What to do when your therapist isn't enough?

[Selesnya]

Hi all,

I'm new to the site. I have OCD. I have been struggling with it for many years. I was diagnosed with OCD over a year ago when I was in the hospital for suicidal behaviour. I feel like it's only in the last three months or so that I've finally accepted that I really do have OCD. I don't know why it matters what it is called, really, but there it is. I've been seeing a therapist that specializes in treating OCD and she has been so useful. Previously I had been seeing a therapist for depression, but treating OCD/anxiety and depression are completely different. I was sort of getting better with my depression, but my OCD was getting worse and was making my life fall apart. It is only now that I've been starting to treat the OCD/anxiety side of things that my suicidal thoughts are really going away and it feel like my life is starting to get back on track and stabilize.

Now that I've accepted that I have OCD, it seems like if I work hard to understand the condition and what is wrong with me that I could be able to make progress at getting better. How can I do this when seeing my therapist only for an hour a week? I love my therapist dearly and think that she has so much to offer. I want to discuss so much with her. I've been reading a lot of what the IOCDF has to offer. They have some great posts about treatment, voices from people with OCD, etc. and it has been really comforting to be able to read. I've found a local OCD support group and some people at church to talk to, and now I've found this community.

I'm trying to take better charge of myself and my treatment. This article was really amazing to read:

iocdf.org/expert-opinions/2...

Item number 7 really resonated with me and made me question how I have been going about my treatment:

7. Remember that dealing with your symptoms is your responsibility alone. Don’t involve others in your therapy homework (unless your therapist tells you to) or expect them to push you or motivate you. They won’t always be there when you need them, but YOU are always there for YOU.

I had been relying on my therapist to point out what to do next, what to do for homework, discussing everything with her, etc., but I realized that I am the one that has to change. I am the one that has to care about getting better. My therapist isn't going to make my OCD better -- my therapist is there to guide me and I am the one that is going to make my OCD better.

But I still need my therapist. I have so much that I want to talk to her about this week, or maybe just that I want to talk about regarding OCD in general. I feel that there are so many changes in my life to make, and I want to just do it. I am in awe when I hear of someone that has recovered from OCD. I want to get there, or see that as a possibility that could apply to me someday.

Sorry for rambling so long. I'm excited to have an OCD community that can be accessed any time and to have other people that understand the OCD struggle.

What do you do when you have more OCD things to talk about than you have time with your therapist?

[LuvSun]

Welcome! You are on the right path to getting well. I know what you mean when you feel like seeing your Therapist once a week does not seem enough but you hit the nail on the head when you said that YOU yourself has to be the one to do the work, take charge! I have found that reading as much as I can about OCD has empowered me with the tools I need to overcome this intruding disorder. Also reading about other people’s ability to overcome it. Read everything you can- You are in good company.