Hi new to this but I'm really struggling with ... - OCD Support

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Hi new to this but I'm really struggling with life atm

Sj369 profile image
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Hi I've had ocd for years but the past year or so once I started actually telling people including my family it has become my whole life and it honestly crushing me. I feel really lost and hopeless and I really don't know what to do any more. I've tried counselling and medication but it doesn't help. My last hope is I'm currently attending hypnotherapy sessions to try to get rid of this or at least make my life easier. I was always a very good student in uni top of my class etc but I'm in final year and this has affected me souch that my tutor is asking would I consider leave of absence I don't want to do this because that will just be another thing ocd has taken from me and I think that would break me. Ocd has even played a part in the down fall of my relationship. Everything always feels dirty today a parcel was delivered to my house for me and because no one was home it was left in a box outside, my mind went into overdrive and now I no longer want those clothes.

I don't know how much more of it I can take because it's ruining my life and happiness. My family have tried being supportive but at the same time their fed up. I just really need se help or support from someone who understands

I saw a post saying cbd oil helps is this true?

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Mumofhocd profile image
Mumofhocd

Hi there, I’m not a sufferer (just a parent of someone with HOCD) so I’m afraid I can’t offer any advice, hopefully others on here will be able to. Can only send you hugs and hope things will improve for you. You mention counselling, has that included ERT? I know a lot of people find it useful (my son has, in combination with CBT & meditation).

Sj369 profile image
Sj369 in reply to Mumofhocd

Hi thank you for the support it's tough but I'm trying to power through. It was low intensity cbt do I don't think it covered erp so I'm going to speak with my doctor about that.

Sallyskins profile image
Sallyskins

Counselling takes many forms. It isn't clear what sort of counselling you've had. The best therapy for OCD is cognitive behaviour therapy. It does work, so if you haven't had it, it might be worth giving it a go.

Medication isn't for everybody, but it's a great help to those it works for.

However, hypnotherapy as a treatment for OCD has not been found to be effective. There are plenty of hypnotherapists out there who tout it as a cure, and who want your money! But there isn't much to back it up. If it help you, by all means go for it. But I think it is unlikely to deal with OCD.

Taking leave from university is one option, though I'm not sure it's a good one. I did my university course and graduated while dealing with severe OCD. I got a middling degree but at least I got it! The problem is that you might not go back to university, and if you do, it will be a different class with different people, instead of the friends and fellow students you are used to. Don't let OCD take away your education!

CBT isn't the easiest form of therapy, but it works, and if you can give it a go, you should start to improve.

Sj369 profile image
Sj369 in reply to Sallyskins

Thanks for replying I tried low intensity cbt but I didn't feel much of an impact and I was on citalopram but they didn't seem to help either.

I know I refuse to allow it to take away my degree I did however have some success with tutors today I study fashion so they've said about keeping a machine just for me so that I don't get the contamination anxiety, and has honestly felt like a bit of a weight was lifted with regards to my degree

Mumofhocd profile image
Mumofhocd in reply to Sj369

That is great news, and it sounds like they are supportive and keen to help. Agree with Sallyskins, try your hardest to stick with uni, and yes pursue the cbt again - also from what I can gather it’s important to find a therapist/psychologist who’s experienced in dealing with OCD, so maybe look around online and find someone who is. You’re quite within your rights to call or email and ask them about how they treat it. I did this for my son and was able to make sure the psychologist was knowledgeable about ERT(ERP) - obviously it was their call about whether they used it but I wanted to know it was an option. Good luck, stay in touch on here x

Sallyskins profile image
Sallyskins in reply to Sj369

That's really good of them to be so accommodating. I know other people are not supposed to accommodate your OCD, but it can be impossible to do anything at all if they don't make allowances for you. Good luck with the degree!

Perhaps try a higher intensity CBT, but for the moment try to keep on top of the OCD the best you can while you get your degree out of the way. Also try self help books, which you can use to put together your own programme of CBT and go at your own pace. Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, in the Overcoming range of CBT self help book, or The OCD Workbook by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A Padesky are a couple which have helped. me.

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