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Why Do Some People Develop Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
As the child of a man whose acute Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is the dominant force in his life, and consequently, having grown up in a very unnatural, controlled environment, when deciding on a top for this paper, I dared to delve into the enigmatic world of mental illness. I thought writing on this disorder would be both interesting and would help unlock the secret behind my father’s abnormal behavior. It would also help me understand why, up until now, I have exhibited only mild symptoms of this condition, and if the disorder is in fact hereditary, what this means for me in the future. In order to answer these questions, an in depth examination of the disease is needed.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of many anxiety disorders, mental conditions that result in chronic fear and uncertainty in the victims’ minds. Anxiety disorders plague 40 million American adults, while OCD alone affects 2.2 million Americans (1). If anxiety disorders are left untreated, which they often are, symptoms can become increasingly worse. People with OCD experience persistent upsetting thoughts or worries (obsessions) and use rituals or repetitive behaviors (compulsions) to relieve their anxiety (2). OCD patients often experience repeated thoughts and images where they feel out of control and may even worry that they have harmed another person (3). Depending on the person’s fears, OCD can manifest itself in different ways. The most common symptom is an obsession with germs or dirt that results in repeated hand washing. Paranoia about intruders can lead to locking and relocking of doors and windows. Other common signs include repeatedly checking things, counting things, doing things in a particular order, or hoarding and refusing to dispose of old possessions. However, a person with OCD doesn’t necessarily have to partake in any of these rituals. In the most extreme cases of OCD, victims are unable to attend to their responsibilities and perform the tasks of daily life because they are so preoccupied with their rituals. What makes OCD so unique is that, according to studies, people with the disorder do not get pleasure out of doing these rituals; they carry out these actions to placate their anxiety (3).
It’s interesting for me to read what all the medical journals and online sources say about OCD because I can imagine my father performing the described rituals in my head as I read. However, his case is one of the extreme ones that is more difficult for doctors to understand. For example, my father follows a very strict regime everyday, doing everything in the same exact order; any interference with his daily routine will send him into a state of shock. If a person interrupts him while he’s going through his routine, he becomes very angry, agitated, and uncomfortable. He prefers to be alone as much as possible and lives on an isolated farm, where he has minimal contact with other people. OCD and clinical depression often go hand-in-hand, so it is likely that my father’s antisocial behavior is partly due to depression. My father, interestingly, does not exhibit many of the typical symptoms of OCD, such as frequent bathing and hand washing, or a need to constantly count things in a certain order. However, he does hoard possessions and hasn’t thrown out anything in about 30 years. It is easy to see how OCD can be misdiagnosed since many of its symptoms are characteristic of other mental illnesses; it’s taken me my entire life to figure out what exactly makes my father behave the way he does.
How can someone with OCD be treated? According to the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, OCD is “underdiagnosed” and “undertreated” because many doctors are unfamiliar with the symptoms of the illness (3). No laboratory test exists for this disorder . Moreover, people with OCD often have trouble admitting that they have extreme anxiety or are unaware that their behavior is abnormal (3). However, if someone is diagnosed with OCD, several different methods of treatment can be implemented. The first is Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy through the use of a technique called Exposure and Ritual Prevention, where individuals gradually overcome their fears and learn that they do not need to perform certain rituals. The second method of treatment involves taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) along with tricyclic antidepressants. Studies show that OCD is usually the result of communication problems between the orbital cortex and the basal ganglia, two parts of the brain that rely on the chemical messenger serotonin to transmit signals. With the help of SSRIs, the serotonin is able to bind to the neurons’ receptors so it can help regulate excess anxiety and obsessive thoughts. Studies show that, “SSRIs seem to be the most effective drug treatments for OCD, and help about 60% of OCD patients, but do not ‘cure’ OCD” (2). In other words, medications that increase one’s serotonin levels can address the symptoms of OCD, but can’t make the disorder go away. Although the use of SSRIs or Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy seems to be an effective treatment for OCD, from doing research on this topic, it is clear to me that much about the disease is still unknown.
Why do some people develop this disease and not others? Is it genetic? Does the disease run in families? In my case, I wonder: Why did my dad develop this condition and not me? Will I acquire OCD in the future? Up until recently no specific genes for OCD had been identified, but scientists were looking for a link between genetics and OCD (3). However, two recent studies on the association between genes and OCD have illuminated a possible cause of the disease: a glutamate transporter gene called SLC1A1. This gene encodes a protein called EAAC1, which controls the flow of glutamate in and out of brain cells. According to an article in HealthDay News, “Variation in the SLC1A1 gene may cause changes in the flow of glutamate, which may put a person at increased risk of developing OCD” (4). The identification of the SLC1A1 gene marks a milestone in the search for the cause of OCD. If the close relationship between this gene and OCD is confirmed, dramatic improvements in the understanding and treatment of OCD can be made (4). With regard to the heredity of OCD, research shows that OCD does tend to run in families, though family members often times develop different symptoms from the disease (3). According to the HealthDay News article, “Close relatives of people with OCD are up to nine times more likely than other people to develop OCD” (4). Clearly, heredity plays an important role in the development of OCD. In my case, the fact that such a close relative of mine has OCD greatly increases my chances of getting it. Because symptoms can emerge at any time between age 3 and 40, I still have more than twenty years in which I am likely to develop the disorder (3).
Researching and writing this paper has helped elucidate a lot for me about Obsessive-Compulsive disorder. However, it has also made it apparent that much more research about this disease needs to be done before a foolproof method of prevention and treatment can be obtained. As of right now, scientists have only made ripples in the vast, dark ocean of mental illness, and nothing has been confirmed about the cause of OCD. I hope, for my own sake and for the sake of the millions of Americans who either have OCD or will be afflicted with it in the future, that the isolation of the SLC1A1 gene for OCD will lead to great strides in the study and treatment of this disorder.
World Wide Web Sources
1) http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/ocdmenu.cfm The National Institute of Mental Health’s website with a special section on OCD
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive-compulsive_disorder A Wikipedia Encyclopedia article, “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.”
3) http://www.ocfoundation.org/ The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation website with a discussion of OCD
4) http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/new/fullstory_36909.html A HealthDay News article entitled, “Genetic Findings Shed Light on OCD.”
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| This paper reflects the research and thoughts of a student at the time the paper was written for a course at Bryn Mawr College. Like other materials on Serendip, it is not intended to be "authoritative" but rather to help others further develop their own explorations. Web links were active as of the time the paper was posted but are not updated. |
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Comments
help
I have taken Celexa nothing seems to help. What are you taking,?
I never knew OCD was my solution to my anxiety
I've never given my OCD that much attn bc my dibilitating anxiety since I was 2 yrs old has been focused on. I'm 46 yrs old and have a very confusing life with events and experiences starting at a young age that I don't know what came 1st or what caused my fears.. anxiety.. OCD & maybe PTSD.
I am 2nd out of 4 sisters & come from a strict.. controlling Mother Christian home. There was physical.. emotional & spiritual abuse with my older sister & I & we were good girls. I had night terrors & walked in my sleep every sigle night til I was 12 yrs old. I wet the bed & had many bladder infections w/no explanations until my sophmore yr of H.S. I had been sick & always in pain & found out I was born w/only had 1 kidney.. no uterus.. & some other issues related to my syndrome "MRKHs" and I needed emergency kidney surgery bc i had a tumor & was bleeding. To find this out @ 15 that I couldn't have children & was born different devastated me. We never dealt or talked about it in my family & I did it alone. I went from a sweet.. shy.. God loving girl to a drinking/drugging.. runner.. relationship clinger.. controlled & abusive relationships never single. My OCD has been over-the-top as long as I can remember but I thot it was just me w/crazy thots cuz I was different physically & mentally like I was told & the counting.. cking & recking.. even on both sides.. my closet & drawyers color coordinated spaced apart evenly & in it's place after I'd do & redo 4 hrs & even days.. was from growing up in a home where things had to be perfect & done a certain way. Sorry so long but I need some answers. Now I'm 46 yrs old.. I've been divorced twice.. I'm a 7 year stage 4 Breast Cancer Survivor.. out of work bc I went out on disability in 2013 for anxiety/depression & rarely leave my house & I lost mobility in my hands from not taking care of the Tendonitis in 1 wrist 8 yrs ago cuz I was undergoing chemo/radiation that I now have De Quervain's Tenosynovitis & need surgery to get the mobility back in my hands & wrists. I've been suicidal.. in major fear.. & I've cleaned, reorganized over & over my bedroom & other areas of the house that it keeps up all nite bc I have to get out of bed to reorganize a shelf or my shoes etc. 1 more time w/the new better way that came to mind. I was raised to keep quiet about problems or issues that should b private not to embarrass the family or myself. So this is why @ 46 yrs I dont know or completely understand OCD or when & why it all started. Please don't judge me 4 being older & not resonsible enough to take care of this a lot sooner in my life. Please.. Please can someone give me advice or clarity? Thank you so so much !
Reply :)
Hello :)
I suffer with this need to wash things and keep myself washed, and like you it sometimes keeps me up washing till morning if I for example, had been somewhere that was unclean.
When Im clean and resting in bed I try to understand why I need to spend so long washing, I feel unhappy because my washing takes too much time which I know should be spent doing something more enriching, and maybe to help someone elses life be better,
Im happy when Im finished washing cus Im clean n I then feel ok, but So thankful, tired and relieved its over,
I think its my way of making myself feel Safe and okay, when Im surrounded by things I cant control and are imperfect,, but I do want to control my world but find ways to make my compulsion to wash less
: )
: )
Hi Sarah just read your
Hi Sarah just read your article and wanted to ask why you write you are likely to develop the disorder? because all your research shows it's not only genetics that cause OCD. It's not set in stone just because your dad has it. Hope you can get back to me, thanks.
pure-o... real cure if you choose to understand it
I’ve made the decision to share my story to help fellow people who have suffered with pure-o ocd. When I was in highschool I began to have obsessive thoughts about hurting my best friend, and then thoughts about hurting myself and a family member. I went to go speak with a therapist and listened to her very carefully. I was better for some time, but then again the thoughts came back causing me to have a break down. And then i overcame that breakdown, and again the thoughts came back paralyzing me. It was excruciatingly painful. It felt like a battle that no one understood, and no one would accept. And so I studied human consciousness, and I understood something that truly healed me. On a subconscious level we have a wide array of qualities within us. We have within us subconsciously good and also evil but its not that we are evil by any means (or ever consciously want to do anything to hurt anyone). Once we can accept i am good and i am evil as well and say that is okay, that is part of being human, the evil part of us no longer tortures us because we own it. The dark side of the light chasers is a book by Debbie Ford that further explains this concept. Please email to let me know if this has helped you too! I am also working on writing a book and pursuing a clinical degree to help people with this. If you would like to donate please email
so are you cured now
like your comments I suffer from pure o and since Xmas it's been really tuff
updates welcome
Like everyone here, you are very welcome to share updates to your thinking about this.
Best wishes, Ann
Very interesting (and
Very interesting (and relatable) article, your research is quite intricate and detailed ..
Even just knowing, that through reading the types of compulsions people suffer , helps keep mine at bay !
Well done :)
I am 16 from Guyana and I am
I am 16 from Guyana and I am having those same kind of thoughts it had lately started to get worst after I shared it wit my mom because I started to get scared and shakee but the less I think about it I felt better is their any help for this
Real Cure
Hello everyone.I'm a 27 y.o. man. My heart breaks when reading all these comments, and realizing that so many people
are suffering from the disease called OCD. I have pure O, and i know how painful and energy consuming it can be. I just want to share with you probably the method that works best for curing each type of anxiety disorder (and not only)
Please read this, this is not an ad. I'd be happy to see as many people cured as possible.. Been researching a lot and finally found this article and the entire blog a few months ago. I truly believe in this method. The main idea is that people suffering of OCD have a lot of suppressed negative energy, which has to be released, letting of. The fear of a thought just increases the power it has over you. You need to develop a conscious awareness and release those painful thoughts and emotions. It takes time, but this works, because some people have done it.
I started this journey recently too. Read careful this article. Understand that everything we need is already inside us. Medication just pauses the pain, it does not eliminate it. We have everything we need inside to be cured: our consciousness: we not our thoughts, neither our emotions, we are the open space, the unlimited awareness.
I wish you all the best! Love and joy!
OCD
I believe its caused by a yeast that lives in the gut but can live and grow in others bits of the body too.
Eradicate Candida Albicans and the OCD will go, along with fear and anxiety etc.,
OCD
I believe its caused by a yeast that lives in the gut but can live and grow in others bits of the body too.
Eradicate Candida Albicans and the OCD will go, along with fear and anxiety etc.,
worn and tired of ocd, when does it end?
I'm a 47 years old female, with severe ocd. My
Help
Hi, I am a female of 22 years old.Three years ago I discovered that I have OCD. I'm much better than before, but right now I'm experiencing something that hurts like a knife. I don't know how to deal with it. Last year a guy broke up with me and since then my life has returned to chaos. I know is difficult to move on from your first love, but my case is extreme. He has become an obsessive thought. His face is always in my mind, I can't stop imagining him with other girls...and every time this happens I get panic attacks. His name, his face, anything reminds me of him. Days ago I saw him at my college talent show with a girl. I lost it. He tried to say hello, but I escaped. Could not deal with his presence. I saw him and now the thoughts are harder than ever. His 24/7 inside my mind. It makes it so much harder to move on. I want him to dissapear from my life and I can't do it.Tips anyone to deal with heartbreak when you have OCD? I've tried writing my thoughts, since I'm a writer, but is not enough. I cannot sleep, I start crying spontaneously, I feel BLUE everytime.
You sound like the Sharon
You sound like the Sharon Stone movie. Why not see a counselor and get medication, or at least get a new guy. Can't really see any 22 year old woman incapable of finding a partner male or female for that matter. Stalking is a crime.
OCD
You obviously do not understand OCD, by your judgemental and patronizing reply to this young woman struggling with it. She is obsessive about her ex, but runs/hides from him. How is that stalker behavior? Do you understand that people with OCD, fear doing things that are completely out of character for them? They are hurting themselves more than anyone else!! Please read up on the difference between stalking (has some violent tendencies), and OCD (never heard of an obsession actually acted out, and usually the obsessed person is too empathetic, feels too guilty about ever committing a hurtful behavior toward another, and/or to act in a aggressive or hateful manner!) OCD is all about doubt and guilt!!
Ocd
Hi,
I have ocd. I am going thru divorce-I picture my kids and cry. I try praying to jesus, phrases-try coaching yourself. Stay in the now. Tell yourself I m accepting the end of the relationship and I am just obsessing on this. Telling myself that I am obsessing usually works. Try exersize. I try to obsess on something that's not harming me.
Gary
Ever since late 2010 I've had
Ever since late 2010 I've had these very bothersome thoughts that convince me that I like a band that I don't like. The thoughts convince me that the band is the best one and the only one worth listening to. Because of this, I'm not able to listen to the music I used to listen to in peace or any music for that matter. In the beginning, I was listening to this band with no bothersome thoughts but when I began comparing it to the other music I used to listen to, I kept getting this uncomfortable feeling and I didn't know what it was. The thoughts became so strong that I gave in and accepted liking them even though it gave me such a terrible feeling. I've seen therapists and doctors for this over the years and I've been told that it could have to do with OCD but I'm still unsure. I've been following my late therapist's advice and just listening to the music I want to listen to and letting the thoughts come, but I still want to know..... What are these thoughts? Do they mean anything? If they don't mean anything, how do I know that they don't mean anything? If these thoughts really mean something, I will live with it and accept them no matter how uncomfortable they are. Thank you.
I think I need help
I keep having horrifying and disturbing thoughts that I know don't belong to me as I find them disgusting and wrong. The problem is, I can't stop them and they're driving me insane. I constantly feel like I'm not good enough and have been diagnosed with PTSD before by a counsellor. I have since stopped seeing the counsellor and my mother refused to have me treated for anxiety. I don't know what to do. I'm a 16 year old Australian girl and I'm so frightened and alone. I can't go to my parents for anything as they think I'm attention seeking. I'm so disgusted with myself for thinking these horrible thoughts but i just CANT make them stop. I want to go see a doctor but I need to do it without my parents knowing about it. Can somebody please help I don't know what to do, I've thought of ending my life before but I feel guilty. I've been in a relationship bordering on two years and I'm constantly paranoid that he could do better and that he looks at other girls and it makes me feel like absolute shit. I strongly believe that I need help to be able to function properly. Please help.
sexual thoughts
My name is chris I am 21 years old and just recently realized I suffer from ocd I always thought I was messed up or sick in a perverted way but ive never told anyone my thoughts well about a year ago I started doing mdma it is drug that basically boost your metabolism and you wanna have sex . I had one of the worst embarrassing experiences that could have exposed me I did alot of mdma and went home and started watching porn well as soon as I started to get horny I would want to search for very inoperative videos mostly incest but I knew I could never say anything about it and porn was a very triggering experience it helped feed negative thoughts in my head .well I got so worked up one night I sent my mom about 5 page's of how I felt about her I she told me that there was something extremely wrong with me and to never contact her again and she called my dad and told him everything now I will inform you at the time I had no idea what ocd was I thought I was seriously messed up there is alot more of experiences I had throughout my younger years all the way up and I definitely feel it runs through my family I just cannot beleive my parents did not notice any signs but now that I am aware of ocd I will definitely be educating myself because I feel I can definitely take control im very thankful I found out I have ocd before its to late because ive had serious thoughts on suicide and now I dont .. I just want to talk to someone about it and learn more I am not the ideal writer so im sorry that my story probably looks like alittle kid wrote it
You're Not Alone
Hi, I'm a 16 year old girl from California and I've had a similar experience with mental illness.
I had the same problem of having horrifying thoughts that I did not want and couldn't control. I didn't realize that they were symptoms of OCD for a long time, which led to much self hatred and fear. I tried to hide it from everyone around me, and I was so scared that they would find out and be disgusted by me.
When I found out that it was the disease causing these thoughts, and not me, it changed everything for me.
I think an important step on the way to recovery is accepting that these are NOT your thoughts and letting go of all the guilt and shame. A lot of my compulsive thoughts were caused by over analyzing things, which would often turn into a vicious circle of over thinking, worrying why I was over thinking, and over thinking more. My advice would be to try to figure out what's causing you the most stress in your life.
It may be some guilt that has been buried deep over many many years, or as it sounds like in your case, a traumatic event. Or it could be both. Addressing that problem could help you get over your OCD.
In my case, I had deep-seated guilt resulting from an extremely religious and narrow-minded upbringing. I had trouble forgiving myself for mistakes I'd made, that I saw as unforgivable sins.
Forgiving myself and letting go of these mistakes has helped me so much. I like the quote, "Don't let your past get in the way of your future".
Sorry if I went on about my own case for too long. I hope it helps you with what your going through, to know that you're not alone. Looking up symptoms of OCD and identifying them in your own life may be of some help as well.
Just know that there are others who have conquered their OCD, and also those who are still fighting it out there. You're not the only one. <3
OCD and I experienced the same problems
Dear Young Lady, I just found this site tonight so I hope you are doing better. I experienced the same disgusting, horrible thoughts when I went away to college. It isn't you haveing them, it is the disorder. It is a malfunction in the brain. Please believe that. Keep living because it is worth it. For me, it took a variety of medications to get back to normal. I was so clinically depressed and couldn't control my mind at all. I will pray for you and all of the other young people suffering. Please get help.
candida albicans
Look it up. It can cause this.
PTSD
I was wondering why the Dr diagnosed you with PTSD? What was the trauma? Also, I am the mother of 5 children... It makes me sad to think you can't talk to your parents... Parents are the ones you should be able to trust with anything you have to say...How about an Aunt or Grandparent? Someone you feel safe with..You can't just wish away bad thoughts... Maybe try being around positive people watch comedies...Find a good Christian to talk with...
Thank God for my loving husband!
I was just diagnosed with PTSD at the age of 30. I am married with two beautiful girls 5 and 7. Family is much needed but my parents use me as there scapegoat. I am the problem instead of facing there own...I have been their entire lives. :-( it hurts bc no parents should make there children feel this way that mine do. It hurts so bad! I'd have to say I'm at that stage of it gets worse before it gets better. I've suffered from it my entire life yet I have to always be doing something it's hard just to sit around at the house or do things at the house... I need to be out. My fear is that this is gonna rub off on my kids. I would rather be away when I feel like this and come back home when I feel I can give my 100%. It hurts but I know this too shall pass... :-('
Don't worry !
Hello,
As a ex OCD (currently at work so... i will be short), troubles can desapear but you should be carefull not transfer the trouble into somewhere else (I had OCD troubles : cleaning, counting, fearing things, obsessive thoughts... which one day desapear but was replaced by : excessive jalousy, masochisme...). So the goal is to make them desapear.
I invite you to read a lot abt it. OCD can be a strenght if you handle it ! Be a resilient :)
So few rules :
- Don't fear your fears and thoughts.
- Take distance with them (did you act ? no.. so.. is it bad to think making love to a old guy if you didn't do it ?)
- You have a fucking powerful imagination, that's the problem as well (with no imagination : no thoughts)
- Talk to somebody (psy, pro, doctor, friend) who don't judge you (and won't)
- Be helped (some neurotrasmittor helps such as zoloft and cognitive therapy )
- Stop blaming yourself ! You are different, and hopeffully most of OCD never act bad by purpose.
- find what you thrive for (concentrate on a passion cause OCD tend not to concentrate, have low self esteem) :p
- Fight yourself (if you have rituals... : i fight mines a lot. I fear vomit and flight. I have fight them because I stop acting strangely when taking plane, and I force myself thanks to my lover, to not fear people vomiting.. lol stupido now i am thinking of it).
Just read that :
Most people have intrusive or uninvited thoughts similar to those reported by people with OCD. For example, parents under stress from caring for an infant may have an intrusive thought of harming the infant. Most people would be able to shrug off such a thought. Individuals prone to developing OCD, however, might exaggerate the importance of the thought, and respond as though it represents an actual threat. They may think, "I must be a danger to children if I have thoughts of harming children." This can cause a high level of anxiety and other negative emotions, such as shame, guilt and disgust.
The problem occurs with people with a too high sensitivity, perception. So : fucking develop this in something useful !
And except death or being a psychopath for others, there is ALWAYS a solution to fight OCD, that's hard, long, take time, thought, fights, but .... i like this sentence : I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul from William Ernest Henley.
Good luck ! :)
Thoughts
The thought is ok, as long as you know you won't act on it. I have ocd under control now. You can have the disturbing thought, if you are not sure if you will act on it see a professional ASAP. My therapist told me I was thinking these things to disturb me. Once I accepted the thoughts as just thoughts the problems were better. For me effexor was used for ocd. For me I would thing I can jump off this cliff, then say yo muself why did I think this, do I really want to jump. It's a doubting disease, you jave to know if the thoughts are just thoughts.
I was hospitalized, I had a thought I would cut the baby out of a pregnant nurse. Just a thought. Being a christian makes weird thoughts worse. Lighten up.
Gary
real talk....
Thanks you man for sharing your thoughts and fight with OCD. I'm going to take that and apply it to my life, and hope and pray that God see me through my fight... God bless you.
Down Under you're most likely suffering from OCD
From what you've described, you're possibly experiencing OCD. I can only hope that your parents can understand and recognize that you need professional help, mainly an OCD specialist who is trained in CBT ERP therapy. I'm speaking this from experience, I'm a parent whose child about your age suffers from OCD. When we first came to know about her symptoms, there was nobody who could explain us what our child was suffering from, but with lot of research, we successfully have begun her treatment. Talk to your parent do not delay talking to them, as this will only get worse if it's not treated.
Your parents must recognize that you need professional help now rather than later. If they want to talk to me they can email me. Please refer to the following link there is great deal of info that will be helpful for your parents.
http://www.ocfoundation.org/
God Bless and I hope you get the right treatment soon.
obsessional thoughts
My name is mark and ive bring having obsessional thoughts since ive bein in my early twenties and the most difficult one to deal with is the thought that everyone thinks im gay im now thirty and Its worse than ever ive even doubted my pwn sexuality over This but it doesnt add up as ive never felt any attraction towards men and have always bring attracted to girls no matter what i do i cant seen to get This thought out of my head and i feel like ending my life bcus of it i have become so paranoid about ppł talking about me and feel so anxious any time something comes up about gays or even things that rhyms with it i completley panic Its taking over my life n wish i Could be normal has anyone else felt like This bfore
I read in physiognomy the
I read in physiognomy the theory that your face is an open book that tells everything about you. I read that if you have narrow eyes it means that you are narrow minded.
This is something that can be
This is something that can be common with pure ocd, they are just thoughts derived from ocd and not what you really want. Ocd can and does affect in ways that we are most fearful of such harming someone, or being christian and having thoughts about being attracted to something we really aren't. Just know it's OCD it's not what you really want since you described you like women, have never felt attraction towards men, and this can be a common occurrence with pure ocd.
Reply to obsessional thoughts
Seek out treatment right away. Find an OCD treatment center or therapist that specializes in OCD. They will teach you cognitive behavioral therapy and determine if you need medication. Keep looking for the right treatment. If money is an issue, see if the OCD center or therapist can work with your budget. Some therapists are covered by insurance. I went to an OCD treatment center and it helped greatly. Wish you all the best.
It is the OCD that is making
It is the OCD that is making you anxious and obsessive over specific thoughts. Seek out treatment right away. Find an OCD treatment center or therapist that specializes in OCD. They will work with you to teach you cognitive behavioral therapy and determine if you need medication or not. Keep looking to find the help you need. If money is an issue there are centers and therapists that work with your budget. Some can be covered by insurance. I have OCD and went to an OCD treatment center. It has greatly helped me. Wish you all the best.
ocd
How can i know where is the centre where i can treat ocd?
Actually i have ocd but money is the issue. So plz help me
Mark you have to calm down.
Mark you have to calm down. No one except yourself defines your sexuality. If you are attracted to girls then you ARE ATTRACTED TO GIRLS! If that makes you happy then you don't have to justify yourself to anyone. Your brain is in hyperactive anxiety mode so it will make you feel bad about so many illogical things that are not worth worrying over. It's NOT your fault at all that you feel all this anxiety. It's the chemicals in your brain. I've been in the same situation in the past and also had thoughts of suicide over recurring obsessive thoughts "invading" my brain, making me panic and worrying me but when I started to talk about my fears and feelings to others I put things back into perspective. I also went to a GP who suggested certain pills that would calm me down and I went to get them immediately and I am not stressed out anymore. Another thingg... I learned that people are so influenced by superficial things that what they see on the surface directs their judgement to a great degree. maybe you don't have facial hair, maybe your not a bulky guy, maybe you are a graceful person... Bam people assume you're gay. I saw it happen to a close friend of mine for years. He is happily married to a woman now. You can do small things to "masculinise" your appearance if you want or you can rise above the nonsense of other people and be confident with who you are on the inside. Keep your head up Mark. We all have stresses and problems and anxieties to deal with. We all feel lonely ans scared and worried sometimes. But for some people the level of anxiety they have to deal with is higher because of the brain chemicals and you shouldn't have to deal with that. Be strong, you're not alone.
Friend w/ocd
I am trying to understand the conditions of ocd. I work at a school system as a custodian, and became friends with one of the teachers there. I have known her for 3 years and she is a very goal oriented person. She tutors after school and works on weekends at a restaurant. Just recently she joked about being ocd because she was being evaluated on her teaching in which the school does once a year. She was very concerned about how her class room looked and it was very neat and perfect. My whole point is about her personality, are they usually oblivious to things or is she just self centered? Because I find it strange in that one day she will say hi and have a conversation and the next nothing as if I am a stranger it's quite bizarre and exhausting to be honest with you. So I have decided to keep it simple and just say hi.
She sounds like she suffers
She sounds like she suffers from some kind of anxiety issue, whether it's OCD or not is difficult to tell. However when someone's anxiety levels are very high their focus becomes all about what they are worried about and they don't pay attention to other things. Maybe that's why she is "on" one minute and friendly and normal and another moment she is unaware of you. I never take these things personally. All people have their personal issues regardless of OCD or anxiety or anything and It's not about you. Rise above it but continue being a pleasant positive person.
Boyfriend is Pure O
Hi All,
I'm new to this forum but reading through these comments has helped so much. My boyfriend of 10 years has OCD - pure O is actually what he's been diagnosed with. Over the years, we've been through his cycles of doubt that seems to focus on relationships (one being his brother) but never to the extent it is right now. So much that his obsessions have turned to focusing on me and our relationship. He constantly worries if he loves me, that it doesn't feel right, that he not normal, thinks that I can do better, that he's broken and cannot be "all in". But as we start to work through these thoughts he doesn't know what his life would be without me, that it doesn't feel right not being in this relationship etc. His anxiety is the highest I've ever seen it and it's impacting our relationship. Work has been stressful as well which I feel is contributing. But also that we are at a point of true commitment or walking away (both of us are in our 30s). He's been on scripts previously but never stayed on because that would mean he has a "serious" problem.
What do I do? My hearts breaks to watch the anxiety and endless circles his thoughts take him. But at the same time, I have very difficult time deciphering what are his true feelings from those OCD thoughts. I love this man and truly do not know what to do.
pue O boyfriend
To the person with a pure O boyfriend feb 6, wondering what to do. My ex-wife has ocd with pur-O but also rocd, (relationship ocd). It wasn't until after studying rocd that I felt I understood this type of behaviour. Unless the spouse knows the exact nature of the obsessional thoughts, the communication between two people will not be successful. Although it is really not important what the obsession is, unless both people know that the other knows what it is, no matter how disgusting or shameful the thought is, there will be a barrier to communication. It is difficult for them to feel love when they are experiencing paranoia. The paranoia is reduced if they know that you know what the thought is. The shame of it can't go away without forgiveness. You can't offer forgiveness and he can't receive it unless you both know what is being forgiven. So if you want a chance of a loving relationship, he has to tell you exactly what he is thinking and when. The truth will not hurt you if you understand no one is to blame. Be strong and compassionate, know that no emotional abuse is acceptable, and pray for wisdom, and guidance if you don't already.
OCD
I have always had obsessive thoughts and worrie aways worried about ofending someone and explaning and rexplaning even though they the person would keep sayin its ok. Thats just one exampel. After having two childern in 19 months is when germs came in to play. Washing my bathroom 3x a day hand washing not touching public things ie door handles elevator buttons. I ways would tell my self "you know these thing wont kill you or the likely ness slim to none" I could not eat out then I started not being able to eat I was washing fruit with sope and thinkin how is it manufactured. I lost alot of wait. I got help. My home can now be untidy its been 15 years. I still do my locking my door geting in bed no matter how many times I tell my slef I locked it I have to check. I want to know if thses things are also OCD. When helpin move friends I kept thinkin over and over I smelled like sweat. Even though I would ask and say I thought i smelled then I could focus on moving for 30 min or so I would keep thinkin agin about the sweat smell. I would keep trying to tell myself its ok u already talked about it. Over and over I would have to say sorry agin this kept happening I must of talked about it 16x in the 5 hour move. Now that I write it I realize it must have been more than every 30 min. After a social event I will lay in bed thikin of everything I said over and over worrie and checking if I could have buged or offended someone. So much so that I cant sleep or even focus on reading a book. my mind keeps going back to it. At work if somthing is not done right (well my right any way) I try so hard not to write a note about it. I try to talk my self out of it and hours pass I write the note and I then am telling myself put it in my purse no need to complain its trivial but I cant I have to put it under the door to the office. Are thses things OCD. I not clean now i think about gums but dot obess thought I was better till the note writing as become an issue of cource. Should I seek help again. Are these things also OCD
You are suffering
You are suffering unnecessarily. Your anxiety levels should NOT be that high. It's not fair on you nor on the people you love around you. If you don't have a therapist already, ask your GP to refer you to one. This is not your fault and you don't need to live like this. There are certain medications that will calm down your fears and anxieties and put things into the right perspective for you. God be with you and don't worry there's a solution to everything.
"Learned" OCD may not be hereditary, but from close proximity
Spoiler Alert - long comment about hoarding
I've been with my husband for 20 years, living together almost that long. About a year and a half ago, I was helping someone I knew get a diagnosis for Dissociative Identity Disorder (popularly called Multiple Personality Disorder). In the many hours of research I did to figure this out, I had to intensively research other disorders, too because so many times a person with a serious disorder present parts of other disorders, too and they are intertwined in the research phase.
A year later, after a huge event happened in my marriage that came out of nowhere and hurt us both tremendously, I began to realize that I believed my husband has Borderline Personality Disorder. As the layers got peeled back; we talked, brought up memories, behavior patterns, consistent, long time problems that never seemed to be resolved how hard we tried - and we began to believe he also has a hoarding disorder and is ADD/ADHD. In some ways, all of this brought on a feeling of release and understanding. Things were still terrible, but it made more sense to know these were patterns he was stuck in like being in a hamster wheel. No wonder none of the normal things worked, so we began to talk about treatment, whether self treatment and understanding or professional help. He ended up declining all professional help; occasionally he would do a little reading on his own but never got with a program of regulated self help which is what he had promised to do.
As I began to study more and consider options, I kind of joked that "Well if you have to have THREE disorders, at least hoarding seemed pretty benign." The ADD is frustrating, and precludes having healthy communication exchanges (he doesn't pay attention, forgets, and mis-remembers on a regular basis, so it's not all that benign and can do a lot of damage in a long term, intimate relationship.) There is nothing benign at all about BPD - it can be terribly damaging for all involved.
Long story, but I realized after some months that the hoarding was not benign. It had caused me to live in a manner in which I never want to live again, cost me hundreds of hours packing up his stuff neatly to take to storage to keep it from choking us out of our home, and caused many fights when I would ask him if I could sell something he wasn't using, put it away, have him make a decision, etc. I thought he was just an out of control pack rat, but it was very stressful and damaging.
On to my point (finally!), when he accepted the idea of all these disorders and promised again to work on them all, he said he would at least be able to soften or dissolve the hoarding problem since it was ruining the order, cleanliness and aesthetic of our home environment (not to mention the fight, after fight, after fight about "stuff"). We examined his parents habits, and he believed he "picked up" hoarding from his Dad and it could just be dumped now that he knew it.
Well, not only has he not been able to let go of the hoarding disorder, but still promised I could organize and find homes for this (useless to us) junk and maybe that would desensitize him. I've been working on this for months now, and what I find is that I also feel a bit like a hoarder myself. Not in keeping or collecting stuff, but that I can't even get rid of his old stuff without doubting myself. I was in a purging mood after all this melee, and found I'm having difficulty now getting rid of MY old stuff! I have examined these feelings, struggles and confusion a lot. I now believe that his hoarding has been affecting me due to the close proximity. I no longer believe now that it's necessarily hereditary, but can affect those who you share not one gene with. When I'm questioning myself and feel confused, I almost feel like it's someone else in control of my mind. I guess that's what a disorder feels like.
Sorry for the long story; I just know this might reach someone like me who feels like they are going crazy and doing things that are not inherent to their basic nature, view of the world, normal coping mechanisms, and processing of difficult situations. It's a foreign feeling to me, and I despise the feeling and the confusion. I am leaving for a few months to figure it out. I know I will miss my guy, but I feel a huge relief in just getting away from his pervasive, damaging, merry-go-round habits and behaviour and look forward to reconnecting with myself. Our marriage is over of course, but we have much shared time, experience and love and would like to remain true friends for a very long time if not forever.
The last thing I want is for more of his disordered behaviour to "rub off on me" and I feel often that it has. I have to get out, and away.
Hi Everyone.
So far my son has been doing great, after he begged us not to take him to the hospital, and we asked that he give us a promised note that he will not break up the house again. The doctor did changed his drug from Prozac to fluvoxamine, I gave him for the first time on Saturday night, half hour after he took the drug, he was in his room, about to go brush his teeth for the night before he goes to bed, he called out to me and said, he will come over to my room and give me a hug before he go brush his teeth. I waited for some minutes, he didn't come, I was not hearing any voices or sound in his room. I got worried and went over to his room to check on him, I found him lying on his be in a cross position, just like when someone just fell and fainted, but his feet was on the bed. I stand there looking at him to make sure he was breathing, he was, then I bring a blanket and cover him. My son got knocked out with the fluvoxamine in half hour after taking it, he did not wake up until 7:30 in the morning to brush his teeth, and even after he was up, he was very dizzy. Ever since my son started on medication for his OCD, my husband did not approve of it, he keep telling my son that drugs like this will damage him, and now after seeing what the fluvox did to him, i myself is convince that drugs can damage our son's health. So I too started warning him, and within a day my son made the decision not to take any drugs again for his OCD. So I hope that he can able to manage all the rituals he is doing, that are keeping him up late at night, and missing school most of the days. It is so wonderful to have our son in his normal self again, but hard to watch him involved so much in his rituals.
You have described anxiety is
You have described anxiety is a disease in your blog which I feel is offensive and the wrong word! Can I ask why you have chosen to call it that?
I have trouble keeping friends
I feel that i suffer from OCD. I have so many negative thoughts every sindle second that i cant concentrate. this affects me in my daily studies. I cannot crack entranceexams because these exams require speed. Speed does not come even with practice. Because everytime my mind is occupied with something else. iam so devastated because i am unable to have a normal life like others. I feel depressed all the time. None of my friends understands this. They think i am dumb. People who dont have mental disorders never try n understand others problem. I have diificulty keeping friends. Nobody wants to befriend me. I feel i have become socially unacceptable. Because whenever i am with my friends, i get anxious and i get disoriented a lot and confused easily and then they make fun of me. They fail to realise my condition and avoid me. When they ask me certain doubts, even if i know it , i am unable to explain to my friends in a proper manner. They think that i dont want to help. but that is never the case. Also, when i sit to explain certain things to my friend, they never listen to me. They will only talk to me when they want to talk. And suddenly they prop questions which i am unable to tell them. For me, i feel worse when with people but when i am alone i feel more confident and intelligent. When i do things alone, i am at my best. I can study well, i can think well , i dont get anxious at all. but when i get into professional life, i cant be doing all things on my own. I will need to interact with people.
Even my family members does not talk to me. They dont listen to me at all. They have never helped me out with a situation.They tslk snd i listen. Nobody is ever in my conversation. Its everytime i have to put a zip on my mouth.When i am saying something, they never answer back. I am not talking to anyone since last 6 months but only to myself. I am in a room with my pc and internet. Now tell my what i have written here , does it sound like a mental illness, If so ,what kind of an illness is this? plz help.
re: i have trouble keeping friends
oh my gosh!! I can so relate to you! Please please please see a professional psychologist! i have suffered the same way since childhood and am now 47! I got to where you are hiding from the world, because everyone seemed so dangerous to my psyche and self esteem. You are right, alot of people dont try to understand mental illness. BUT there are alot of people who will love and accept you the way you are. I found out how important it is to have supportive people in my life. the right church, or support group would be a great start.
they are the people who are trying to be kind to people. the right ssri has helped my panic. i am working on the right adhd med now. I am doing cbt thereapy with my psychologist. I am learning to accept myself. luckily i had prayed to meet a man with a great sense of humor and God sent one to me. We laugh when I get disoriented, or say mixed up things. he really makes me feel accepted and safe. I am going to learn what to say to those type of people that make fun of me, and sometimes I have said something. Now I have found some friends who laugh along with me at my foibles. I am a recovered alcoholic so I have support from some special people in AA. Even there, though, I am cautious who I associate with, because I need supportive people, not judgemental people, which can be a part of any group. Good luck and you are in my prayers! Make that appointment!!
Since i have OCD, I can help you.
Hi, Iam from INDIA. I have OCD early from my childhood now iam 24. I started knowing this two years back. But one positive thing of me is that i never thought OCD is an disease, illness, disorder or blah blah. The biggest letdown is that when you know you are suffering from OCD. when recollected all my childhood i had every OCD i have read about. Example i has eating disorder, writing disorder, walking disorder, reading disorer, talking disorder, i split often... all these things are observed in my childhood and itslowly vanished. until you think its bigger you can never get out of it. Still i have some disorders like computer operating disorder(am a software engineer by profession), while watching movie in my laptop i go back and front. pressing refresh more times etc. Finding a solution by our own will makes more comfort. Lets talk about your case. You think that all your friends dont talk to you. Try to get rid of this first. Crack jokes with them, talk some thing interesting, Throw parties, Support them if needed, Play with them, dont get angry.. etc .. When all goes fine you will be normal.... NEVER EVER THINK YOU HAVE A DISEASE.. GOOD LUCK FOR YOU... sorry if my post was not clear b'coz i have this writing disorder also.. :-) :-).. ALWAYS SMILE>> LIFE IS SHORT >> ENJOY EVERY BIT
OCD
Hi Everyone, my 13 year old son has been diagnose with OCD this last summer. He is on Prosac 30mg and Resperidone. We have notice that he has become very aggressive, angry, hitting and breaking the doors e.t.c. He swears at my, and calls me all kinds of names and even treatened verball all the time kill his brother, when they get into argument, in which he is acusing him for blowing into his face or spiting on him. I was wondering if any of you with OCD experiencing this yourself or from love ones? I am beginning to thik he has OCD and something else but need to get that checked out. He used to be such a loving and caring and happy boy. He still is most of the time, but when he becomes anxious that is what happens. Please give me some advice if you have any? Thanks.