Intrusive thoughts

[Commish]

I have had intrusive thoughts for 4 years and it has been a living hell. I'm doing the best that I can with CBT that includes ERP and ACT, but I'm still struggling a lot.

[SCC1]

Hi. That is my main problem, too. It is a "living hell". I take meds for OCD and do therapy but both haven't helped much. I think for some of us, meds/therapy work really well but in some cases it's harder for people to feel better. I'm sorry you are struggling, I wish I had an answer, too. You can get a lot of advice from people here. A lot of people deal with intrusive thoughts, too.

Best wishes

[Commish in reply to SCC1]

Thanks for the comment SCC1. I did find Dr. Reid Wilson's 6 moment video, which costs $80, and found it quite helpful. I am trying to avoid the SSRI's because they kill my sex drive. Is that what you take? If so, how do you manage the sexual side effects?

[SCC1 in reply to Commish]

I am on SSRIs, I have been on most of them. One of them worked great for my depression and I felt like I was really getting a lot better. Then I became allergic to it. I'm on so many meds now, I don't know which ones are affecting my sex-drive, but I haven't had one for a long time-it's non-existent.

[Hidden in reply to SCC1]

To all of you here dealing with this; Google Mold Toxicity Neurological Symptoms.

My son got it because of mold in his bedroom. Mycotoxines are for some sensitive people very bad. Weird symptoms like ocd b12 deficiency fatigue intrusive thoughts etc etc

There is a lot of info online

[IStillHaveHope]

Hello. I'm sorry to hear you're struggling now. I know how hard OCD can be. I really do. It took me a while to find a medicine that worked for me but the difference has been night and day. There are side effects, but I'll gladly take those over the constant OCD effects. I'm lucky to have a psychiatrist who focuses more on other wellness activities (diet, exercise, supplements, etc.) along with medicine to help with symptoms. It really does help to find the right doctor/therapist who fits your persona.

Know there is hope and there is another side to the OCD battle. I hope you find the peace you deserve my friend.

[grayson12 in reply to IStillHaveHope]

what SSRI are you taking that have helped you? Thanks

[IStillHaveHope in reply to grayson12]

I'm actually taking an SNRI (Effexor), but have tried Paxil, Lexapro and Wellbutrin. I am apparently sensitive to these medicines since I seem to get side effects even at low dosages. I wonder if that means that my brain doesn't produce enough Serotonin/Norepinephrine? The Effexor took a few months to work but it's been like night and day. I still have OCD thoughts but they're "less sticky". I have them and am able to move away from them better.

I am also taking magnesium and inositol which are supplements. There is apparently some new studies that show people with depression/anxiety have a low amount of inositol in their spine? The inositol does seem to help with the rumination. I am also trying to make sure I get exercise and have been working on my sleep habits. Overall I'd say I'm doing well.

[Davide21]

I suffer from the same as you Last month I was diagnosed with autism

My assessment physiotherapist

Rang me last week

But I was too ashamed to talk

So she rang me yesterday

I had things wrote down

I have intrusive thoughts about

Young women

I get intrusive thoughts about

Tights and gym pants

I have to avoid certain times of the day

She told me to go to medical centre

And tell my doctor

Only thing is last time I told them

She said she was going to ring the

Social services

So I just said it's older people

So my phscopheripist

Told me to try again and let her know

I do wish your CBT helps you

Hopefully you will get to feel better

[Natureloverpeace in reply to Davide21]

Unfortunately, there are many mental health professionals who don’t understand that OCD thoughts are ego-dystonic, that is, they go against our values. So if someone has a “taboo” theme of OCD , they get alarmed and think the person is going to harm someone. Since OCD thoughts are ego-dystonic , the person is not going to act on them.

[XoxoFaith in reply to Davide21]

How did you find out you have autism

[Davide21 in reply to XoxoFaith]

I've had problems since I was little Problems at school with lound noise's

Changing classes

Lights on in the school

Being bullied by not the boys but the

Girls

Had no friends at school

It carried on into my work life

I breezed through interviews

Because I'd know all about the company

And know loads of answers to the questions

Then when it was time to start job

I'd have a meltdown and start crying and

Not sleeping

Thinking that how did I get the job

They are going to find me out

Thinking I'm no good

So I would leave

Thinking they would sack me anyway

I'm very perfect at what I do

If I do a job it takes me ages

Because I have to do a perfect job

It's very draining

Same with relationships with females

I can't understand facial expressions or

Talk

I just take it literally

It can get me in trouble

Saying the wrong thing to a person

That's my autism

I've had plenty of CBT and my last one

2021 the man pherapist told me

No point in carrying on with CBT

He said he couldn't help me and the mental health team couldn't

So I asked him to refer me to the

Assessment for ASD

I had to feel in a questionnaire

About my problems

Put on waiting list

I waited from June 2021 to just February 2024

Had a two hours assessment with two

Qualified autistic professionals

At the end of the assessment

They told me I had autism

At first it was a relief

But since then I've been struggling

Coming to terms with my diagnosis

Going over Forty odd years of failing at

Things normal people do

And knowing that I'm clever in other ways

It's very frustrating

I'm on waiting list for a autism group

In my local area

I'm also suffering pure O OCD

Intrusive thoughts 🤔

Depressive mood disorders

Anxiety disorders

General and social anxiety disorders

So quite alot of things

But hopefully in future things now will get

A little bit better

[Davide21 in reply to XoxoFaith]

It took a very long time I saw a school psychologist

Forty years ago

She said I had school phobia

Autism wasn't well known back then

In Britain

2021 I had pherapy with a man

He was awful

He just said I just can't help you anymore

So I said to him

Well just put me in touch with ASD assessment service

I waited nearly three years

But had assessment in February and was told straight away I had autism

[sophiebrodie]

I deal with that too. It sucks total crud, doesn't it?

What I have done is a combination of medication and many years of therapy (I've had it since a kid). CBT is really good for the thoughts, but it isn't a "quick fix." It takes practice to do it, and I know that this isn't good news, but have hope! One day it will get better! I know that sounds trivial, and "oh they don't get it," but someday it will, even if it's to the point that you're numb to those thoughts.