anyone know what causes obsessive-compulsive disease?  Or therapist expert in healing it in San Diego?
362348
Hi,\n\nObsessive Compulsive Disorder has to do primarily with brain chemistry and like other chemically-based "mental illnesses," it tends to show up or worsen during the teens and early twenties.  Brain chemistry might not be the actual cause, but like a lot of these things, OCD is probably "caused" by a combination of our brain chemistry, the stresses we've faced in our life, our environment, etc.\n\nI put a link to a basic fact sheet about the illness below.  That will be able to explain it to you a lot better than I will.\n\nI live in San Diego also and put a link to support groups and therapists.  At the bottom, you can find a therapist by specialty.  I'm a social worker.  Let me know if you are able to find what you need.  If not, I'd be happy to help you some more.\n\nTake care...
28494
I don't know what triggers your OCD but I have a problem with cleaning the house, I can't stand a dirty house so when I realiza I am getting obsessive over it, I grab a bottle of water and leave the house for a while. I keep telling myself that my house is not dirty and it it only the OCD talking not my common sense. I refuse to go back in the house till I drink at least half the water then, go in and refuse to do anything till the other half is gone. By then I hve found other things I can be doing and the worst is over. It is so hard at first but it gets easier.
1034811
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. ADHD. Insomnia. It could be any number of things, I'd suggest laying down on your stomach and taking as deep of breaths as you can, for as long as you can while paying attention only to your breath the whole time.
184022
Well, there is OCD and OCPD  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder.  OCD can ruin ones life.  OCPD is just what we would call a "quirk".  I suffer from both and don't think it will ever go away.  You learn how to deal with it as you would have to with any other disability.  Look up "Cognitive Therapy" in a search engine for a better understanding of how it works.
240704
you should talk to your regular physician, so that they know what is going on as well; they can (if you sign release forms) provide information to your therapist that can help in diagnosis and treatment.  You can go to either a psychiatrist or psychologist (if you need to see someone else for diagnosis, treatment, etc. they will refer you).\nas for testing, there are many tests that are used to determine whether or not you have OCD, and to what extent you have it.  behavioral inventories are done, there are several versions of this, in which you simply answer questions such as "Do you find yourself checking things, such as door locks, frequently?" and "Have you ever thought about harming others?"  (these tests are used to diagnose many disorders, such as depression and ADD, so some questions may not apply to you, but will be helpful for your therapist to know).  an initial diagnosis can be made without these tests, especially if it is very obvious that you have OCD, but further testing is helpful to give a more complete diagnosis.  be sure to be truthful in all your answers, and ask questions about what the questions on the tests mean if you're not sure, as this is important in scoring them.\nGood luck on receiving help.
817343
I fell your pain - i have been doing that my entire life as well.  It's linked to OCD.\nIt's a habit and needs to be broken like any other addiction / habit.  This one is hard, since half the time we don't realize we're doing it until we bite too deep and get a little pain back.  \nA few ideas are aversion therapy -  buy a bottle of the stuff they make so people will stop biting their nails and apply it to the skin around the nails.  If you can't find that, you can get a bottle of bitter apple spray, which stops puppies from chewing and spray it on your hands.\nTry keeping a journal or everytime you catch yourself doing it.  Log what you were doing, what your state of mind was and what triggered it, it you know.  Often we do this as a response to stress or boredom.  \nKeep track of when you don't do it.  Reward yourself for not doing it.  Start with not doing it for 1 day, then increase to two, indrease to 3, and so on.  The experts say it takes at least 3 weeks of not doing something to break a habit.\nGet a manicure - getting your hands to a nice looking state may help you stop (if you're a guy, you don't have to get nail polish put on to have a manicure.)\nHide any tools you use - or better yet, get rid of the all together.  I admit that i've spent some quality time on my hands with a pair of tweezers.  \nThe thing that really made me stop was when i got braces on my teeth i just couldn't physically do it no the habit's faded since then - not that i'm promoting this expensive treatment for skin chewing alone - it was just a nice side effect of getting my teeth straightened.\nAnd finally - know that you are not crazy and you are not alone.\n\nGood luck
852682
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!
1082029
Hi noone.  Have I answered one of your questions before?\n\nMood disorders (Affective Disorders) have many known biochemical/physiological imbalances associated with them.  An excellent book is available that can teach you about many underlying abnormalities and how to successfully address them.  It is written by Sherry Rogers, M.D. and is called: "Depression Cured At Last!".\n\nThis is an incredible book with hundreds if not thousands of scientific references to support her points.  It is available at Amazon.com or from the publisher at 1-800-846-6687.\n\nIf you have the intelligence and motivation to find and fix the causes of your challenging brain disorder, then I highly recommend this book.\n\nBest wishes and good luck.
333776
There is a difference between thinking there is a good reason why you have it and letting it interfere with your life. You could be able to identify the cause but if it is interfering with your daily activities or you feel uncomfortable about it I would seek treatment. For example, if you have a cut on your hand and you know where it came from thats helpful (i.e. so you know whether or not to get a tetnus shot, etc.) but would you just decide to let it bleed and not treat it because you know where it came from? There is a great book called "The Imp of the Mind" that addresses the issue of being comfortable with your obsessive compulsive thoughts. Good Luck!
754601
Scotty, \nProbably news you do not want to hear... but, get yourself to a licensed mental therapist now. If you live in the US, look in your phone book's Yellow Pages. You can also find a psychiatrist and have he or she recommend a therapist for you. Usually, therapists work in the same building/offices as the doctor.\n\nPlease don't let this upset you. I have been where you are and I can tell you my life now is the best it's ever been. My father was an alcoholic and always bailing on me... I did not trust anyone in my life. I could love someone with all my heart; but, how could they feel the same way about me? My self-esteem was so low, I could not even imagine that someone could love me with all their heart.\n\nAnger. Oh, anger. This *may* (I am not a doctor or professional; just a patient) be a sign of depression or other mental illness. PLEASE do not let the words "mental illness" freak you out. It is so very, very sad that in many circles in the US that the words "mental illness" can be seen only as a bad thing and is stigmatized. \n\nI have depression and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). How do I explain this? I am not *proud* I have these disorders; but I am glad that I have been diagnosed and I am treated and on medicine that has changed my life.\n\nMedicine alone **does not** change you and make you better. Med's can do the chemical part in your body; but therapy and talking and working your problems out is what will make you a success. \n\nWhen I first started going to therapy, I was embarrassed and I told no one. (now my family and close friends know and they are completely cool with it and support me 200%)  It was also difficult learning to trust my therapist (which I did over time and because of her I am a changed person). However, after the talking starts, so many parts of your life can be healed I am very healthy and no longer see my therapist; however I do see my doctor every six months for check-ups.\n\nMedication may or may not be for you. However, your therapist can help you learn how to deal with your anger issues and other issues that affect you everyday.\n\nWhen my therapist told me (this was after several visits and consultations) that she thought medications would really help me, I was devastated. I couldn't believe that I had to take a pill to make my brain work... that was my thinking at the time. Then she said to me, "If I told you, you were diabetic, would you be embarrassed to take the necessary medicines to make you well again?" Wow. It all clicked!\n\nAgain, anti-depressant meds are not the end-all and be-all. At first, all must be carefully monitored and you must continue with therapy. It's hard work but it pays off in more ways you can imagine.\n\nMy anger problems are no more. My self-esteem (while it will probably never be 100%) is the best it's ever been and I walk tall with my head held high. I know now how to react to situations that before I could not handle.\n\nI could go on and on.\n\nIt's my humble and unprofessional opinion that you may need a professional's help with the anger, bad moods that plague you everyday and your issues of trust.\n\nAgain, it's not easy and it's definitely work on your part (going through the therapy) but is the most awesome feeling in the world to actually, truly, trust the family and friends I love! It's a very freeing and strengthening experience!\n\nGood luck to you! You DESERVE to be healthy and happy!\n\nAll the best,\n\nCindy B in OK\nPS - It is SO SO SO important that your therapist and you have the same goals and are compatible. No, you're not looking for your new best friend; however, you have to feel *some* trust or a connection for this to work. If you meet someone and you feel their values are wrong, or you can't seem to communicate with each other, or you are just not comfortable, PLEASE go find a new therapist. Again, I know this sounds like a royal pain -
864226
You already had good and detailed answers in here.\nAnyway as everyone had mentioned OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.\n\nIt is a type of anxiety that happens when there is a problem with the way the brain deals with normal worrying and doubts. Anyone with OCD worry a lot and feel afraid about bad things that could possibly happen. \n\nIt is very normal for anyone to worry every now and then but this normal worries usually go without causing any problem. When such worries become really intense and happening over and over again, it turns as OCD where the brain replays the worry thoughts and if nothing is done, the worry feeling can get worse and worse. These frequent worry thoughts are called obsessions, and the behaviors people do to try to make the worry thoughts go away are called compulsions, thus making it obsessive-compulsive  disorder. The thoughts and behaviors a person with OCD has are senseless, repetitive, distressing, and sometimes harmful, but they are also difficult to overcome. \n\nSomeone may have obsession on anything.  The obsessive worries just don't quit. The brain keeps repeating them instead of moving on to something else. No matter how much you don't want to hear it, your brain just keeps playing it back. Yelling the word "Stop!" loudly to a person with an obsessive thought is an incompatible response. Someone may have obsessions about:\n>>germs or dirt \n>>illness or injury (involving the person or someone else) \n>>coming across unlucky numbers or words \n>>things being even or straight \n>>things being perfect or just right in a certain way \n>>making mistakes or not being sure \n>>doing or thinking something bad \n\nCompulsions are ritualitic behaviors, or actions believed to let the bad feelings go away (and for a while, it often does), with fear that not doing the ritual will make something bad to happen. The more the rituals are done, the more the feelings of doing them.OCD afflicted persons know the repetition is unnecessary, but are unable to stop themselves.Afflicted individuals usually experience severe anxiety if unable to complete their rituals, though many therapies work by helping the individual learn that no catastrophe occurs when the behaviors do cease. \n\nResearch has shown that one of the most difficult problems in OCD is in getting family members to understand that the patient is unable to simply stop the behavior. Many times relatives become angry and upset when they are forced to deal with the time-consuming and unrealistic repetitive behaviors. With this background, it is no wonder that many patients do not volunteer their symptoms, and instead complain only of anxiety or depression. \n\nSome OCD compulsions:\n>>checking things over and over (such as doors, locks, or stoves and lights)\n>>recurrent intrusive thoughts of hurting oneself or one's children. \n>>lots of hand washing or showering (doing this way more than usual or having a hard time stopping) \n>>counting (like having to count 25 white cars before going into school) \n>>touching (like touching every single fence post between home and the bus stop) \n>>doing things a certain number of times (like having to try on five dresses before leaving your room) \n>>arranging things in a very particular or neat way \n>>asking the same question over and over \n>>tying and retying shoes over and over until they feel just right.\n\nOCD is a long term illness and a very disruptive illness which definite cause is still under research. Research and treatment trials suggest that abnormalities in serotonin (5-HT) transmission in the central nervous system are central to this disorder. Tke known causes which take their roles are genetics, some infectious diseases, stress, and defective interpersonal relationship. OCD should be differentiated from those being a perfectionist and being overly conscientious. \n\nIt
267756
Yes, I have had it since I was a child and was molested. It can also be associated with obsessive compulsive disorder. There is a webpage that helps and they chat every Fri. Night.\nI am using a skin antibiotic now and colloidal band-aids. It's a very embarrassing thing to have, and you are not alone.
871560
Hi, OCD has the following, major presentations; first is Obsessive Decontamination where the sufferer experiences relentless cognitive intrusions regarding contamination and ritually cleans to avoid the feared consequence, second we have Obsessive counting, checking and ordering behaviours were the sufferer fears some catastrophic outcome if not allowed to, or inhibited from, performing their rituals, Third we have Obsessive Egodystonic ruminations where the suffer is tormented by relentless intrusive thoughts that suggest that they have performed some harmful act, like murder or child sexual abuse, that is contrary to their personality (Egodystonic).  There are sub-sets such as hording and primary obsessive slowness but these are much rarer.\n\nI treated OCD for over 25 years and it is nothing to do with your past, I have no doubt that has a neurobiochemical basis and if you are genetically proximate to a sufferer then you are more likely to develop OCD (first born male children have a greater risk).  It is NOT curable because it isn’t a disease it is, however, eminently treatable with a combination of medication and Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy.\n\nI don’t know if you have OCD, you need a proper assessment by a competent therapist; ask your GP for referral to your nearest CBT service and because the waiting lists are so long the sooner you do it the sooner you’ll be seen
943597
Probably some anxiety and maybe some obsessive complusive disorder (OCD). Here's some info on anxiety disorders and OCD. \n\nAnxiety disorders are the most prevalent group of psychiatric disorders in the United States. Approximately 27 million Americans--nearly 15 percent of the population--will suffer from an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.\n\nAnxiety disorders are most often characterized as having an element of fearfulness involved. According to Dr. Steve Dager, University of Washington associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Harborview Medical Center, these disorders come about as a kind of impairment or over-reactivity of the normal "flight or fight" response.\n\nAlthough these disorders are amenable to treatment, the majority of sufferers don't receive appropriate care. Most often, people with anxiety disorders will seek relief from the physical symptoms, such as rapid heart rate, respiratory distress or nausea, and may not be aware or may not want to admit that there are emotional causes for the symptoms.\n\n"People worry about being labeled 'crackpots' if they admit to overwhelming anxiety or fear," says Dager. "But there is evidence that these symptoms are the result of healthy coping mechanisms gone awry. And worrying about them tends to exaggerate their effects."\n\nThere are several different types of anxiety disorders. The most common are:\n\nGeneralized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), exaggerated tension without apparent cause, can be debilitating but doesn't usually cause people to avoid certain situations. People with GAD often seem unable to relax or fall asleep and may experience lightheadedness, shortness of breath, nausea, trembling, muscle tension, headaches, irritability, or sweating. \n\nPanic Disorder (PD) causes people to feel terror suddenly and unpredictably. PD can become disabling when people avoid situations they fear may bring on an attack. Panic attack symptoms include rapid pulse, chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, numbness, trembling, and a fear of going crazy or dying. Depression or alcoholism often accompanies PD. Panic disorder is probably the best studied and understood of the anxiety disorders. \n\nAgoraphobia, the most disabling anxiety disorder, is diagnosed when panic attacks cause people to increasingly refrain from normal activities. As such people avoid situations where they fear an attack may occur -- in crowds and stores and on bridges and public transportation -- they become so restricted, they may not leave their homes. \n\nSocial Phobia (SP), an intense fear of humiliation in social settings, may cause sufferers to avoid parties, public speaking, eating out, or even signing a check in public. Unlike shyness, those with SP can feel at ease around others, yet particular situations, like walking down an aisle, cause intense anxiety. SP disrupts relationships and careers as sufferers avoid certain situations. \n\nObsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by rituals, such as washing hands or checking things repeatedly (compulsions), or persistent, unwelcome thoughts, such as fears of committing violent acts, of performing sexual acts repugnant to the person, or of thoughts contrary to the person's religious beliefs (obsessions). Compulsive activities consume an hour or more each day and interfere with daily life. \n\nPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can result after a terrifying event, causing sufferers frightening thoughts and memories. Anniversaries of the incident can be difficult and ordinary events can trigger flashbacks or intrusive images. Sufferers may become easily irritated or have violent outbursts. Depression, substance abuse, or anxiety may accompany PTSD. \nIf\n you feel that your life is being ruled by anxiety and fear, and that your symptoms are having an impact on your relationships and daily life, you can find help. There's no need to live in fear
1031318
Get him/her some medical treatment.I have ocd too.It ain't a nice thing.Constant suffering,24/7.
364079
I've been there.  I have not been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder yet, but I do have trichtotillamania.  Trichtotillamania is very similar to OCD because the thoughts are repetitive.  Whenever I get stressed out, I HAVE TO pluck my hairs.  I am very obsessive about germs and counting, avoiding different things, eating an even number of M&M's or chips....making the table look perfectly even...doing things over and over.  I SHOULD be diagnosed, but it is not so much of a problem since it does not interfere with work or school.  Here's what I would recommend....since most people don't understand how the disorder works....\nObviously, try not to think about things, and if you do start thinking about doing something compulsive then you should focus on that and ONLY that, and do it.  It sounds like you aren't suffering from it as much as others that suffer from our problem.  Your treatment should take care of it, and, yes, it is normal for your therapist to be taking her time.\nAs far as depression goes, I was also diagnosed with manic depression.  My birthmother has bipolar disorder.  I'm not going into the differences.  However, I can tell you that Effexor XR helped me.  It may not help you because it depends on the meds they do put you on.  I had to counter the nervous effects of the antidepressant Effexor, with the anti-seizure medicine Neurontin.  So....let your psychiatrist decide what is best for you.  Do not stop taking your pills and tell your therapist if you feel any different.  Keeping a journal will help you keep track.  I hope this helps.  Good luck!
1125650
I can't say that you would qualify as someone with an obsessive-compulsive disorder, but based on your post, you are certainly heading in that direction. \n\nAmericans are very obssessed about germs, odors, and the such (so are the Japanese). It's made worse by our being constantly bombarded by commercials making the issue seem more important than it really is. \n\nWhile good hygiene is obviously important, it can be carried to extreme. The skin is your first barrier against disease, and you can break down that barrier by over-cleaning it, drying it out, and washing away the natural oils that coat our skin.\n\nAlso, compulsive cleaning and other acts that over-protect the body have the potential to actually lower your immunity because you are not allowing the body to be challenged by normal everyday bacteria. As a result, your body has less resistance to normal bacteria and can be even more susceptible to the dangerous ones when they come along.\n\nBeing aware that you have a problem is the first step. You say that you resist some of your urges to clean so that is a positive sign. But if you feel you are getting out of control, you might want to speak with a counselor and find out where these compulsions come from.\n\nGood luck it you.