OCD Brain

[Meinaloop]

Hi, I suffer from OCD since I was 9. It took me so long to realize that its a real issue in the brain. I want to learn more about it and find solutions for it.

[deValentin]

Hello Meinaloop, welcome to the forum. You chose a good place to share OCD experiences and help each other.

For instance, what doesn't cease to amaze me about OCD is that we can spend countless hours trying to eliminate possibilities of harm in a certain domain or keep things in a certain order, and not be further ahead in terms of peace of mind. You think that we would be learning from the past. It doesn't appear to be the case. The next time we're triggered by circumstances, we go through the same motion hoping that this time would be different from the other times, but it never is.

That makes me think of a shipwrecked sailor on a desert island who, every time he gets up in the morning and looks over the ocean, keeps hoping to see sails on the horizon, only to be disappointed again. The only difference is that his undying hope is justified given his situation. The shipwrecked sailor has no choice, but, in my experience, stepping back from triggering circumstances and practicing exposure and response prevention gives us a choice: there is a better way than OCD to solve our problems.

Do you have a similar experience?

[Lauragbr in reply to deValentin]

I always love your analogies !!

[deValentin in reply to Lauragbr]

Thank you.

[Lauragbr]

Welcome! I hope you will find this group as helpful as I do.

[Meinaloop]

Hi, thanks. Yes, I agree that there are better ways to solve our problems than OCD. I am looking to find those ways. I really have no power over my OCD. It is like a switch that flips on in my brain and makes me do certain rituals and behaviors that make no senese. Also, it makes my mind get stuck in loop of thoughts that repeat 100 times in a minute again and again. I know OCD is related to brain chemicals, not sure if the brain structure has any part to play. It is super tiring and distressing. I know escitalopram helps me clam down and the thoughts aren't as strong as they would be without it. I want to know what causes OCD. Mine gets worse during stressful events, but it is always there with me 24/7. Before taking escitalopram, I believed my OCD thoughts to be true. After escitalopram I have come to a realization that they are not. There definitely is a problem in the brain.

[Natureloverpeace in reply to Meinaloop]

The exact causes of OCD aren’t known but there are multiple factors that can be involved. OCD is part biology and part learned. The learned part is operant and classical conditioning. The biology part can include many things including brain circuits. To go into detail about brain circuits would put most people to sleep so I’ll avoid doing that here. Then there is the chicken and egg question. Which came first? Yes, there are brain changes involved in OCD but did OCD cause the brain changes or did brain changes cause the OCD? The verdict is still out on this very complicated question.