OCD- do i have it? what should i do?!
Question: OCD- do i have it!? what should i do!?
I don't make things tidy, but i do things like
switch lights on and off about 10 times,
shut something with my right hand, then with my left, then open it and shut it with both at the same time,
type a paragraph - delete it then type it again, read chapters over and over again,
get up, sit down, get up until it feels right
or pick up random things or keep stuff like old bits of paper "because i might need it"
stuff not overlap or go over the edge and it has to be straight!.
Sometimes i feel like if i don't do it, someone in my family will die, or something will happen to someone i love!. I tried telling my parents once but they just laughed and said "your room isn't even tidy you don't have OCD!."
I can't even remember how long i've had it, i think i was about 9 when it first got bad, i'm 13 now!. It really gets me in a state!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
switch lights on and off about 10 times,
shut something with my right hand, then with my left, then open it and shut it with both at the same time,
type a paragraph - delete it then type it again, read chapters over and over again,
get up, sit down, get up until it feels right
or pick up random things or keep stuff like old bits of paper "because i might need it"
stuff not overlap or go over the edge and it has to be straight!.
Sometimes i feel like if i don't do it, someone in my family will die, or something will happen to someone i love!. I tried telling my parents once but they just laughed and said "your room isn't even tidy you don't have OCD!."
I can't even remember how long i've had it, i think i was about 9 when it first got bad, i'm 13 now!. It really gets me in a state!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
ocd stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and you certainly sound as if you are both obsessive and compulsive to me! ocd can manifest in all different kinds of ways, it's not just about being super clean, which is a very common form and probably why your parents are blowing you off, which is unfortunate!.!.!.i really feel for you!. i remember when i was in school i thought if was suffering from depression!. i told my mom about it, and why i thought so and she just said, without even looking up, "oh, all teenagers feel that way!" and that was that!. i had overcome my depression by myself!.
since your parents are not with you on this yet, and so probably won't be taking you to a doctor about it, i suggest you talk to your school guidance councilor about your behaviors!. he or she should be trained to deal with things like this, not just helping you get the classes you want or into college!. another person you can talk to is your school nurse!. they can give you advice for how to get help for your ocd!. also, make sure you explain to them that you've tried to talk to mom and dad but they don't think you have a problem!. ask them what to do about that, maybe they can contact your parents directly!. if for some reason neither of these people believe you, keep seeking out adults that you trust until someone takes your concerns seriously!. the only way to find out *for sure* that this is, or is not, OCD, is to be evaluated by a therapist, so don't give up until you get that!.
i really think you DO need to see a doctor about this because your concerns about the consequences of NOT performing your rituals are really irrational (ie: no one is going to die because you don't follow thru on a compulsion, that is a disordered thought process) and because your symptoms seem to be getting worse over relatively short periods of time!. OCD can be extremely debilitating if left unchecked, and you are still very young, so now is a great time to get help!.!.!.so that's good! ;>
in addition, or in the meantime, if your parents are relatively open people in general, maybe you could check some books on OCD out of the library and suggest your parents read them so that they can discover first hand all the different ways OCD can manifest besides extreme cleanliness and organization!. have them check out that movie The Aviator about Howard Hughes who definitely did have ocd and was NOT a neat freak!
for you, what you can do is try to make some small steps yourself!. prepare to turn a light on!. think about turning it on first!. in your head, imagine turning it on *only once*!. maybe you can sit by the switch and really try to image getting up, walking over to it, turning it on only once and then sitting back down!. imagine nothing bad happens when you do this!. continue having these sessions with yourself until you are comfortable with the THOUGHT of turning the light on once without anything bad happening as a result!. when you are ready, give it a shot, reminding yourself that nothing bad will happen if you turn the light on only once!. give yourself a time limit, say 10 seconds!. then allow yourself to turn the light off and on again if you need to!. keep practicing this, lengthening the time the light stays on before you allow yourself to give in to your compulsion!. when you can do this, try to walk away from the light switch after turning it on, then leaving the room, then going outside, etc, each time seeing that nothing bad happens!
from reading and programs i've seen on tv, this may be similar to the work a therapist would have you do!. you might be able to give yourself a head-start while you find an adult to take your concerns seriously!.
good luck sweetheart! xxxWww@Answer-Health@Com
since your parents are not with you on this yet, and so probably won't be taking you to a doctor about it, i suggest you talk to your school guidance councilor about your behaviors!. he or she should be trained to deal with things like this, not just helping you get the classes you want or into college!. another person you can talk to is your school nurse!. they can give you advice for how to get help for your ocd!. also, make sure you explain to them that you've tried to talk to mom and dad but they don't think you have a problem!. ask them what to do about that, maybe they can contact your parents directly!. if for some reason neither of these people believe you, keep seeking out adults that you trust until someone takes your concerns seriously!. the only way to find out *for sure* that this is, or is not, OCD, is to be evaluated by a therapist, so don't give up until you get that!.
i really think you DO need to see a doctor about this because your concerns about the consequences of NOT performing your rituals are really irrational (ie: no one is going to die because you don't follow thru on a compulsion, that is a disordered thought process) and because your symptoms seem to be getting worse over relatively short periods of time!. OCD can be extremely debilitating if left unchecked, and you are still very young, so now is a great time to get help!.!.!.so that's good! ;>
in addition, or in the meantime, if your parents are relatively open people in general, maybe you could check some books on OCD out of the library and suggest your parents read them so that they can discover first hand all the different ways OCD can manifest besides extreme cleanliness and organization!. have them check out that movie The Aviator about Howard Hughes who definitely did have ocd and was NOT a neat freak!
for you, what you can do is try to make some small steps yourself!. prepare to turn a light on!. think about turning it on first!. in your head, imagine turning it on *only once*!. maybe you can sit by the switch and really try to image getting up, walking over to it, turning it on only once and then sitting back down!. imagine nothing bad happens when you do this!. continue having these sessions with yourself until you are comfortable with the THOUGHT of turning the light on once without anything bad happening as a result!. when you are ready, give it a shot, reminding yourself that nothing bad will happen if you turn the light on only once!. give yourself a time limit, say 10 seconds!. then allow yourself to turn the light off and on again if you need to!. keep practicing this, lengthening the time the light stays on before you allow yourself to give in to your compulsion!. when you can do this, try to walk away from the light switch after turning it on, then leaving the room, then going outside, etc, each time seeing that nothing bad happens!
from reading and programs i've seen on tv, this may be similar to the work a therapist would have you do!. you might be able to give yourself a head-start while you find an adult to take your concerns seriously!.
good luck sweetheart! xxxWww@Answer-Health@Com
mind over matter
study the four noble truths
remember habit and routine is not a bad thing
just don't be compulsive neither obsessive
learn to just let things go
prove it to yourself
by overpowering your want
and create a will NOT to switch the light the 7th or 8 time or not to reposition your stance
you'll soon be normal once more
its a phase
lifes what you make it
this seems like a silly way to be living itWww@Answer-Health@Com
study the four noble truths
remember habit and routine is not a bad thing
just don't be compulsive neither obsessive
learn to just let things go
prove it to yourself
by overpowering your want
and create a will NOT to switch the light the 7th or 8 time or not to reposition your stance
you'll soon be normal once more
its a phase
lifes what you make it
this seems like a silly way to be living itWww@Answer-Health@Com
The diagnostic criteria are below!. That sounds like OCD!. If you are finding it is impairing your life, I would encourage seeking help; a combination of medication and therapy can alleviate a great deal of the distress, and therefore behaviors!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
you do, i would know cause i take meds for it and that happens with me!. there are various form of it but you deff have it to some extent maybe talk to your parents or see a doctor the meds really do helpWww@Answer-Health@Com
I looked up on the web on OCD Symptoms!. It states the very same symptoms you discribe!. There is a mental health
channel from within that particular site!.
Check it out!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
channel from within that particular site!.
Check it out!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I think i have OCD aswell but i don't wanna tell anyone because they'll think i'm weird or they just won't understand!!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Sounds like it to me!. You should see a doctor as soon as you can!. Trust me, if you don't take care of it it'll get worse!. I haven't seen the doctor yet (and I've had it since I was in the 7th grade) and it's getting to be so bad that I think I'll just blow up at someone!. You'll have to work at educating your parents about OCD!. People only understand the examples they've heard!. They don't get that OCD isn't just about washing and cleaning!. I hope you can get help! Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Haha, I used to do some weird things like that
if I was reading and came across a long word I'd have to stop reading to count how many syllables and letters it had
if I scratched one hand, I'd have to scratch the other to make them feel even
the light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs had to face the right way, if they weren't I'd have to go and change them, even if I didn't plan on going up/down stairs
everytime I looked at a clock in my house that has double numbers (09:09, 21:21, etc!.!.!.) I had to get up, leave the room, shut the door, turn around twice and then I could go back in and carry on with what I was doing
etc!.!.!.
I don't do any of those weird obsessive things anymore, once you've get over the compulsion to do them once or twice, you don't really care anymore and don't feel the need to!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
if I was reading and came across a long word I'd have to stop reading to count how many syllables and letters it had
if I scratched one hand, I'd have to scratch the other to make them feel even
the light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs had to face the right way, if they weren't I'd have to go and change them, even if I didn't plan on going up/down stairs
everytime I looked at a clock in my house that has double numbers (09:09, 21:21, etc!.!.!.) I had to get up, leave the room, shut the door, turn around twice and then I could go back in and carry on with what I was doing
etc!.!.!.
I don't do any of those weird obsessive things anymore, once you've get over the compulsion to do them once or twice, you don't really care anymore and don't feel the need to!.Www@Answer-Health@Com