OCD Sufferers, Just Checking In

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Hope1960

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Hi all. It’s been awhile since I’ve read how you’re all doing with your OCD. I’m doing pretty badly.
Saw my psychiatrist last month and he increased my Seroquel, (just one medication of many that I’m taking), so I was taking two pills at night instead of one, but I don’t think it made any difference with my obsessions and compulsions. I had quite a few pills left, so I was taking them with my old script, but when I ran low and it was time to change the script, my insurance company wouldn’t approve it.

How are you all doing and do you have any suggestions for coping mechanisms? I do feel better in the evening when I get into my jammies, relax on my bed with my dogs and watch movies.
 
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Hope1960 said:
suggestions for coping mechanisms? I do feel better in the evening when I get into my jammies, relax on my bed with my dogs and watch movies.
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Hi, I don’t have OCD although I’m beginning to wonder if I could actually stop posting on CAF!
However what you say about feeling better in the evening strikes a cord with me. I remember feeling stressed during the day even when I wasn’t working as though I felt I should be doing something all the time. Very restless and I felt guilty for not having an occupation. Past five o’clock I started to feel much better and relaxed into the evening. Also Friday nights I always felt much better too even when I was working and then Sunday I’d start tightening up again thinking about work demands on Monday.

Just a thought.
 
I have OCD. I’m fine now, I haven’t had a relapse in months.
 
Ive never had a relapse, been like this since I was a kid with only a break maybe for a few hours (or minutes) occasionally daily.
 
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I’m not doing horribly but I’m not doing great. I have an appointment with my psychologist in a week or two. Some days are worse than others, the scruples are back on top of intrusive thoughts and compulsions to get rid of the thoughts.

I beg God for peace but I do think that perhaps this is the suffering sent to me to help me trust in God more… I’m trying to focus more on asking God not to take this cross away but instead to help me carry it with a willing heart.

I know keeping myself busy helps but some days I don’t know what to do to stay busy. I try and listen to Christian music and non-Christian appropriate music but fears are constantly tapping at my mind. “You’re not singing to God, you’re singing to the devil when you say the word “you””, “that word/saying isn’t good”, “this beat could lead you to temptation” etc. and it’s so annoying. Some thoughts are more like “stop doing that it’s impure” when it’s really just me moving my legs when I’m laying down. I reason with myself saying, it’s just a nervous movement, it’s not impure, I have no impure thoughts/intentions, nothing bad is happening, I’ve done this for years when stressed/had nervous “energy” per say, and the fear goes away for a little while. Sometimes I worry about whether or not I’m being lax or dismissing something as scruples. :roll_eyes: I know it’s scruples because it’s over some dumb little things.

Prayers are all I can use now. :confused:

EDITING to say: I know private prayer time is one time I do find peace. I can just vent to Jesus, ask the saints’ intercession, and feel some comfort. I also feel a bit of calm when receiving Holy Communion which is nice. 🙂
 
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Footprints said:
I beg God for peace but I do think that perhaps this is the suffering sent to me to help me trust in God more… I’m trying to focus more on asking God not to take this cross away but instead to help me carry it with a willing heart.
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I have finally recently come to the realization that this is my cross I’ll have to bear for the rest of my life.
 
Same.

Exposure & response prevention therapy was highly effective for me, personally. My biggest mistake was of course waiting 5+ years before getting any help. As people here probably understand OCD has a way of convincing you that you’ll never stop thinking in that irrational way again.
 
How is everybody else doing with their OCD? I’ve been through CBT, talk therapy, various medications. Nothing seems to help.
I hoped returning to the Church 12 years ago would be helpful, but it’s not really.
 
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Im honestly doing good, the Lord has helped me so much even when I can be so incompetent. Although my life is doing just fine, my mental illnesses can really discourage me and screw my mental state with depression on a daily basis. I have stopped going to therapy and such a while back.

Ive been fairly good at coping with my OCD, thanks be to God that he helps me function. What I struggle with is with my social OCD issues, that isnt fun to deal with and I have stopped taking medication cold turkey since last year . That may not have been the ideal thing to do, but I have learned to deal with it. I can’t do it by myself though, God is the only medication that can help me get through my trials garenteed as long as I do my part and trust him.
 
I can kind of relate to the rush of thoughts that can be labled as scrupulous, Im on and off but I try to be fearful of the Lord. Especially with what were exposed to today and it stinks that Im part of this young generation so I have been trying to fight these things as well.

Will pray for you, Its not fun to deal with but I see it as its better than not trying to put ourselves in check.
Better than letting our guards down, the Lord will favor our efforts.
 
Does anyone have suggestions for coping mechanisms, ways to comfort oneself or more importantly, how to end an obsession after its already started?
Thoughts get into my head and distract me from almost everything else.
 
Hope1960 said:
Does anyone have suggestions for coping mechanisms, ways to comfort oneself or more importantly, how to end an obsession after its already started?
Thoughts get into my head and distract me from almost everything else.
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Anybody?
…
 
Hey Hope, I’m sorry to hear your struggling with this. I do as well. I haven’t come to a definitive point on this either. A lot depends on the perspective. I’ve heard so many diffferent answers from people, all experts who are sometimes at odds. I tend to think that taking risks can help. Our culture often puts a high priority on productivity. This can have a hard time on people with temperaments which are not productivity focused. People have different natural temperaments and engage in conflict and risk in different ways. I tend to think God doesn’t want us to be crippled by this. So whether you engage and overcome in a given situation or withdraw I would recommend trying to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ. What does God want you to do here. It can be hard but try to make good choices, keep moving towards Christ, and just keep breathing.
This post is getting long but a few fast general tips. Try to keep a general healty diet, lifestyle, some sunlight, and definitely excercise. Keeping good self care is important and this includes psychologically. If your still struggling there is more I could say so feel free to pm me or post again if I can help.
“Hope1960 said:
Hope1960 said:
Does anyone have suggestions for coping mechanisms, ways to comfort oneself or more importantly, how to end an obsession after its already started?
Thoughts get into my head and distract me from almost everything else.
Click to expand...
Anybody?
…
Click to expand...
 
Servant31 said:
Hey Hope, I’m sorry to hear your struggling with this. I do as well. I haven’t come to a definitive point on this either. A lot depends on the perspective. I’ve heard so many diffferent answers from people, all experts who are sometimes at odds. I tend to think that taking risks can help. Our culture often puts a high priority on productivity. This can have a hard time on people with temperaments which are not productivity focused. People have different natural temperaments and engage in conflict and risk in different ways. I tend to think God doesn’t want us to be crippled by this. So whether you engage and overcome in a given situation or withdraw I would recommend trying to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ. What does God want you to do here. It can be hard but try to make good choices, keep moving towards Christ, and just keep breathing.
This post is getting long but a few fast general tips. Try to keep a general healty diet, lifestyle, some sunlight, and definitely excercise. Keeping good self care is important and this includes psychologically. If your still struggling there is more I could say so feel free to pm me or post again if I can help. Thanks for your reply. I went shopping with a friend today for about three hours, then later my husband and I went out for a pizza. My OCD was bad before shopping, was still acting up while I was shopping, but was much better then, and better tonight while I was out with my husband. After we got home it worsened again.
I feel like God wants me to have this or that He has given it to me.
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Back in May, there were several posters who contributed to an OCD discussion, which I thought was helpful for most of us. Where did you all go?

I’d hoped for some help here when I started this OP, and hoped to reconnect with the people who’d participated in the thread from May but hardly anyone is participating.
 
Hi Hope!

I don’t have OCD, but Bipolar Type One (severe). I’ve just come out of a severe depressive relapse and started a new meds regimen. If I may, I’d like to recommend a daily meditation reader for people with mental illness. It’s titled : A Restful Mind, and it’s available from Amazon.

It’s a lifesaver for me because my thinking can get quite ugly if I’m not careful, so I truly know what you’re going through. I’m in your corner!

Stuart
 
stuartbrianhenlis said:
I don’t have OCD, but Bipolar Type One (severe). I’ve just come out of a severe depressive relapse and started a new meds regimen. If I may, I’d like to recommend a daily meditation reader for people with mental illness. It’s titled : A Restful Mind, and it’s available from Amazon.

It’s a lifesaver for me because my thinking can get quite ugly if I’m not careful, so I truly know what you’re going through. I’m in your corner!
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Thanks. I’ll check this book out. I need something, my mind rarely rests and I just want some peace.

I noticed this is a Hazelton book, is it at all Biblical?
 
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No, it’s not Biblically based. There are daily readings based on topics which are listed by date in the index. It helps me to gain perspective when I’m in need of grounding.
 
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