Has anyone actually been diagnosed with OCD that can talk to me about how life is with OCD?
121615
I have ocd.  I have to do things an equal amount of time.  Like walking on the sidewalk I have to step twice in each square and after a few steps I have to skip and do the same thing with the other foot going first.  I feel like an idiot when I do that so I'll avoid the sidewalk and walk in the street if I can.  Whenever possible I'll avoid a situation where I know I'll get stuck with my OCD.  If I have the time and patience available I'll face it and work my way through it.
584637
If you are worried, call your doctor.\nMy guess is that most of us have some degree of OCD and learn to live with it.\nWhen any behavior interferes with your quality of life (getting so tired, you give up) on a regular basis, you may want to get some professional advice on how to re-direct your thoughts.
582365
Get him/her some medical treatment.I have ocd too.It ain't a nice thing.Constant suffering,24/7.
238496
Yes, there is a group, and it's on Yahoo groups!\n\nhttp://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OCDSupportGroups/links\n\nI don't have that problem now, but I did in the past.  It took a couple of traumas that didn't involve hoarding that made me not look at it as a problem, but others mayhave it.\n\nI'm single so i don't have a partner.
152266
The only way to get an accurate diagnosis is to see a doctor or psychiatrist.  No one here (even though they sure try) can diagnose you as they are not medically qualified nor have they examined you and asked the necessary questions.\n\nThe good news is that IF you are diagnosed as OCD, there are treatments available.  Not everyone who checks a few times to see if a door is locked or does the same with the fridge is OCD.  So, please make an appointment and find out for sure.
455623
If your therapist is good, he/she will keep working with you and work even harder because of the setbacks. Don't feel bad or hopeless because the 4 sessions haven't worked. I have bipolar disorder type I and OCD. My therapist recommended that I wear a rubber band around my wrist and everytime I get the urge to do one of my "rituals," pop the rubber band. This sends a pain signal to the brain, which helps to block the obsessive thinking. Don't worry. OCD is very hard to overcome and may never go away completely, but with the right medications and therapy, it can be tolerable. Good luck to you and hang in there. Don't give up. Hope this helps!
583300
Being a severe bipolar myself - It one of the most interesting, but one of most terrible disease to live with!\nUnless people are considerate enough to research it they will never understand it!\nEven understanding SOME of it - It cannot be controlled. Medication helps with SOME stability, but being bipolar the medication being immuned very quickly.\nShe is doing great by taking care of herself, eating right, hygiene, etc.\nWith bipolar it is a mood that can come and go throughout the Moment, Day, or situation!\nPlease don't take too much upon yourself as it is a draining condition - especially from the person with it!\nBut I must Tell You Thank you for being understanding. It's very rare that people are there for ones like this! It is so trying! People cannot handle it - They want to deny it exists...\nMy grown children went through heck when I raised them (I didn't have a diagnosis's then)\nNow, they also live in other states, when we have contact they only want to, can only handle that I'M FINE, I'M DOING WELL - we don't discuss who I really am or what I'm going through!\nWhen I am out of sorts, I say I don't feel well! Some know what I'm talking about, most don't care = I don't care that they care or not!\nI've learned to accept this is who I am, I do my best to maintain!\nIf you'd like to keep in contact please email me!\nAgain, thank you for being someone who's taking the time to understand the disease!
471765
I don't think there is ever a connection with OCD. I have it, too and some of the things I consistently do are really weird. Mine is a number thing mostly.
194923
sure, you could have OCD, or an anxiety disorder, or a number of other conditions.  the symptoms you've listed are classic signs of OCD (washing, counting), but are also signs of other problems. you seem very troubled by it all, so it's probably serious, and seems to interfere with your daily life, so you should get professional help right away. if you're not sure who to go to, ask your doctor for suggestions. it sounds like you're a minor, so your parents will need to pay the bills and consent to any treatment, but you still have privacy, they'll only know what you want them to. talk to them about it, then go to a psychiatrist. it might help if you take a copy of your question, and write down anything else that you notice, when you go.  sometimes, it's hard to remember everything, and will be easier if you have a lot written down. be open when you talk with the therapist, and on any tests that you take to come to a diagnosis. it's important that you get help soon, the longer you go without it, the more serious your problem can become.  OCD can also lead to depression, self-harm, etc. so get help soon.\nBest of luck to you!\nadditional information that may be helpful:\n"Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a common mental illness in which people feel burdened by unwanted thoughts or forced to repeat troublesome actions. Unwanted thoughts, called obsessions, often include unreasonable fear of dirt or germs. Another common obsession involves fear of losing control and hurting oneself or others. Many patients also feel a need to perform repeated actions, called compulsions, to prevent harmful events. Some wash their hands excessively to avoid infection. Unreasonable repetition of everyday routines--for example, checking that faucets or stoves are turned off--is also common. \nMost people have certain routines and habits that they find comforting. For example, a person may like to get dressed or prepare for bed in a certain way. But most people can change their routines when the need arises. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder feel trapped and unable to change, even though they know that their obsessions and compulsions are unrealistic. \nMany experts believe that obsessive-compulsive disorder involves an imbalance in serotonin, one of the brain's most important messenger chemicals. Doctors may treat the disorder with medicines that correct serotonin levels. People may also be helped by behavior therapy, which teaches patients ways to resist their unreasonable thoughts and actions."\n\n"Anxiety disorders are mental illnesses in which a person experiences excessive and unreasonable fear and anxiousness. They include (1) panic disorder, (2) obsessive-compulsive disorder, (3) generalized anxiety, and (4) phobias...Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by illogical and uncontrollable thoughts or impulses that result in obsessions or compulsions. Obsessions are persistent thoughts that the person considers senseless or terrible but cannot ignore. The most common obsessions include thoughts of committing violent acts or becoming infected by germs. Compulsions are actions performed again and again with little purpose, such as repeated handwashing or counting objects. \nPeople with compulsions sometimes believe their actions will produce or prevent some future event. For example, a girl may believe her father will die if she does not perform a series of ritualistic actions each day. People with compulsions usually realize the senselessness of their behavior and do not enjoy performing the repetitive rituals. In severe cases, the compulsion becomes the person's major activity and thus prevents the individual from leading a normal life...Generalized anxiety is a persistent fear without obvious cause that lasts 6 months or longer. Its symptoms include muscle tension, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and hot or cold spells. People with generalized anxiety constantly worry that something te
353474
First get it diagnosed by a doctor. If it is OCD, there was a series of programs called I Can Change Your Life on british tv (Sky One satellite channel) where Paul McKenna cured a woman of OCD using a technique based on NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). There are lots of other therapists in other countries who have been trained by him.\n\nThere's a book called Change Your Life in 7 days which may cover the same stuff on amazon, but the blurb doesn't give a contents list. You could ask on here if anyone has it and whether it covers OCD. There are plenty of other books on OCD, but may not use the same technique to cure it. His way was quick, there's may be long expensive analysis sessions.\n\nIf its not OCD, the doctor maybe able to tell you what the other possibilities are (another medical condition, a psychological condition, drugs). He may just be doing it to please you, because he thinks thats what you want. Discuss it and see if there are any mis-understandings between you.\n\nIt may be 'perfectionism', where someone thinks in black and white terms and every achievement is either perfect or useless. The wikipedia article on it (see link) says that it is one symptom of OCD. Also see link to wikipedia entry on OCD.\n\nIf there are any other aspects, you can research them on the net or search Yahoo Answers for questions and answers on the same subject.\n\nIt may be the male need to feel competent and succesful at everything (see Men are from Mars series of books) combined with perfectionism.
495981
OCD is a recognized mental disorder and depending on the degree to which the disorder is affecting you, you may or may not need medication.  You should consult your doctor.  I have a mild case.  No meds necessary.  But, I have tried lots of things to change certian behaviors.  My kick is that I need things in a percise, neat order and when they are moved, I HAVE to put them back.  Since most people like things clean and tidy, no one seemed to care much that I was so obsessed with it.  But, it got to where I was staying up late at night just to make sure the couch was lint brushed and the pillows were in place, the dishes were washed, the magazines were stacked tight ... Blah, blah, blah .... \n\nIt's hard and I can't always go to sleep with dishes in the sink, but I've tried to add things to my complusion to help push away the complusion - sounds weird, I know.  But, say for instance, I have a hard time going to bed if there are dishes in the sink.  So, what I do is add some other taskes to my evening and tell myself if they aren't washed and put away by the next night, then I will do it (this works if the kids actually DO wash their own plates.)  Often, I am still the one to wash them, but I beat the compulsion to do it before I went to bed!  \n\nLong answer short - talk to your doctor about the degree of your OCD and he can set you up with a shrink.  The two of you can try some exercises to beat the complusion or decide you are better on meds.  Totally up to you ... Good luck!!  =)
525840
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder; more specifically, it is an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but it is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive, distressing, intrusive thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.\n\nI have OCD and when I fight the fact that I have to do something, it stresses me out bad.  So I just do the things I have to and deal with that is how I am.
617671
Yes, i can relate.\nA lot of people go through this. \nYor biggest plus is that you know what is happening to you, and you can then do something about it. You can spend bucks and get help, or you can work it out on your own.\nIt is all in the mind, and it is worse when you are inactive (too much time on your hands )\nA person also sees things that are not real , and you think things that are not really so, and you see them so lifelike !\nWatch out for habit forming pills to make you relax !\nBest is  : get your mind right yourself.\nremember too that a person is a very complex thing, and also we do not die that easily...\nGood luck !
339281
I feel that the United States doctors are going crazy w/ this diagnosis. I feel this is something you can help on you own.  I think that this is a super crazy world w/ tons of things going on in our lives at once and because of this, some of us have a hard time focusing.  You need to practice focusing possibly w/ the everyday use of meditation you could over come this so call disorder.
584665
Some questions to think about:\n\n    * Are you experiencing this just at bedtime?\n    * Are you sleeping too much?\n    * Are you trying to sleep to escape something in your life?\n    * Do you feel okay and settled in your daily life?\n    * Do you feel like you have a lot of things to worry about and think about?\n    * Is this the only symptom you are having?\n    * Are you feeling sad or suffer from mood swings?\n    * Do you cry often?\n    * Do you have periods of shakiness, sweating or shortness of breath?\n    * Do you have thoughts of hurting yourself or committing suicide?\n\nWith so little information, it is hard to tell what is going on. What you are feeling may be a sign that you need professional help in dealing with some of your worries. It may just be that you are going through a hard time in your life where you have a lot of stress and concerns. On the other hand, racing thoughts are a symptom of any number of different treatable conditions such as an anxiety disorder, panic attacks, attention deficit disorder, depression, mania or obsessive compulsive disorder. As you see, there are many possibilities and it is best to be evaluated by a professional.
248171
you probably need some intensive psychotherapy. psychotherapy for OCD is difficult but very effective. most therapists who use cognitive-behavioral therapy styles should be able to treat you for this.  \n\nMedication is a constant battle. I went through tons of them to get my moods and ocd under control. i finally ended up on paxil which i took for about 9 years before it just stopped working. then i had a breakdown and had to find something new. i now take effexor xr. find a good psychiatrist that you are comfortable with and keep trying. ocd is very biochemical and medication can be extremely helpful. \n\nAnafranil/clomipramine is the oldest drug used to treat OCD. someone mentioned it before me. it is the most effective but has some rather unpleasant side effects. It is a lot older than the newer SSRIs and other depression/anxiety treatments.\n\nOne more thing: don't mix supplements with medication, such as st. john's wart. they can have deadly interactions. ask your doctor first.
641440
It just sounds like your OCD is getting too in the way of things.  Have you considered a self-help group?  If yu go to my blog I have several websites that might point you in the right direction.