Hi All,

I used to visit the old Braintalk Communities forum on OCD years ago. It was a wonderful place to discuss any and all OCD issues! I was sad to see it was no longer available, but I am now happy to discover this new version

I've had OCD since I was about 11 or 12 (I had general anxiety issues since I was very small, though). I am 25 now. I also have trichotillomania, which is associated with OCD....I had this since I was about 8 years old.

Not until this year did I find a competent, compassionate psychologist who specializes in CBT. Let me tell you, she has been a god-send! I suffer from mainly pure-O (or pure obsessions) which means that I have no 'external' compulsions. However, I do analyze/ruminate for hours on end. I also feel the need to confess/ask for reassurance about things I am obsessing about. Does anyone else suffer from this kind of OCD?

In my experience thus far, CBT is the best treatment out there for OCD. I won't lie: it is not easy...it is meant to cause anxiety (through exposure-response prevention). But as my therapist says: "Short term pain for long term gain". I'm still on the journey to recovery, but I have made so much progress in the past 6 months I have been going to CBT. Before this, I would literally be debilitated from my obsessions...I couldn't focus on anything else. My quality of life just generally decreased. Currently, I still have bouts of OCD, but they are much more transient and I can more easily move on from them. Progress not perfection. Through therapy, I am learning to tolerate uncertainty (which is a big problem for people with OCD).

I guess I just want to say that there is hope. If you are suffering from OCD, please strongly consider seeking out a therapist who specializes in CBT. Therapy in conjunction with small doses of medication can work wonders (medication alone will not help the OCD...it just helps manage the anxiety that goes along with it). It just takes a little hard work on your part...but it is a small price to pay to escape the hellish kind of life that OCD creates!

I hope to see this forum build up to like it was on the old Braintalk Communities forum. I think these forums are a great way for people who are going through the same experiences to share their stories, give advice, etc. I look forward to reading other's posts.

Hi psychobabble and welcome to NeuroTalk

yes, I so agree with you re CBT as we have seen the positive results from it with my son.

good to have you here and thank you for sharing your experience to help others

Hi Chemar. Thank you for your warm welcome I hope that more people will join in!

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.

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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.

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.

Hello.
I have what used to be termed pure 'O' but they now think that the thoughts can also be compulsions. Unfortunately, I also seek assurance from others as an overt compulsion. It is usually in relation to me somehow thinking I've hurt someone else's feelings, I've made them angry, I've not done my job, etc. It can be so debilitation.

I have had a therapist for over 3 years now. What I used to think was an attachment issue I now know is OCD. I must have always been seeking his reassurance compulsively. I guess now I have to stop this. Ugh. The thought is just too much to handle.

I wish you the best.