Hi all, I am new to this group. Looking for some support and people that “think” some what of the same way.
My HOCD is so bad lately I feel sick to my stomach because I’m scared I might actually do these things, or even lose control and “snap”.
I constantly obsess and when I try to break the thoughts they come in even stronger.
Am on Zoloft, but it’s not helping. This will be the 5th Antidepressant I’ve been on since suffering for a year now. Does medication really help? Because I’m losing hope. :/ my therapist said I was sensitive to medication but that I also don’t respond to typical antidepressants. Someone please tell me it gets better.... I’m losing hope.
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dbeck128
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I too suffer from Harm OCD and it is the most difficult thing I have ever had to face. My first piece of advice would be to stop trying to break the thoughts. This will only make them come back stronger because you are recognizing them as “danger” when in reality they are just thoughts. I know how hard this is to do but trust me, the more you try to fight and argue and reason with the intrusive thoughts, the worse they will come back. I have been on Zoloft for 8 years now and it has worked well for me, although with my onset of Harm OCD my psychiatrist has recently upped my dose which I think will help. I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time with finding an antidepressant that works for you. It’s unfair how some people’s bodies react poorly to them. If your OCD is crippling like mine is, has your doctor recommended something a little stronger to get you through this rough patch? I also use Klonopin as needed which is not an SSRI but a benzodiazepine and works rapidly to reduce anxiety in the body and is short acting. Also, I hope you are getting ERP as your therapy and not just talk therapy. Hang in there, it does get better but it takes time!
Hi! You aren’t alone. I have harm ocd as well. But I’m learning it doesn’t matter about the content of your ocd- it’s all about how you relate to your thoughts- realizing they’re just thoughts and feelings that come and go. We need to try and not judge our thoughts. Are you doing erp? I take lexapro and it helps but I have ups and downs. I’m learning not to judge whether a day is “good” or “bad”. Everyday is a gift. OCD wants to trick you into thinking you are bad because you have “bad” thoughts.
Thankyou so much for your kind words. Every thing you said makes me feel so much better. I’m taking into consideration all of the suggestions as well! Take care ❤️
Hey there... I have never been one to use medication (though I did finally try it for OCD, and apparently, Im very sensitive to them and the side effects prevented me from being able to make it to the proper dosage...) Anyway - my therapist said that the only time she really suggests medication is when you are feeling paralyzed to the point where you cannot engage in the behaviors that would be required to go through ERP. If you can make small steps down the road of ERP therapy, then it might be the case that you can start feeling better without medication. (I am not qualified in any way to give medical advice, Im just sharing what was said to me about my own personal situation.) But, food for thought, I suppose! GOOD LUCK, take care.
This community is full of supportive people who understand what is going on in your head!
I know what you are talking about. The unbelievable urge to perform the compulsion is similar to the power of the intrusive thought itself. This is why you feel physically ill, as you believe you might actually do what the thought is saying (losing control/snapping).
The thoughts will come in stronger if there is an attempt to break them/get rid of them.
Zoloft did not help me either.
Which other antidepressants have you taken in the past year?
Medication truly DOES help.
I was at a point of minimal hope as well.
What did your therapist define as “typical antidepressants?”
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I’m having a really really hard time. 
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