I think I have OCD. I'm currently 16 and looking back on when I was younger I believe I exhibited some signs of OCD. But now I'm older I think they're becoming more dominant. I have rituals that I have to complete throughout the day and various other things(Eg:checking my school bad 3 times before I enter the gate, washing my hands (with soap) before I leave for school, opening the curtains before I for a shower, opening my wardrobe, my bedroom door and curtains +closing them before I go to bed, every night before I go to bed I have to check snapchat, then instagram and then snapchat before I can put my phone on airplane mode (checking I haven't accidently posted anything to my story not checking for messages), I have to say an absurd list of things as well before I sleep, (for example, "my mum is going to be fine,my dad is going to fine, my brother is going to fine..etc") and I fee like if I don't bad things will come true. I have an alarm I have to put on before bed and the sound must always be on 5 bars, and I have to check this. I will go down 2 bars,up 2 bars, down 3 bars, (2x) before I can go to sleep. I have this obsession with my eyebrows, I always have these intrusive thoughts about "if you don't touch them they'll fall off" and various other things. And people will stare at me when I randomly touch them multiple times but if I don't my brain wont shut up about it. I just don't know what to do, I want to get help but I don't know how to go about doing so.
Help..?: I think I have OCD. I'm currently 1... - OCD Support
OCD Support
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Hi. This definitely sounds like ocd to me but the good thing is that you have recognised what’s happening here. Looking back I had lots of signs of ocd when I was younger but at the time I hadn’t even heard of it and only really worked out what I have over the last few years.
Are you in the uk? You could start by speaking with your gp who will be able to help with organising some cognitive behavioural therapy . There’s also support on this site and others. It’s an anxiety disorder and your brain is acting like a faulty alarm system telling you you need to do things a certain way to avoid something bad happening but in reality, and you’ve probably already realised this, it’s lying to you, it’s not logical. Sure you’ll receive lots of help on here but feel free to message me if you want to.
Hi:
You need to talk to a psychologist - have you doctor refer you to one. They may give you CBT therapy or ACT therapy, probably the former - together with medication. And ask a lot of questions.
The current policy of the NHS for OCD is Therapy combined with anti anxiety and/or and depressive mediation . the combination works best.
If something doesnt work, talk to your psychologist or doctor and have it changed, medication or treament. Some people respond well to CBT, other dont. Likewise for medication, we are all different.
Try to resist the tempation to do things that require repetitivness - or do less, instead of 3 times, do it 12 times. When you feel better, do it once and then you are onn on the road to freedom from that particular obsession. Just accept that your brain wants it 3 times, but just live with less compulsions.
If you leave your eyebrows alone, I bet they wont fall off - try it once to see if I am right.
All these gremlins are generated by the brain and its your fear that drives - the more you fight them, the more you observe the rituals, the stronger they become and they proliferate.
OCD can get better but it also get worse if you dont try and fight it the right way. Dont be afraid to tell the psychologist your problems and if CBT doesnt work, discuss it with the psycho. It didnt work for me and I always had problem convincing then therapist why not. Nowadays ACT can be tried and it can bring better results.
Wish you well. Cheers
It's good that you've recognized that you've got OCD when you're so young. I had bouts of this sort of behaviour from the age of about 10 or 11 but didn't know what it was. It took me over and I had a nervous breakdown, but still nobody told me I had OCD, and few people had heard of it.
Help is available, as the posts above have indicated. Medication can work very well and help you to climb out of the hole OCD has dug you into. However there are restrictions on prescribing antidepressants to under 18s so your doctors will have to proceed with care.
That's an apt description of OCD, 'My brain won't shut up about it'! That's really how it feels, but CBT can help. It's about learning to resist, and at least cut down what the OCD is telling you to do.
Books can help. There are lots out there, but I always suggest Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and The OCD Workbook as ones that have helped me.
Perhaps start by writing down a list of the things OCD tries to make you do. Then rate them according to how hard it would be to go against the OCD. Start small, and chip away at it, cutting down the rituals. But also get professional help and work with a therapist.
Best of luck with it, and remember that there are lots of people on this forum willing to listen and help.
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