What to do about OCD ?

Question

I've asked a question like this before ... But I'm going to ask again . You see , I KNOW I have OCD . I'm going to copy and paste my "symptoms" . "" People think i'm weird because I have what I call "rituals" or "routines" that I need to do everyday. I have some like after I get out of the shower I flip my hair dry 10 times, or open the fridge 5 times before getting something. I do this because ... well it's a little weird. I make bet's with "God" in my head and say " if i dont do this, then ___ will happen to me." so i'm afraid something will happen if I don't do it. Also I guess I have a phobia, and that's of throwing up. So yeah thats also one reason. Whats wrong with me ?!?!?! "" okay , so that's what i wrote last time and people told me to go to the school couselor but as you know , school is out . what should i do ? they're getting worse and worse by the day and im on the urge of breaking down ... my parents don't believe me or wont take me to the doctor because they dont want to waste money on me . please help

Answer 1

Keep in mind that everyone has their little quirks.  OCD becomes serious only when it interferes with your life (like, if you had a compulsion to lock the door 500 times everytime you closed a door, that would waste a lot of time and disrupt your life, like if you had a job and were constantly late).

I have an extreme phobia of frisbees, while my friend has an extreme phobia of balloons.  But as long as you avoid whatever you are afraid (try to not think about throwing up, or try to keep your mind preoccupied), you should be ok.

As for the rituals, well, so far, they aren't too bad (like the locking the doors 500 times thing).  What I would do, is for a week, try to open the fridge 4 times.  Or choose one day a week where you open it 4 times.  Then have two days.  Then three. Try to get it so you can spend all 7 days opening it 4 times.  Then  move down.  

Good luck!

Btw, I totally know how you feel, about your parents now believing you.  Yeah, it sucks when your parents think you're making ailments up.  But you've just got to have enough drive to overcome this, and you can perservere!

Answer 2

OMG.

You sound exactly like me. I have OCD too, I make bets with god. I'll be like if I don't wash my hands in the next 10 seconds then ___. I also wash my hands like a thousand times a day. I also have a phobia of throwing up. I hate it and I;m scared of throwing up. I also have the fear of my parents dying or getting lost or the unknown. I hate my OCD it's really hard, I know how you feel.

If you go to a consullar they can help you, that worked a bit for me.

Also I take meds and that really helps for me.

call this number:

they can help.

1-800-668-6868

take care & good luck!

~Laura

Answer 3

Hey I am a ocd sufferer and actually went through the same thing about 3 years ago, before then I just lived with it so I know how you feel.  I used to make a list every night about everything i did that day because i was afraid of forgetting it all while i was asleep, I still do it, but to a lesser extent. I also check to make sure all the doors in the house are locked 4 times each night, and used to scrape my chin against my shoulder compulsively to the point where it would bleed (thankfully i got myself to stop that one) and the list goes on but ill stop there.  My parents didnt believe me at first, but after a bit of prodding they got me help. I'd say look up information on ocd online (there is quite a bit) and show that to your parents, itll help you explain to them that your not just superstitious, and it is a legit problem.  What ive found out over the years about what other people think, is that the more informed they are, the less judgemental.  When someone would see me do something in school that had no idea, it would make me uncomfortable, but once word got around that i had it, (and i gave a speech in front of the whole school about it), i found that many people seemed to be genuinely interested in what I was going through.  I currently see a therapist about once a week (used to be more often) and am on prozac, which does help to a certain extent, but the rituals and thoughts are still there.  Again, try to inform your parents on OCD, and hopefully that would do the trick.  And know that there are millions out there going through the same thing you are, and that they (myself included) truly understand what you are going through.  Good luck, and i hope i could help in some way.

Answer 4

if you google ways to help with ocd i'm sure you can find useful stuff.. try asking your parents again, they need to realize that this is a life conflicting problem