Health OCD

[mattrb81]

Hi, everyone.

I am a 39-year-old man who has had OCD since he was a kid. Since my twenties it has manifested as a morbid fear of getting dementia. Every time I have trouble remembering anything I fear that it is the first sign of dementia. In the last few days I have been clawing my wrist off-and-on because the dementia fear was eating at me.

[Tikirob]

Hi, I see you have no replies here, I joined HU for OCD support but mostly end up speaking with people in the greater anxiety community.

I have health OCD too and have had the same fear from time to time among many other scary projections.

I’m getting so tired of OCD - it now has become this energy, time, and joy stealing nuisance that has me crying out, “why can’t I just be normal!”

I hope this fear gives you a break - is there a specific reason you posted, to get help, info, or just to vent?

[mattrb81 in reply to Tikirob]

To get help, info, and to vent.

[Tikirob in reply to mattrb81]

That’s great, more power to you, I’m not sure if you are British or American, I am from the states, and my journey for OCD help and treatment has been a long drawn out process. Not to give you a negative outlook, trust me, with therapy and support it can get much better but it takes lots too time. Just coming to terms with the disorder and trying to get help is a huge step. Apparently most people with OCD do not get diagnosed until about 13 years after onset. At least that’s one report I read.

[mattrb81 in reply to Tikirob]

Thanks.

For the record, I am neither British nor American. I am Australian.

[Tikirob in reply to mattrb81]

Wow! Sorry to imply that you would be, it’s just that most people I dialogue with are usually from US/UK. How is mental health care in Australia? How is OCD received there? If you don’t mind me asking, are you in a city or small province?

[moviefan223]

i often have this fear too - it was triggered by seeing news stories of degenerative illnesses. it’s not my main theme but when i get it, it really scares me. my main advice would be not to research anything into it (googling is an awful compulsion for me) and to know that medical research into dementia is still ongoing and that it’s most likely that you won’t get it, especially not at 39. i hope this helps

[Laurennnnnnn]

I’m so glad I saw this post, it makes me feel less alone.

I have ocd (thankfully it’s mild and anxiety induced) but the only health anxiety I have is about getting dementia. My dad passed from it when I was 16 and ever since then I’m constantly scared I have or will get it, or someone I know will get it. And if you’re like me and have anxiety, anxiety messes with your memory. I’ve told my therapist (when I was still going lol) how scared I was of my memory lapses but she would always remind me that it was because my brain was taking so much energy to cope with the anxiety, it didn’t have room to remember “smaller” things. And thinking about that helps me