TRIGGER WARNING! OCD and self-harming

[languageteacher]

Hi there! I thought I could take here this issue because I've often read in journals on medical issues that persons with OCD are in a 10 times higher risk to die by committing a suicide compared with other mental disorders.

I just liked to stimulate a debate. Globally, I'm not aware on differences in various cultures. In verywellmind.com you can find some statistics.

Personally, I can understand that if some one is in a very hard situation (e.g. when he/she lives with daily disabling obsessions feeling that there is no help/hope), it can happen that this kind of thoughts emerge.

As I've written in the title, I don't want to have this message as any trigger - but would be pleased if we could discuss this issue, as well.

[Fusebox]

And what is the debate? What is the discussion? Just somewhat confusing. Like, if the subject of death by suicide is discussed, would that make ocd worse?

[languageteacher in reply to Fusebox]

Oh, I'm sorry if this text was confusing - I didn't want that. But I just liked to be cautious because this issue is also difficult for myself (based on my personal background with those attempts). In terms of this debate/discussion, I would like to ask you (if own experience) for instance how you have been met by professionals after such an incident. And I'm specially interested in having a chance to hear your opinions - I, myself, do have mixed feelings regarding these encounters I've had those few (about 4 times) times in my life. Well, I do understand that the staff at intensive care units can be so busy that they can't focus on an individual person's needs, for example. But rude comments should be avoided. --- BTW, that comment on a bigger frequency of self-harm among patients with OCD is direct from literature. You can correct it if I'm wrong.

[Fusebox in reply to languageteacher]

okay, well back in the early 90's when I was really bad, I often met ER dr's and nurses who were angry, rude, and just treated me like the worst virus ever! true. Also, it was in a smaller city (50,000), so the cops, drs, etc all got to know me. I was labeled as borderline, which years later became an inaccurate diagnoses. The research I could find at that time, was that borderlines were regarded as unfavorable by most hospitals and physicians. I actually read that in a book somewhere, and was so shocked to see it in print like that! but, they knew so little at the time, and there was not much research except the negative kind. so on initial intake, yes I was treated unfairly, poorly, and all it did was make me angrier. however, once I was transferred to the psych. unit, I really noticed a change of attitudes and was met with compassion. hope that helps.