I sugger from the same type of OCD altough I haven't been diagnosid yet but I've all the signs. My main problem is intrusive images and thoughts and that all started a year ago. I don't have many compulsions except sometimes I move around too much like cleaning or moving things around in the house. Mentaly I analyse evrything and it makes me tired by the end of the day. I was so scared a year ago when I first started having these thoughts that have changed from one thing to another until I searched the interent for answers and saw many other people writing about exactly the same issues which helped me a lot but it still doesn't take the doubt away.

Hello I can completely relate to what has been said. I'm new to this website and forum,and I'm at total lose of what to do. I have been through many theroputic sessions,7 psychiatrists,1 psychialogists,3 churches,three prayer groups,and much theropy.My first panic attack happened when I was about 14,or 15. No one understood then. When I was 18 I drank for relief. I stoped drinking in my late 20's. I've been everywhere,and there has been nothing but one misunderstanding after another. People have made some of the strangest diagnoses that has sent me into a tailspin at times. I have considered suicide. I've tried many medicines. I've been through the phobia clinic's treatment,where they would take me to high buildings,and into crowds,and etc. I also feel a need to confess,and need reassurances from people. Sometimes I ask again to be sure. I have these condemning thoughts.I have these out of control worries,intrusive images,thoughts,and at times immagined feallings somewhat,but I know that they aren't real. Sometimes when someone leans closely to me,I have a repelling fealing,and lean away from them. I don't know why,I sure need a hug. It's almost like a reverse magnetic reaction affect. I have pain in my chest most of the time. It starts in the middle of my chest,and goes to the left under my ribcage. This pain,and uncertainty is what's bothering me the most right now. I didn't use to have it,but it developed over time.I worked myself to death for about 15 years,and I became so disturbed,that I would be up at night with bouts of anxiety,and stress,and there was no relief. I woke up and would have panic attacks immediateley while I was waking up.Sometimes I'm so anxious around people that my knees have stiffened while sitting down,and It's obvious to me when I begin to stand.The list goes on. No one knows what to do for me.My relatives who know me don't know what to do for me.I haven't been through much theropy in the last 17 years because the people who have tried to help me have made so many mistakes. It seems like I've been walking through a maze,and I don't know where to go,or what to do. I'm not working now because all of this has caught up with me. The pain,I'm tired of it all,and I want it to end. I want to end it. This isn't life,it's very much so torment. I cannot get help from Social Security Dissability. They are obviously doing there best to dodge me,and this is another aggrivation,and I'm tired of it all. Is anyone else going through what I'm going through,because I certainly feel like the odd one,yet I'm not. My intelligence is up,but my of how I do things is hindered by the way my mind doesn't process things properly. They thought that I was slow when I was in elementary school in the 1950's. They didn't know anything about my illnesses then,and learning disabilities,and grinding my teeth in my sleep,but they know allot now. Is there anything that they can do for this pain in my chest? This is something that doesn't go away,and It drives me up the wall. It let's up at different times of the day,but it comes right back. Can anyone out there relate to what I've said,and how aggrivated I feel. Just don't hit me with a hammer,and tell me that it's my fault. I'm a good person,and moral,but I'm very aggrivated,because I feel like people have turned their back on me,and I don't know what to do. I have had to move,and this has been hard on me,and I don't know where to go. Can anyone relate to this,or am I in the wrong place.:

I don't think you're in the wrong place I've been where you are. Going crazy from the uncertainty feeling I had no where to turn to and that my life was one long nightmare. The thing that really helped me was yoga grounding excercises. I've found a yoga excercise, called "head to knee pose" to be extremely calming. . You can google it . I've found these help with muscular skeletal chest pain from stress. Just be sure to (consult your doctor ...hahaah disclaimer), make sure you breathe properlywhile doing the stretches.
Yoga can definately help with OCD. I went from 200 mg of Zoloft down to 100 mg because of it. Yoga videos I recommend would be Yoga for wieght loss by Suzanne Deason of GAIAM. The name obviously fashioned to make sales, but the workout very well rounded and calming; perfect for a beginner.
If you think about why you get chest pain, it comes from holding your body rigid due to stress. Basically this stretch undoes for me what stress does to me on a day to day basis. If I can control the chest pain, I feel more control over everything else. Hope this helps.
Hmm... aww yes "relabel your OCD thoughts" as just that, OCD thoughts caused by genetic problem, and then refocus; do something productive, even if it's just the laundry. You can feel bad and give into compulsions or feel bad and do something productive and just maybe feel a sense of accomplishment. If you get the real nervous agitated energy like me, use the adrenaline to accomplish things. This does two things, (1) burns of the adrenaline so you aren't so tense and (2) helps you weaken the OCD beast. The more power you give it the stronger it gets. If you ignore it gets weaker. Also, real brainy activities that involve figuring stuff out help to refocus your mind. If you can go to work and stay busy I highly recommend this.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry Brokenfriend, I didn't realize you were in the OCD group as well. I know I already replied to you in the bipolar group, but only because I really identified with your symptoms and how you were feeling. I try to tell all who have similar symptoms what worked for me. I'm curious too if the excercises, I suggested help others. I was ready to throw in the towel, until recieving a combo of therapies, antidepressants, CBT, EDMR, and yoga. The yoga did wonders for me. Now I work full time as a staff accountant. A really brainy job that keeps my mind focused. Caution: Some yoga is stimulating and some is calming... Stick with the calming poses.

I have gone to another forum to learn about my sister's disease. She is infirmed with MS. My grandmother on my mothers side had ALS(Lou Gehrig's disease)...Lou Gehrig... What a brave man,he was looking back at all of the good fortune that he had,and that everyone loved him... My mother had MS,and she died in a nursing home last year. Gone but not forgotten. I'd like to say bless her,and she's not forgotten. It affected everything in her life. She stopped writing letters,and calling people over 20 years ago. She suffered in silence. I honor her memory. She did not want that terrible disease. Now my sister has it. Now she cannot walk.(3 generations of females on my Mothers side). I am now worried about her two daughters,my two nieces. They have not shown any signs of it. By the way,my Grandmother was a real cool Grandmother,and full of charm,and life. She was a beautiful person. I'm going back to the Bipolar forum. dotty,I will be back. I appreciate your friendship. I'm glad that your son is hanging in there. We may have things to look forward to. With stem cell research on the horizon,and medical research in space,and all kinds of new things that they are developing,and working on,and perfecting...there may be a better outcome then we think. Thank you peace of mind for your advice. Hang in there. I have not left here permanently. I have found friends,and support on the bipolar forum. I seem to have some Bipolar traits,and I may get some different medication combinations. A few breaks in the clouds of my life have appeared,and I see a little sun coming through the clouds.

dotty,I just read the thread where you where in the beginning of the year. I haven't read it before. The doctor that told you not to worry was trying to put your mind at ease. If it's OCD,he will be greatly helped by new medications like Luvox,and several others. It takes about TWO MONTHS for the medicine to get into his system. He's going to need some kind of therapy. Please take him to a specialist,who is well recommended. If you cannot afford one, please go to Social Services. If it isn't OCD take him to some kind of neurologist. Some regular doctors,and some psychiatrist's will just tell you anything to calm you,or him down. A specialist of some kind,a neurologist,or a highly skilled Psychiatrist can make the diagnosis. A regular family doctor doesn't usually have the expertise to really know. Please let me know how he's doing. The earlier the treatment at his age,the better off he will be in the long run. He's at the age in life right now, where what he becomes in life is being formed. I don't mean to be alarming you,but It should be a high priority to get him to a specialist. It may be a problem that we have no idea of,but a specialist would,over time. Actually a correct diagnosis might take awhile.A treatment plan might take awhile also,but at least he will be on a path that will bring him treatment.Oh please let me know how he is. My heart goes out to you all. Brokenfriend

Hi BF! I am sorry that you have OCD. I have recovered from anxiety and I have learned so many helpful things about mental health. I'll bet your father's anger just always set you on edge. I think that people grow up anxious because they don't feel secure. Your dad's anger probably never allowed you to feel secure and everything just snowballed from there. I got better by focusing on the here and now and only going back in my past if it helped me understand how I was behaving and thinking today. It is all about self-understanding and problem solving and feeling secure. I think it helps to tell yourself that most of your feelings of insecurity are coming from your childhood and that these conditions don't exist today and that you can feel secure today. The feelings of insecurity are just a habit from the past when you were a child. Children don't think correctly because their brains are not capable yet and aren't fully developed. Our feelings form then when we didn't have the mental capacity to deal with these issues and we continue to carry them with us today until we confront and deal with them. This stuff can really be understood and worked out.

Dotty, I hope you are still around. Do you feel that you are a bit anxious and not feeling too secure?

Thanks for asking about my son,he seems to be coping better at school at the moment,they have managed to keep him and this other child separate.Has big problems with eating at school often doesn't touch his packed lunch,he says its the mess and people eating bananas makes him feel really sick.I dont really know if I should be doing anything to stop his massive dislike of bananas,if we have them in the house he gets so worked up and angry.
Unfortunatly I have had a couple of bad months with my PD,the medication caused me to become very obsesive.I'd turn the computer on in the morning spend all day on it,forgetting about everything didn't do housework,have no food for dinner,late getting kids from school.I would seem hard done by if I had to stop to help kids with homework or if they needed the computer.For about a month most nights I would sit at the computer from 10pm right through to 7am.I would often just be watching to see if anyone was posting.some nights no posts ,it just seems silly how obsessions can effect us so much.I would also go on msn,but unfortuanatly meds made me hyper and I would flirt and go to far with people.Got obsessions with different people
wanted to know where they were all the time,obsessed with trying to get their msn adresses just so I could chat to them.Once I had got their adresses the thrill seemed not to be there as much as before.Anyway enough about me .Due to how I have been acting some of my sons issues have got worse probably feeling unsecure.I have changed my meds starting to feel a bit better but still having to fight some of my obsessions,I realise how I am effects my kids so I'm trying really hard,its just not easy.
My son has been off sick for the last three days,when his ill he gets alot more frustrated about things .Things have to be done a certain way and things have to be in the right places.His feeling much better today but he hasn't eaten much at all over the last week,think things are putting him off, he gets so frustrated about the smallest of things,but I guess that all part of OCD.
He still uses the punch bag to get rid of some of his anger and also still does his judo.
Thanks again for your post its good to have people who care and understand.
Dotty.

Exercise helps only a little. I've been a weight lifter,I've taken boxing lessons,I've taken Karate lessons,I've jogged,I've walked,and worn out shoes. I'll even work on science projects,and other projects. Thanks' though. A good punching bag helps. I need to buy a punching bag again. Yoga,and some Karate Kata procedures are similar. It doesn't help me very much. I hope it helps others. If I would start off with yoga,I'd curve back to the Kata procedures in Karate. I was into that for awhile. Brokenfriend

You're not alone.

Your symptoms are at a high level. I have anxiety but not to this degree.

I was 40 years old and had to learn how to breathe. Yoga and PT. Yes, stick with the relaxing Yogas. You may need a class or 3 for instruction on breathing and movement. I know that sounds stupid, but it's not really. It's very good for relaxing.

There's also just breathing techniques that can help relieve tension. Breath in slowly and deeply through your nose. then blow out slowly by pursing your lips. Do this X 3. Also good at night when you can't sleep.

The heavy chest/chest pains I do know about. Sometimes a drive does help, just a change of scenery. I like being around water for relaxing too. seems to be calming to me.

Work is good therapy. Doesn't necessarily mean you have to get a full time job right now. just something to start with. not overwhelming.

Unfortunately, when I need someone to understand when I'm having issues and anxiety has just kicked into overdrive, I too know that lonely, nobody-understands-or-cares feeling. I don't think I'm pittying myself. I just can't find nobody to console me about it.

...and after that's passed and I've worked it out myself... again, I realize that there's nobody to console me about it even then. so, I know where you're coming from with that feeling. I guess it's our beast to bear, my friend.

Here's a hug for you. I like hugs too. don't get that either...

Humor and laughter is a natural cure for the moment. I like laughing a lot.

Animals can be a stress reliever too.

Don't give up. Be realistic and try to laugh about things.

Don't let anxiety have control over your day. give it some time but take the rest for yourself. You deserve it. You are a good person. I know that by what you're writing. I've read your posts and you're reaching out to help others. We need you.