My partner has suffered from OCD for the last 8 years following an accident which nearly killed her. She’s come a long way in recovering but suffers badly from the fear of contamination.
I keep an eye out for research on OCD, alternative therapy and anything that may help her. I have discovered some research on imood which is looking pretty impressive. They are currently trying to raise enough funds to get to the clinical trial stages so that drug companies will take interest - gf.me/u/ymnmr5 I would never normally put anything like this on a forum or ask anyone to look at a link like this. I genuinely think it might be part of an answer for people, not to get hopes up but traditional drugs in my eyes and from experience of my partner don’t really work. I’m not affiliated in any way other then praying and hoping this might help my partner break from the shackles of ocd.
My partner has some fantastic days and others are very challenging and she would spend hours and hours in the shower, changing the soap, needs watching to make sure she showers properly etc. She’s not had any visitors to the house in years, has to replace the car every few months, doesn’t trust herself to open products very often. Can’t clean the kitchen after use and bins are a massive massive issue with rituals required if anything goes near the bin.
Have a read of the link and lets discuss experiences of medication and therapy.
Written by
Tim6
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I have to say that it sounds as though your partner is lucky to have someone so supportive in her life. Having OCD puts a lot of strain on those around you, so you deserve a lot of credit!
I shall check out the link you give, Medication helps many people with OCD, but some simply don't get on with it at all well.
I should just add that you need to be careful when researching alternative therapies. If anyone is promising an easy cure, usually without giving any details of how it works, then the chances are they just want your money!
I've been on medication for many years and it helps me a lot. I've also had CBT, and try to put what I've learned into practice. On the whole, medication only goes so far and CBT is needed as well, but meds can make it easier to do the CBT.
I do feel for your partner. It can be exhausting and debilitating, doing those rituals.
Here's something that you can download from the Centre for Clinical Interventions in Australia, Facing Your Feelings, which is in four parts. It is particularly good for sufferers of OCD. I've often got my copies out for a refresh, having been given them when I was having intensive therapy for OCD in Springfield Hospital.
Thank you Sally, yes it’s very challenging for her at times. She’s tried all sorts and don’t get me wrong CBT has worked a lot and I don’t profess to know everything, I only know the tip of the iceberg in terms of what goes on in her head.
Yes the imood thing has really caught my attention and they have been able to see a huge difference in mice around cleaning and general behaviours and when they change the levels of this imood then administer a suppressant mice go back to normal. It’s the fact that people with OCD exhibit a higher rate of imood then people without suggests this may help as it’s completely different to traditional drugs (from what I read).
If you google it you’ll naturally see it’s hailed as the cure as with anything like this, it still has a long way to go.
In my eyes any research and more spotlight OCD gets the better.
Absolutely! I've just been googling imood and the research being done on it does sound promising. There's a good article on the Queen Mary University website, where they are doing some of the research. It's interesting that it's linked to auto-immune diseases, as I also have psoriasis.
Thanks for putting us onto it. And good wishes to you and your partner.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
OCD and trauma
Ocd sexual thoughts about other people
OCD and loss of too much weight, very anxious and depressed