Daughter with OCd wondering if anyone else has similar symptoms

[17sMom]

Hello everyone. Been a member here for a few years as I've tried to help my DD through her OCD. We recently have had her tested for Narcolepsy, and I am still unsure if its the meds or actual narcolepsy, but Doc is ready to diagnose, few little steps to confirm though. She also suffers from major depression. Baby girl is 17. But my main reason for writing today, is that my daughter has a somewhat unique OCD experience, and I am trying to find out if maybe it isn't really all that unique. It seems she has personified her OCD when she was very young and has named him and it even has a place that it "lives" on her body...the base of her spine, he climbs her spine and he is the intrusive thoughts. She has other "voices" that she only recognizes as colors. But again, they are intrusive thoughts that she has made "personalities". Her Docs all agree it is not schizophrenia, it is not Multiple Personality (DDS), mainly because she is aware they are not real. They do scream at her and say all the Harm and suicidal thoughts, she also gets cinematic images of things like me dead in a car crash if she does not fulfill the ritual, as in "don't' do the ritual, here is an image of your mom dead because you didn't do it." These images come from the personality. I did speak to two people who have OCD on social media once who both admitted they had something similar...one had a monster who lived in his chest, and one had a personality that lived in him as well. This is why I decided to write and see if maybe this is actually a common symptom? Curious to hear your answers, and thank you in advance for any brave answers you are willing to share. I know through my daughter how hard this is to talk about. It would be nice to let her know she isn't alone in this OCD experience.

[LuvSun]

Hello- I’ve suffered with OCD for over 40 years. I don’t believe your daughter is alone in her feelings at all. I have always thought as my OCD as a big bully that is within me and constantly nagging at me to do this, think this, don’t do this, etc. in order to keep bad things from happening. I have to yell at “him” at times to “shut up” and stop putting these thoughts in my head. It’s like the classic “ monkey on my back”. So glad your daughter has you to help her with this. 🙂

[17sMom in reply to LuvSun]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your openness. It is amazing how OCD is as individual as the person who deals with it. Good luck to you in continuing to stand up to your bully, I know it can be exhausting. Thank you again

[SirUthal]

Hi! People find different ways to conceptualize their OCD. To me, it is actually good that she is giving her OCD a different identity and disassociating herself from these thoughts, as recognition of OCD as being OCD is a tough step for a lot of people. Sufferers often feel that they themselves are responsible for their thoughts or in some cases that they don’t have OCD at all (which makes recognition of OCD as OCD more difficult).

Your daughter should not be embarrassed by how she thinks of her disorder, but if it has become distressing, it likely has turned into an OCD symptom itself (in the form of “what if I am somehow bad for thinking of it in this way” or something like that).

Glad to hear she is getting help and remember it always gets better!

[17sMom in reply to SirUthal]

Thank you so Much. WOW, I had never thought of it that way. Thank s for your insight, it truly does help to see it in this perspective. Good luck to you