pinkrobot Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 My health insurance doesn't cover the right doctors, but even if it did this isn't something I want to cure by pumping my body with medication. I have OCD, and up until recently I never viewed it as a problem...always just thought, "That's how I am, and I deal with it." But I'm tired of dealing with it. Obviously the biggest problem is my habits/rituals. When you have OCD, how do you overcome having to perform these rituals without having a terrible anxiety attack every time you try? My problem is that I have to perform everything in my daily routine in a specific order, in a specific way, or I'll have an anxiety attack. A friend of mine suggested changing one small thing a day until I get to the point I can just mix up the way I do everything, but she doesn't have OCD and doesn't understand it's not that easy. Basically, it's much easier said than done. So how do I do it? Link to comment
Sweet Venus Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 What's wrong with having a specific routine or way of doing things?? Why is that considered OCD? It's called having order and structure in your life. I do it too... Link to comment
yellowcal Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Your best bet is finding a cheap or low cost health clinic and talking to a therapist about this, you can do it without medications Link to comment
yellowcal Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 What's wrong with having a specific routine or way of doing things?? Why is that considered OCD? It's called having order and structure in your life. I do it too... But when you have OCD it is alot more different than just having a routine. It can complicate your life when you HAVE to do things a certain way in order to prevent a panic attack. Most people who don't suffer from or who have never suffered from OCD don't really understand how bad it is. It isn't like you just have a routine in your daily life it is alot more than that. Link to comment
g84 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 I agree with your friend's suggestion, but it's true that it can seem easier said than done. I can relate because i deal with anxiety sometimes, and there was a time when my anxiety seemed to manifest itself in this way and i identified with a lot of ocd symptoms. I find that the way to start weakening your compulsions/rituals is to prove to yourself that nothing bad will happen to you if you stop doing them. You can try changing one small thing at a time, and gradually your mind starts to realize that nothing bad will happen, and that there is really nothing to be afraid of. When you have a thought in your mind that tells you: do this in this order, or else... you then begin to defy/disobey that thought. If you only do this one time, with one thing..it will start to lessen the strength of your compulsion to perform the ritual. After a while, you start to realize that those rituals have no value. Think of one small thing right now (from your usual routine) that you can try changing..and give it a try. You'll feel a lot better : ]. Link to comment
waveseer Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Try doing the very first thing you do each day differently, before you are really awake and have time to worry about panic attacks. Link to comment
HellFrost666 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 I have OCD... And the sad thing is I don't really have any advice for overcoming the habbits. My panic attacks are brutal when they happen. When I get to that point I do whatever I can to distract myself. I know that's easier said then done. Link to comment
hockeyboy Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 I have OCD... And the sad thing is I don't really have any advice for overcoming the habbits. My panic attacks are brutal when they happen. When I get to that point I do whatever I can to distract myself. I know that's easier said then done. same here...though i don't think mine are that bad...i just have small stupid rituals i have mostly when i'm nervous. one thing i do a lot is tie my shoes tight (to tight) multiple times when i'm nervous....so to try to help that for example, i cut off the ends of the laces on my sneakers and just tied them up at the end....so i just slip them on/off and can't tie them. Link to comment
pinkrobot Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 What's wrong with having a specific routine or way of doing things?? Why is that considered OCD? It's called having order and structure in your life. I do it too... Yeah, yellowcal answered this one really well. Let me be more specific, with an example: I have an order of how I do things in the shower. I wash my hair, wash my face, shave, and wash my body. In that order. Now, if I were to was my face BEFORE my hair (for example) I would have an anxiety attack. And I would be worried all day that something bad will happen as a result of washing my face before washing my hair. Now, tell me that's normal. Because it's not. Link to comment
hockeyboy Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Do you use facewash? If so, I say pick a day where you don't have much to do...and can relax...and leave your facewash outside of the shower. Do everything you normally would, but wash your face after your shower at the sink. Trust me, I understand it's not easy...but just do it (yes, easier said then done). Link to comment
indierockgrl Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Do you think if you were on an anti anxiety med... even a low enough dose for you to control the attacks would it be easier to deal with your OCD? Link to comment
HellFrost666 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 same here...though i don't think mine are that bad...i just have small stupid rituals i have mostly when i'm nervous. one thing i do a lot is tie my shoes tight (to tight) multiple times when i'm nervous....so to try to help that for example, i cut off the ends of the laces on my sneakers and just tied them up at the end....so i just slip them on/off and can't tie them. I have to listen to certain songs throughout the day when I am at work. I also have to have certain windows open on my computer at work... even if I never use them. My OCD is a lot worse when I am working for some reason. When I am home it isn't near as bad. Link to comment
g84 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 One of my habits was folding my towel a certain way after having washed/dried my face (i felt really anxious if i didn't do it that specific way). I eventually had to force myself to not care one day, and that's how i started to realize that there was nothing to worry about..and i forgot all about it. The first step/attempt is difficult, but once you start, you realize that you don't have to listen to those compulsions anymore. You see them for what they really are in the end. Link to comment
pinkrobot Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 I have to listen to certain songs throughout the day when I am at work. I also have to have certain windows open on my computer at work... even if I never use them. My OCD is a lot worse when I am working for some reason. When I am home it isn't near as bad. Same here. I actually do the thing with the windows on my computer, and I have to open them in a certain order. ](*,) Arrrrgggghhh. Link to comment
pinkrobot Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 Do you think if you were on an anti anxiety med... even a low enough dose for you to control the attacks would it be easier to deal with your OCD? I'm not sure, I've considered it anyway just because I have anxiety issues even without the OCD (it's just that the OCD makes them worse). Doesn't a special kind of doctor have to prescribe this, though? I don't have a normal family doc and my health insurance doesn't cover a lot of things... Link to comment
HellFrost666 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Same here. I actually do the thing with the windows on my computer, and I have to open them in a certain order. ](*,) Arrrrgggghhh. Yea... I have to open mine in a certain order too... And they have to be arranged a certain way on the monitor. When I am here (on ENA) I used to have to check the who's online list after everything I did. I am not as bad about that anymore... but I used to have to do that. I post something... gotta check the who's online list. I read a thread... gotta check the who's online list... I play bass... and whenever I get my bass out I always have to play the scale a few times before I play anything else. And if I don't I feel like it throws my playing completely off. Link to comment
hockeyboy Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Same here. I actually do the thing with the windows on my computer, and I have to open them in a certain order. ](*,) Yea... I have to open mine in a certain order too... And they have to be arranged a certain way on the monitor. me too...but i justify that because often times i have a ton of programs running at once and it's just easier when im going back and forth a lot between them all to just know where they all are. of course...ocd plays a role...but this is one of the things i don't care to/try to change. Link to comment
yellowcal Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 I'm not sure, I've considered it anyway just because I have anxiety issues even without the OCD (it's just that the OCD makes them worse). Doesn't a special kind of doctor have to prescribe this, though? I don't have a normal family doc and my health insurance doesn't cover a lot of things... A family doctor can prescribe them but you are better off talking to a therapist they are better trained to give you the right meds. Link to comment
pinkrobot Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 A family doctor can prescribe them but you are better off talking to a therapist they are better trained to give you the right meds. See, and that's what I can't do, because therapists aren't covered by my insurance. Guess I'll do it the hard--I mean impossible--way. Link to comment
yellowcal Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 See, and that's what I can't do, because therapists aren't covered by my insurance. Guess I'll do it the hard--I mean impossible--way. I'm sure there is a free or low cost clinic in your area. That's where I was going when I didn't have insurance. Local Health Departments usually offer mental health services as well for those without insurance. Link to comment
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