So thankful to have found this app š my 15 year old is struggling with what is unofficially diagnosed OCD (counselor is starting the process to diagnose but she fits SO much of what weāre reading and sheās at least 4th generation OCDār). We are in a bad spiral right now with her, especially centered around sleep and it just feels so hard. Just wanted to say thank you for helping me not feel alone.
I was not diagnosed with OCD as a child, but I'm pretty sure I had OCD like symptoms very early on. I had a whole month of not being able to sleep at night because I was terrified of something irrational. Do you mind me asking what your child's theme is, related to sleep?
@Fat pigeon Donāt mind at all!! Her mind just seems to jump between varying things, and often times when we remind her sheās already done it (ie used the bathroom, gotten a drink, etc) sheāll fixate until she does it. She mostly falls in the camp of making sure sheās getting whatās expected done (her expectations of herself, not anyone elseās), thatās sheās enough, etc.
@servant85 That sounds really tough for both of you. I'm so sorry. It must be especially hard as a parent to try response prevention with a child, especially if anxiety is severe. I hope you find something that helps them go through this episode easily. It will get better!
I have had SO many sleep obsessions- fear of not sleeping (which causes me to not sleep), compulsive rituals around sleep (needing a sleep mask, chapstick, water bottle, ear plugs.. or it doesnt feel āquite rightā/āincompleteā), compulsively drinking water, using the bathroom, getting a snack (until it feels RIGHT); waking up my parents in the night for reassurance about not sleeping, having to sleep in my parents bed, fears regarding sleep paralysis (which Iāve not even once experienced!), fears regarding where we āgoā when we sleepā¦ the list goes on. I donāt know what kind of sleep obsessions your daughter is experiencing, but I can guarantee Iāve probably been there at one point or another. Please know this is all SO treatable with ERP, and your daughter has a big, beautiful life ahead of her where this wonāt be plaguing her so severely. Nipping it in the bud at a young age is something Iām so grateful for. I have ups and downs of course, but having been equipped with knowledge and tools at 18 instead of later in life (I am now 26) has given me so much more time to practice the skills, and less time of my life taken away from me in the long run.
@alissaa I wanna add, your daughter is so lucky to have a parent like you on here advocating for her and trying to get support and education. Having a good support system is so crucial when dealing with OCD. Your daughter is in good hands! The biggest advice I have is to make sure any therapy/therapist she goes to specializes in OCD, and uses exposure/response prevention (NOT talk therapy, as this isnāt suitable for OCD and can be harmful). Best of luck.
@alissaa Very true ! I had symptoms most of my life but it wasnāt too bad . I just thought I had fears but it is no big deal. It wasnāt until last year I experience harm OCD I was scared. When I went to the talk therapist he made me feel very scared . Not his fault because he is good but when I told him some of what I was experiencing he said he was concerned . I couldnāt even sleep after that . ERP is everything!!!!!!
@alissaa Literally weeping from being encouraged and thankful ā¤ļø thank you for being willing to share your hard, it means the world to this tired mama š
I went through the same experience as you and want to assure that you're not alone. I started experiencing what seemed to be OCD symptoms at 14, but didn't officially get help until I was 16. It really did help turn my life around and mediate many bad habits.
Im new here so im not exactly sure what im supposed to be doing but my therapist recommended that I start using this platform. I have had OCD my whole life as does my mom and her parents, but I never had a formal diagnosis until about 5 years ago. Recently my OCD has been absolutely taking over my life and it is just so mentally exhausting. I know thereās nothing āwrongā with me but I really wish that I just didnāt have OCD. I really just want to be able to exist without all of these obsessions. Iāve seen a few posts from people just talking about experiences so if anyone has any tips on how best to use the platform that would be great! On a funnier note - Iām pretty open about my OCD and I mention it to a coworker and there response was āDo you really have that or is that just something you sayā. And my response was oh yeah no I really have it and it really impacts every minute of everyday in my life and they were just like š¶
Hi everyone, my name is Kendal and I am new here, although I do not believe I am new to OCD in the SLIGHTEST. Im about to leave my 20s behind and begin a new chapter of my life. Everyone says your 30s are suppose to be the best right? I am proud of myself for making a huge step forward, before the beginning of this new chapter. Iāve been experiencing symptoms of OCD for as long as I can remember. These feelings, thoughts, compulsions have been existing with me since middle school. Theyāve manifested in many many different ways throughout the years, and continue to evolve as I get older. Iāve experienced emetophobia, obsessive thoughts about passing out or getting sick in front of people, contamination OCD, white coat syndrome and the newest culpritā¦ Harm OCD. In middle school, it was extremely hard to understand WHY I felt the way I felt, and experienced the intense anxieties that I did. Over the years I kind of just put up with these thoughts and feelings of uneasiness.. and thought it was just regular olā anxiety. Recently the harm OCD came through, triggered by a traumatic event. Lemme tell yaā¦ if youāve ever experienced harm OCDā¦ I am terribly sorry. Itās absolutely horrifying. It scared me so badly, to the point of actually seeking professional help. During that extreme anxiety inducing time, I was also terrified to tell a professional what was happening to me. I started with telling my husband first. What a RELIEF! I learned that telling someone made me feel so much better so I thought, manā¦ I wonder what telling a professional would do for me? RELIEF!!!!! She helped me realize that yes this is a very very real thing people experience daily. Sheās suggested therapy to pair with medication. Iāve given the medication about a year to do its thanggg and goodness, what a difference. I wish I got help earlier but hindsight is 20/20. This is me, now ready to implement therapy. Iām ready to gain a better understanding, collect coping skills and chat with people who have had similar experiences. Thinking youāre alone in OCD is incredibly isolating and scary. I am happy to finally realize I am not alone.
I am newly diagnosed with OCD as a 33 year old female I was fat oses with bipolar at 15 and never really identified with it much and totally relate to ocd. I wish i would have known long ago so I could have gotten treatment earlier. Now that I know and am aware and can see whatās off and what are compulsions and my insatiable need for reassurance itās so overwhelming- it feels like my mind is a prison and attacks me with a new pure o quest as soon as I wake up Iām optimistic Iāll be able to get better but it just feels like itās time sucking and joy stealing disorder I know Iām not alone here I feel like a crazy person replaying and replaying things I want to know if you can relate or if you have been at this for a while and actually feel like you are breaking free from this Thanks for the read
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