication.
Thank you for your advice. I talked to a psychiatrist today, but it's not very helpful. I find my biggest problem is that I lost my my ability to reasonably analyze an instance.
For example, I have no idea whether it is very likely or very unlikely for that guy to stick me. I am serious. Therefore, I need someone else to help me analyze these things. Thank you.
For example, I have no idea whether it is very likely or very unlikely for that guy to stick me. I am serious. Therefore, I need someone else to help me analyze these things. Thank you.
What did you find unhelpful from the psychiatrist? I'm just curious. And who do you think is the person to help you deal with these thoughts? Psychiatrists are usually the prescribers of medication and they do some talk therapy. The psychologist on the other hand does talk therapy AND teaches CBT. CBT is what you need.
Take a look at this book on Amazon. You can even look "inside." I think you will find it helpful. The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from OCD and another is Self-Coaching by Joseph Luciani.
Take care.
Take a look at this book on Amazon. You can even look "inside." I think you will find it helpful. The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from OCD and another is Self-Coaching by Joseph Luciani.
Take care.
JG is right. Psychiatrists are the medical doctors who oversee a person's mental health treatment and primarily prescribe and manage medications.
A therapist, counselor or psychologist is the person who would do the therapy part of the work with you...and THAT'S what you need to learn how to change the thinking process you're stuck in. You're precisely right that you need help working through these irrational thoughts...that's OCD for you. You won't be able to "analyze" your way through it.
Buy the book that JG recommended. The more you learn and understand what you're dealing with, the more empowered you will be and able to help yourself.
A therapist, counselor or psychologist is the person who would do the therapy part of the work with you...and THAT'S what you need to learn how to change the thinking process you're stuck in. You're precisely right that you need help working through these irrational thoughts...that's OCD for you. You won't be able to "analyze" your way through it.
Buy the book that JG recommended. The more you learn and understand what you're dealing with, the more empowered you will be and able to help yourself.
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