I have always struggled with my OCD from an early age. My mum picked up on the things i was obsessed with but said i seemed to be able to manage my feelings. As the years have passed by i have found managing my feelings are becoming more difficult. I have always been able to hide my anxiety and no one would know about my struggles. On the outside i would look like i am coping but on the inside my body is crying. But recently i have began to show agitated, anxious, less focussed behaviours and this is beginning to worry me. At times my hearts racing, i feel emotional, struggle to get my words out.
I decided to go to the doctors and see if they can point me in the right direction. I went to the doctors earlier today and i was left disappointed. The doctor didn't take me serious and just wrote a number down on a post it note for me to call (i hate phone calls at the best of times).
So my questions are:
Are there groups out there that i can go to for advice?
What treatment have other people had?
What strategies have you used that have worked?
Thanks
A x
Written by
AndrewAC
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That sounds extremely unhelpful of your doctor. They have a duty of care to you, and should have listened properly and suggested something practical, discussed medication with you and offered a referral to a therapy team.
A lot of us on this website will understand what it is you've been experiencing. Hiding OCD from other people, and trying to behave 'normally', is what most of us have done.
Do equip yourself with some self help books. The one I suggest to people is Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which is pretty comprehensive and covers many of the ways OCD affects sufferers. It has case studies, practical exercises based on CBT and a positive and encouraging attitude. There are a number of others which may also help.
Do consider medication as this can take the worst of the effects of OCD off, and make CBT exercises easier to carry out.
One technique I have been taught is to think of the panicky feelings as though they are clouds in the sky, or a wave. The clouds pass overhead and disperse eventually, the wave eventually breaks, and you stop feeling bad.
Hope this helps, but feel free to come back and discuss.
I was hoping for some sort of referral but I’ve decided to go see a different doctor, so fingers crossed this time.
It’s helped just writing the message. Talking to people with similar conditions.
I explained that there’s a lot of anxiety and I know what the issue might be re: an abusive childhood but he just raised his eye brow and asked if I’ve ever thought about taking my life (which I haven’t).
Hopefully the second visit to the doctors will be a more successful one.
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