Ryan Mullen

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

Nurse practitioner

I went to a Nurse Practitioner psychiatrist today. I told her about all of my intrusive thought OCD. She said I don't have OCD but that its a form of bipolar and maybe some psychosis. She asked me 20 times if I hear voices it see things that are not there. She said OCD is just people who order things and must have it done. She made me feel horrible and asked if I had ever acted on any of this. When I said no she almost acted bewildered. Very frustrating. My Lexapro has reached its shelf life and I just wanted to try a new SSRI. She prescribed Lamitrigine. Anyone ever try this?

Anon97

Date posted: 1y ago

I am so sorry that this was your experience. I am a psychiatric nurse & this really frustrates me! I am qualified outside of the US & practice in Europe & from what I know & understand, there are quite different standards & treatment models in Europe compared to the US. I have seen different mood stabilisers prescribed for various reasons however lamotrigine/lamictal is not usually one of them - again though this is going by European standards & my personal experience. You are so brave for opening up to a healthcare professional about your experience & im so sorry you didn’t receive the care & adequate expertise you needed or deserved

Ryan Mullen

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@Anon97 It was frustrating. I wanted to get up and walk out. I didnt want to be rude though.

Anon97

Date posted: 1y ago

@Ryan Mullen It doesn’t sound like it was particularly helpful so I don’t think it actually would have been rude to do so but understand where you’re coming from. It is alot more of a reflection on them & their need to upskill than you. I hope you can find a more helpful practitioner going forward

Jake19

Date posted: 1y ago

Man, it sounds like this person isn't too familiar with OCD. OCD is definitely not just people who order things and must have it done, it's so much more than that. Don't let this situation scare you or make you think you're crazy, that does sound very frustrating. I haven't tried Lamitrigine. How are you feeling about taking it?

Ryan Mullen

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@Jake19 I told her I had scrupulosity and she said she would need to google it.

Ryan Mullen

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@Jake19 Also on the drug, its for Bipolar which I dont have. So im not sure. She said it was a mood stabilizer. I could probably still use it as I have depression and Wellbutrin doesnt work for me.

Jake19

Date posted: 1y ago

@Ryan Mullen - I would take what she said with a grain of salt. Regular people without OCD usually don't understand the different themes because to them it sounds crazy since they're used to OCD being about cleanliness. You're not crazy, it sounds like this is just a situation where this psychiatrist just isn't aware of what OCD is.

Jake19

Date posted: 1y ago

@Ryan Mullen - I've never heard of that medication before but if you feel like you want to try it then I'd say go for it. Whatever you choose is okay.

StoicGuy

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@Ryan Mullen I wouldn't see her ever again. If she needs to look things up and thinks OCD is about order then she's way off. I've had severe, childhood onset OCD, diagnosed by a few different psychiatrists and I don't have a single OCD obsession regarding order or symmetry. That isn't a qualifying trait to diagnose OCD. So don't feel bad nor care about anything she said to you. I also was on Lexapro and it worked great for years then suddenly stopped working. I then tried Prozac and luckily that works well for my anxiety but I obviously still have the OCD thoughts just without the severe panic attacks.

Anonymous

Date posted: 1y ago

If I were I'd consider getting a second opinion or trying someone who you know has knowledge of the difference between Bipolar and OCD. I've never tried Lamitrigine either. I've tried various drugs, but sertraline has worked good for me. I deal with symptoms of depression, OCD, and ADHD.

Ryan Mullen

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

Yes I agree with you. I just kept thinking why doesn't she understand what is going on. She has been in the healthcare space for 20 years.

Ryan Mullen

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

And thanks for responding with patience.

StoicGuy

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

Honestly I wouldn't try anything she recommended because if she's unfamiliar with OCD I wouldn't trust what she's trying to prescribe for you that could potentially have side effects that harm you. I've never tried Lamiteigine so I'm sorry I can't offer personal experience to help you with that.

x.dulcemusician

Date posted: 24w ago

They recommend me medication for my severe OCD

Hi. I’m writing this post because I don’t know if I should be medicated again. Lexapro worked well for me, but I gained like 30 pounds. I quit because of that and honestly I thought I was able to manage my OCD well better. I was wrong, it got worse again. I wish I can do this without medication…that’s why I expose myself everyday, doesn’t matter how drained and exhausted I get. Are you guys medicated or trying to go without medicine. How is it going for you guys? Many hugs for all of you. We got this.

MatiasP99

Date posted: 24w ago

Escitalopram experiences for OCD

Has anyone been prescribed Escitalopram for their OCD? And if so what was your experience like. I just got into my 2nd week of it and got bumped up to 20mg. Today has been weird because my anxiety is gone which has been for a bit but the thoughts seem stronger today especially the Harm related ones. Almost like commands now. Can anyone relate?

Danni2314

Date posted: 23w ago

First time posting !! Schizophrenic OCD. Help.

TW. Also long post ahead . I’ve been dealing with OCD for the past 10 years. I’m 32 years old . I didn’t get diagnosed with OCD until this year. I was always diagnosed with GAD, panic disorder, and depression. I don’t have your typical compulsions. Mine are mostly all mental. Reassurance seeking, avoidance , repeating a prayer , etc . I have three main themes . Schizophrenia OCD, sexual orientation OCD, and HIV. Sometimes i deal with harm OCD and POCD but my main big three are the ones I listed first . I feel like the schizophrenic OCD is the most debilitating for me. For the last ten years I’ve been thinking I’m losing my mind . I thought once I got to a certain age the fear would go away but it hasn’t and is in full force . I’m constantly checking my surroundings, what I’m hearing, how I’m acting , questioning if things are real and so on . Now I do have times where this theme doesn’t bother me . It’s put on the back burner . I go through cycles . But when I’m focusing on this theme I feel like I’m hearing stuff . Most of the time I can’t make it out but recently I feel like I’ve been hearing a whisper saying “hey” . It mainly happens at night . It sends me into a complete panic and I feel like “this is it “ I’m seeing an OCD therapist and she recommended me to go to this psychiatric place in town to get meds to help my anxiety from the OCD. My last psychiatrist always pushed the newest medicine and was constantly changing up my regimen. I thought I would give it a try. WORST IDEA EVER . Keep in mind my therapist gave me a letter to give to her explaining I have been diagnosed with OCD and explaining it . She doesn't think I have OCD at all. She wanted to put me on an antipsychotic so me with my OCD brain . I asked her if she thought I was psychotic . She said I was nearing psychosis . She called me interesting . She feels like I have major depressive disorder . I'm just at a loss for words. It was honestly the strangest meeting I have had with a psychiatrist. It was very unprofessional. She has no idea the damage she has done nor do I think she cares. I just don't know what to Believe in anymore ... We met for approximately 45 minutes . First time ever meeting. I just want to cry and I’m freaking out 😢

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