Harm ocd

[Sadfacee]

Hello community, I'm new here. I'm suffering from harm thoughts. I have these horrifying thoughts of loosing control of myself and hurting my family. I have been suffering from panic disorder for quite a few years now but just recently found out about OCD intrusive harm thoughts. When I couldn't get that crap out of my head, I decided to do some research after almost admitting myself into the mental hospital. I currently take Buspar for my panic disorder but I'm not taking anything for the OCD. I've heard about CBT and heard there is medicine that will help. So my question is, Is anyone else going through the same type of OCD and has medicine and CBT been successful? Just wondering if this will ever go away. It's scaring me so much I don't even want to be around my family. I can't live like this. My family is my everything and I don't want this to tear us apart.

[Krazie]

The impulse to hurt yourself must be very scary. Do you know why you feel this way? Have you tried replacing the intrusive thoughts with other, more cheerful thoughts? Singing along with music helps some people. Repeating a word over and over helps others. Lots of physical exercise helps others, like running or swimming. Painting and/or drawing can help, too. It isn't about whether you can sell your work, but more about getting out bad feelings. Maybe others have more ideas. If these thoughts continue to surface, in spite of your best efforts, seeing a medical professional is an option.

I personally have not this particular problem, but one of my son's has. It happened when he was in intense anxiety. He said it helped him to realize he was alive. He has stopped years ago, with the help of medication.

Best wishes to you, dear. There a solution. Keep searching for it.

[Calm_mama]

Hi Sadfacee,

I had a temporary bout of this when I was pregnant (and so very anxious at the time).

SSRI's and one Tricyclic antidepressant (Anafranil) are the meds generally used in OCD.

OCD is an anxiety based condition, and CBT helps tremendously with both. Find someone who really knows CBT and ERP (exposure and response prevention). There are certifications for CBT therapists but I have come across very few therapists who are certified (certification is expensive and time-consuming). My daughter has a non-certified therapist who is outstanding.

Please know that harm thoughts occur in the general public. in OCD there is a little glitch in the mind that causes the person to both obsess and believe that these thoughts are real, or may lead to action. Thought and action are a million miles apart. In therapy you will be put through exercises that show your mind that these thoughts are not based in any reality. Hearing it from people does not help- ie "you'd never do that, don't worry about it!". It needs to be taught to the mind in a different way.

I hear there are good workbooks for Harm OCD but I don't know which ones are best, maybe other members on this forum know?

People get better from this

I'll leave you with a link for a video with Dr. Claire Weekes, IMO the greatest anxiety expert that ever lived. This particular video focuses a lot on OCD. Her other video that I love so much is on my profile

youtube.com/watch?v=-gRoXLE...(Not working as expected?)

[MindfulLight]

Read “Imp of the Mind” by Lee Baer

It will really help you, I literally laughed while reading it. It was a big warm fuzzy hug for my brain!