ocd help

[curlytop2]

I need to communicate with people to help me with ocd. Anyone out there with insite?

[IStillHaveHope]

I guess all I can say is what worked for me. Things started to turn around for me when I was just honest with my doctor. He prescribed some medicine and referred me to a therapist. It took some experiments and a few tries, but the medicine helped tone down the intense feelings and the therapy helped me develop better coping mechanisms. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't easy and there were some scary times in there, but overall I'm in a much better place than I was a few years ago.

My wife and family also helped me a lot. At first I was afraid to tell them what I was feeling since I felt like it was crazy. However, I was lucky that they were so supportive and wanted to help me.

I guess I'd say (with all communication) that honesty, with yourself and others, is the best way forward.

I don't know if this helped at all, but I really hope you find some peace in your journey. God bless you.

[curlytop2 in reply to IStillHaveHope]

Thank you. I have a very hard time talking to my family because they just say all I do is complain. I will keep trying.

[IStillHaveHope in reply to curlytop2]

I know how you feel. I really do.

One of the worst mistakes I made with my illness was not talking about it. I saw how my constant asking for reassurance was annoying people and how explaining how I felt made them angry or sad since nothing they said really helped. What I know now is that I was trying to ask for help, but I didn't know how. Unless you have the disease you can't really understand it.

If you haven't already, try and find a therapist who specializes in OCD. They can help you develop skills to manage it. There are also OCD support groups who meet online and a variety of tools and videos out there.

I guess what I'm saying is that you're not alone. There are a ton of people out there who want to (and can) help you. All you need to do is ask.

[Sallyskins]

I too have problems with cleaning and hoarding. My house is a real pigsty though I'm making a real effort to clear away the garbage!

Often OCD takes many forms - my own include retracing my steps, doing things over and over until it feels 'right', and washing my hands. I think the hand washing came about at least party because my house is so messy and filthy.

There are lots of things you can do to make it easier. It's a pity if your family are not more supportive. It can make a real difference to have supportive family and friends.

Medication can help - it certainly helps me. CBT also helps - I've had some intensive CBT which effectively gives you the tools to deal with the OCD. It's like a sort of ongoing thing - the OCD has a habit of creeping back if you don't actively do what you can to push it back.

If a therapist who uses CBT isn't available to you, there are lots of helpful books that can guide you over the techniques.

[Mcfly64]

Sorry I have just read your post. Yes the first step is to speak to your doctor who should be able to refer you to a therapist. Finding the right medication through your doctor in conjunction with a psychiatrist will also help 🙏