OCD ruining my life | Page 1 | Forum

Gaia Forums » GAIA Community » Life Discussion » Life Issues

Report ad

Stoned Poet

(?)Community Member

whimsical-halfwit's Husband

Anxious Noob

9,775 Points

Offline

Post: 90599139_1 created on Sun, 23 Feb 2014 11:23:32 +0000
Posted: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 11:23:32 +0000

I've had OCD since I was 6, and as I go on with life, it seems to be getting worse and more unmanageable. It used to just be mild symmetry issues, and checking my outlets before I go to bed.
Eventually its gotten to the point where I have to stay in my kitchen for a really long time after I cook something to make damn certain I didn't leave it on. I have to tap the corners in the middle of the apartment complex stairway 6, 12, 26, or 62 times when leaving or entering the building, and I have to flick lights in increments of those same numbers.

I spend a lot of time washing my hands and showering to get rid of anything on me that could harm my friends and family. My hands are raw and they sting near constantly from this.

I have to enter a doorway or step over a crack with my right foot. Every single night, before I go to bed in addition to checking lights, stove, outlets, sinks and heaters, I have to pray to G-d. This prayer takes anywhere from a half hour to an hour and I must express gratitude for my life and health, ask for forgiveness for any sins I have done, and beg for my apartment building and the homes of my loved ones to not be burned or destroyed.

I want to get help, but the anxiety I get when facing my fears is really overwhelming.

Tuah

(?)Community Member

Shadowy Rogue

3,700 Points

Offline

Report Post
Post: 90599139_2 created on Sun, 23 Feb 2014 13:13:43 +0000
Posted: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 13:13:43 +0000

Symmetry issues, eh? I'd better learn to deal with it before it gets out of hand...

What I do for Tourettes, and I've heard this works with OCD, is to treat the feelings like the ocean. You can fight the waves but it'll leave you exhausted. You can give in and let the tides take you, but that also leads to ruin.

Rather, let go and float atop the waves, and let them pass right on by beneath you. Not a care in the world.

lottitheunicorn

(?)Community Member

tamtonica's Partner

Hygienic Bibliophile

8,300 Points

Offline

Report Post
Post: 90599139_3 created on Sun, 23 Feb 2014 14:01:18 +0000
Posted: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 14:01:18 +0000

Have you been diagnosed? Aren't you receiving any treatment? Surely your parents must have taken you to see a specialist if you've had it since you were six?

Stoned Poet

(?)Community Member

whimsical-halfwit's Husband

Anxious Noob

9,775 Points

Offline

Report Post
Post: 90599139_4 created on Sun, 23 Feb 2014 16:41:28 +0000
Posted: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 16:41:28 +0000

littlpinkunicorn

Have you been diagnosed? Aren't you receiving any treatment? Surely your parents must have taken you to see a specialist if you've had it since you were six?

Yeah I was diagnosed, but my parents saw it as kind of a non-issue, and they just don't know how bad its getting

lottitheunicorn

(?)Community Member

tamtonica's Partner

Hygienic Bibliophile

8,300 Points

Offline

Report Post
Post: 90599139_5 created on Sun, 23 Feb 2014 16:44:10 +0000
Posted: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 16:44:10 +0000

tangy_original

littlpinkunicorn

Have you been diagnosed? Aren't you receiving any treatment? Surely your parents must have taken you to see a specialist if you've had it since you were six?

Yeah I was diagnosed, but my parents saw it as kind of a non-issue, and they just don't know how bad its getting

Are you living with them? From what you wrote it sounds like it's been getting pretty extreme lately. People living with you must notice if you flip the lights off and on for 62 times. Hell, even my mom sometimes says things like 'Are you taking a bath in there?' when I wash my hands for too long and she's the most oblivious person ever!

Stoned Poet

(?)Community Member

whimsical-halfwit's Husband

Anxious Noob

9,775 Points

Offline

Report Post
Post: 90599139_6 created on Sun, 23 Feb 2014 16:52:38 +0000
Posted: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 16:52:38 +0000

littlpinkunicorn

tangy_original

littlpinkunicorn

Have you been diagnosed? Aren't you receiving any treatment? Surely your parents must have taken you to see a specialist if you've had it since you were six?

Yeah I was diagnosed, but my parents saw it as kind of a non-issue, and they just don't know how bad its getting

I'm just so embarrassed about it. I flick the lights from behind the door if I can help it, and my bedroom is kinda attached to my bathroom so I just- I've always been a quiet person and not much for unneeded interaction, so as long as I'm not getting into heavy drugs, I don't get much attention. Its easy to get away with anything.

lottitheunicorn

(?)Community Member

tamtonica's Partner

Hygienic Bibliophile

8,300 Points

Offline

Report Post
Post: 90599139_7 created on Sun, 23 Feb 2014 16:56:00 +0000
Posted: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 16:56:00 +0000

tangy_original

littlpinkunicorn

tangy_original

littlpinkunicorn

Have you been diagnosed? Aren't you receiving any treatment? Surely your parents must have taken you to see a specialist if you've had it since you were six?

Yeah I was diagnosed, but my parents saw it as kind of a non-issue, and they just don't know how bad its getting

Are you living with them? From what you wrote it sounds like it's been getting pretty extreme lately. People living with you must notice if you flick the lights off and on for 62 times. Hell, even my mom sometimes says things like 'Are you taking a bath in there?' when I wash my hands for too long and she's the most oblivious person ever!

Oh. Okay. I'm sorry :/ so I'm assuming you don't really want them to know and you don't want to get help because the thought of actually approaching someone to tackle the problem scares you? But at the same time you want to get better and would appreciate some help?

-Fizztastic Rain-

(?)Community Member

Golden Explorer

12,350 Points

Offline

Report Post
Post: 90599139_8 created on Sun, 23 Feb 2014 19:21:55 +0000
Posted: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 19:21:55 +0000

I'll say this; talk to your parents. Let them know it's becoming a serious problem. Hiding it generally just makes it worse. If you can, see a therapist. Treat the impulse to do the things you do as you would putting something in a bin; just because the impulse is there, it doesn't mean you have to act on it, just throw that impulse into a mental bin. That's one of the techniques that helps me with my OCD.

Good luck! 3nodding

Stoned Poet

(?)Community Member

whimsical-halfwit's Husband

Anxious Noob

9,775 Points

Offline

Report Post
Post: 90599139_9 created on Sun, 23 Feb 2014 23:56:02 +0000
Posted: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 23:56:02 +0000

littlpinkunicorn

tangy_original

littlpinkunicorn

tangy_original

littlpinkunicorn

Have you been diagnosed? Aren't you receiving any treatment? Surely your parents must have taken you to see a specialist if you've had it since you were six?

Yeah I was diagnosed, but my parents saw it as kind of a non-issue, and they just don't know how bad its getting

'
Its not that I don't want to get better. Obviously I do want to get better (see the title of this thread) I just hate the idea of admitting this to my parents. My dad is really bad with mental disorders. He thinks anxiety can be fixed by just "not being scared" so I feel like I wouldn't have his support in all this. Its something I wish I could tackle on my own without my parents.

trichitillomania

(?)Community Member

Offline

Report Post
Post: 90599139_10 created on Mon, 24 Feb 2014 00:10:05 +0000
Posted: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 00:10:05 +0000

Quote:

Its not that I don't want to get better. Obviously I do want to get better (see the title of this thread) I just hate the idea of admitting this to my parents. My dad is really bad with mental disorders. He thinks anxiety can be fixed by just "not being scared" so I feel like I wouldn't have his support in all this. Its something I wish I could tackle on my own without my parents.

I feel you man. I also have OCD, but not as serious as yours. My parents don't understand because they don't know what it's like to have an anxiety disorder. I wash my hands so many times and my parents get so mad because I waste so much soap that could last at least 3 days. Because of me, I make them last less than a day. Not only that I have OCD, I have social anxiety disorder, so I pretty much avoid a lot of people I know and want to be alone. My parents, mostly my dad, always so to suck it up and move on. Only if it was that easy... He thinks social anxiety disorder is a made up thing...

lottitheunicorn

(?)Community Member

tamtonica's Partner

Hygienic Bibliophile

8,300 Points

Offline

Report Post
Post: 90599139_11 created on Mon, 24 Feb 2014 04:56:24 +0000
Posted: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 04:56:24 +0000

tangy_original

littlpinkunicorn

tangy_original

littlpinkunicorn

tangy_original

littlpinkunicorn

Have you been diagnosed? Aren't you receiving any treatment? Surely your parents must have taken you to see a specialist if you've had it since you were six?

Yeah I was diagnosed, but my parents saw it as kind of a non-issue, and they just don't know how bad its getting

Yeah, that's what I wrote.
Don't you have a school counselor you can turn to?
I completely understand your problem, it used to be the same for me...

But for now, couldn't you just try to work on why you've been feeling so much more anxious lately? Is it stress from school? Pressure put on you by your family? Maybe you can work on that and improve your situation.

Report This Topic | unblock images

Gaia Forums » GAIA Community » Life Discussion » Life Issues

Welcome to Gaia! ::

Quick Reply

More Information