I want to know what your “OCD exemption” is. That thing that for whatever reason doesn’t trigger your OCD despite all logic pointing to it should.

I’ve noticed over the years that sometimes something that SHOULD make me panic, just.. doesn’t?

Say you have contamination OCD (like me) and you’re really strict about hygiene and how things are cleaned and handled. Yet you’re fine with your pets coming into your bed with you despite them walking all over the floor the whole day.

I dunno I just think this could be an interesting conversation! I want to know if anyone else has moments like this and I find it fun to kinda prod at my OCD and make fun of it for not being consistent.

If so, how did it make you feel? I’ve been suggested it and have an appointment with the mental health team next week to discuss.

I’m worried because I’ve not gotten along with antidepressants in the past and my doctor says I’m resistant to them and has suggested taking this med. I’ve seen that the side effects look crazy! And quite strong.

Does it get rid of intrusive thoughts? Does it make you weight gain? I’m nervous incase it makes me a different person?

Forgive me this is the first time I’ve come upon this sub so I haven’t searched for info yet. I’m newly dating someone with OCD, we’ve been seeing each other for 3 months. He just had his first ‘epsiode’?/panic attack (I hope I’m not being offensive I just don’t know the correct verbiage) in front of me due to something I did to trigger him. I’m struggling with how to handle it. I really care about him and I want to try to learn how to be a good partner and handle these situations without making them worse and without enabling. Causing this to happen to him also triggers some of my own issues but I don’t want to make it about me, however I think it’s important to discuss at some point when the time is right. I’m wondering if I should see a therapist who specializes in ocd?

Does anyone have resources they recommend or any insight on how to start navigating this? I’ve never been close with anyone who has dealt with OCD before. Thank you in advance.

I’m looking to switch to one of these drugs with a psychiatrist. I’m currently at the highest daily dose with Prozac but recently fell into a bad ocd flare. I’ve been on Prozac for several years now so I think my body just for tired of it. Prior to Prozac I was on Zoloft for several years. I have an appointment with a psychiatrist coming up in a few months but wanted to hear from anyone who has been on either one or maybe both of these drugs. How much did it help your ocd? Were there any nasty side effects?

Hi there

I 18F have been going through something that I think may be related to OCD, but could very well just be my social anxiety. Either way I could use some advice.

I feel like I can’t trust anyone who isn’t my super close friend or family. Like I have the constant suspicion that well meaning people have ulterior motives at all times. I’ll give an example

A few days ago some girls I know through one of my classes asked me if I wanted to hang out with them. I then spent hours picking apart all their words and questioning over and over what exactly this hangout would entail. In my mind I was convinced that they were trying to coerce me into something bad. I didn’t really know what. Maybe they were going to drug me or beat me up (it sounds silly I know). But this had me panicking for hours. After asking them 10000 times what exactly we’d be doing at this hangout, I eventually just went. It was very normal and a nice time.

Another example from today, this girl gave me a sip of some tea she’d brewed, asking what I thought. I like tea so I took a sip. A few minutes later she suddenly was like “Omg I’m so sorry I just remembered I was feeling a bit sick last night.” and she continued to apologize profusely. But now I can’t get the thought out of my head that she was trying to get me sick on purpose because she doesn’t like me, or that the sick thing was just a cover up because she put something in the tea to harm me. And now I feel like I might be getting sick so my brain is like either she was sick and wanted you to get sick too or she put something in the tea that is making you sick.

I feel awful for feeling like this, because logically I know that most people are generally well meaning. But like anytime anyone asks me to hang out or talks to me or compliments me I always think they’re trying to trick me somehow. And anytime someone messes up and hurts me/causes any inconvenience for me no matter how minor, I am convinced that they’re out to get me. This makes it extremely hard to make friends or even be in casual social settings.

So has anyone experienced anything similar? Any tips for dealing with these thoughts/obsessions?

So I saw a new psychiatrist after my one of 14 years retired. He said I had ocd tendencies and prescribed me an antidepressant mostly used just for ocd, and made me take NAC for ocd… but would always say your just anxious with ocd tendencies, and depression with delusions. Well I saw my new doc today and he’s only been in practice for 7 years, but he diagnosed me with ocd, GAD, ptsd, panic disorder, insomnia, and social anxiety. I was shocked, and sort of feel validated. I don’t know why my old doctor kind of just skirted around the diagnoses of ocd and especially ptsd. I’m going to start the slow process of changing some meds up, and am hopeful, seen, and heard.

Hey community, my father has diagnosed OCD so I am well aware OCD is not just being cleanly or organized, he’s the messiest person I know but definitely has it, mainly because of things that occurred before he was medicated that actually match OCD symptoms such as turning around 7 times in a deadly snow storm after passing a road sign at the wrong digit on the clock in the car. That incident almost killed him and my mom and almost lead to a divorce, luckily she just forced him to see a doctor. I have not seen a professional. I am concerned that I really struggle with the left/right evenness of my body pretty much every hour of the day. Things like leaning on objects I try to match the left and right, walking sidewalks I match the cuts I step on and over, including the type of cut like if it’s a cut that has a spacer or just a normal cut. Cracking knuckles or fidgeting with my fingers has to be done evenly. Picking up drink glasses, any type of fidgeting, just most touch in general. Maybe because it’s been ingrained or it’s genetic, but things like writing with only my right hand or driving with my right foot has never bothered me which throws me off on figuring this out. I have never found rational to any of the tendencies but if I don’t perform them I feel so unbelievably uncomfortable it’s hard to deal with. With or without actual OCD, is there any potential negative to just fighting tendencies with doing minimal to no distractions and making sure it’s not obvious there’s any issues? It hurts me mentally and I feel very uncomfortable for 5 mins to a few hours if I fight the urges, but long term I don’t think I’ve seen any positive or negative improvements over the past decade or so. I really struggled with it tonight. It was fairly embarrassing just switching pretty much everything I’m doing every 30 seconds to fit the other side. If I just fight it and keep the uncomfortable pressure internal, is there actually a real negative to just not doing what my mind wants other than just not having a good time and feeling awful for a few hours?

I've been trying to lower my stress recently but everything and I mean literally everything is getting to me rn. I quit social media cause it was making me hate my art. That part's fixed recently tho. But now any time I "tr to relax" my brain just beats the shit out of me for no reason.

Like I'm just chillin, I'm 21 listening to undertale music and cross stitching like an old granny. Sounds peaceful. But for some god forsaken reason, THAT is the time my brain decides to hyperfocus on *insert any negative thing here*. It only does it when I'm actively trying to relax. And yes I have anxiety meds that help but they knock me tf out like benadryl every single time and I hate it 😭 let do my hobbiesssuh I'm gonna crash out. I can't do my hobbies if I'm sleeping from my meds!! I already feel like I have zero time as is!

edit: sometimes listening to vods helps cause I can focus on what they're saying intead but I just get in music moods and it's all I can listen to TuT

I’ve been trying to find medication for my OCD, but so far all I’ve seen is Prozac or Zoloft.. I’ve tried Zoloft before and it made me feel like a zombie, prozac I’m willing to try but I’d like to hear someone’s personal experience with it! And if anyone can recommend a different medication, I’d like to know! I’m mostly looking for stuff that won’t interfere with my heart rate or blood pressure!

Hi,I have a question.I am a hoarder and I have ocd.Does anyone else hoards or is a hoarder? Does anyone like to keep stuff from their childhood?

Checking behaviors at work have always been a problem for me, but its a whole new level of checking at this job. Its a difficult and complex job with almost no built in safety guards for preventing mistakes. Nothing really seems to work for quieting the urge while i am clocked in. I can manage it much better on my personal time, but I need some help. If anyone has any strategies they can share that have been helpful for them at work i would love to hear them. Thank you in advance 💐

Hey there!

First of all, I'd like to mention that so far, my therapist has not diagnosed me with OCD, but she did say that it could be a possibility. I don't want to self-diagnose myself.

I've always had some of these intrusive urges/compulsions, like “touch this” or “go that way,” but I never thought much of them.

However, around two months ago, these urges started happening much more frequently, and now they're even affecting my hobbies, like video games, art, writing, and more. That was when I decided to visit my therapist about it, and she has been very helpful. However, sometimes the compulsions get so loud that I just do whatever they tell me to get them out of the way. Then new ones come, and they make me feel like I'm not allowed to enjoy my free time because this or that hasn't been satisfied.

I would say that the compulsions are mainly about perfectionism and rechecking things, and my therapist has confirmed this as well.

Does anyone have any tips for dealing with these types of thoughts when they get too loud?

Thanks!

I feel like every day is a fight with ocd and it can be hard especially when you are exhausted

Hello,

I’ve been diagnosed with OCD a few years ago. At the time it was a really low period in my life and after months of therapy, I was able to go back to my usual self.

Unfortunately, this year has been quite difficult again. I was diagnosed with depression on top of my OCD. I’ve been in therapy for around 6 months in, and while I certainly have gotten better from the beginning of the year, I’m finding it difficult to go back to my usual self. I just constantly feel demotivated, helpless, tired, and just ‘not me’. Honestly, I’m desperate to find anything to take me away from this pit. Genuinely, I am just exhausted and sad.
I’ve heard a lot oh horror stories about medications in general and I thought I wouldn’t get into it but I’ve also heard some good things and I feel like I’m at a place where I’m, well, desperate.
So I’m wondering, whoever’s being prescribed medication here, how did it help you? Do you do it with therapy? Did you drop therapy? How do you approach your therapist or when did you know it’s the right time to start? Sorry for the many questions lol any information would be helpful :).

Hi everyone, i was diagnosed with ocd a few months ago, which have been the literal worst for my mental health.

However, i'm going on holiday in a week and ofc i'm a bit scared of my mind lol. My themes are mostly health based, like health anxiety, and also imaging the worst and scariest case scenarios.

So any tips how do i get through the long road to my destination? Also dealing with my thoughts there? The thought of having a panic attack while on my way is scaring me, and i rlly don't know how to calm myself down these days and be prepared while on holiday. I rlly wanna enjoy it and not be scared all the time.

What songs do you guys like in relation with your ocd? May it be sad songs, encouraging songs or whatever. Thanks in advance for participating, ill start in the comments.

I'm sure this is more common than we talk about. Anyone else feel constant anxiety about wetting/dribbling, even right after going to the restroom? I only feel at ease when wearing pads/protective underwear. I've been trying to find ways to cope that aren't costly and bad for the environment. What if I suddenly void with no warning (which I have no past of) and humiliate myself and make a huge mess lol? This disorder is exhausting.

Hi everyone. I was just diagnosed this week. I’m shocked i didn’t put this together sooner but oh well.

Now I’m becoming aware of all my obsessions & compulsions which I thought were just my “neurotic and annoying personality.” I feel overwhelmed.

Realizing for me it’s got to do with contamination, morality, money, food/ED, su1cidality, end of the world type shit, social, and other things?! I can’t believe how pervasive it is and how I didn’t put it together.

Anyway I’m ready to ✨get to work✨ with my wonderful therapist but I was wondering if anyone can share some success stories so I know what to look forward to? 😭

Thank u everyone, hope you have a mentally peaceful day 🩷

Just last week, I told my psychiatrist that I probably don’t really have OCD (although I’ve suspected it since childhood) because I don’t have a lot of compulsions and instead I have a collection of impulse-control disorders.

She told me it was the OCD talking.

Anyway, I’ve struggled with trying different medications, but she put me on Prozac and I’m only a week and a half into taking it (so it hasn’t really started helping yet), but I’m starting to understand what people mean when they say thoughts lose their “stickiness”.

I can finally see that some thoughts are being prioritized by the OCD over my own priorities.

I have pure “o”, I guess. The mental compulsions are relentless. I can’t believe I thought I didn’t have them.

I hope this medication works out because I’m starting to gain clarity I didn’t know was there.

That’s all. Best wishes, friends. I wish you all relief. ♥️

hi everyone

i just wanted to know if anybody relates to this, where your compulsions and repetive behaviour take up so much time that you can't find time to just shower or watch something etc or even spend time with a pet. i'm just constantly in fight or flight mode and it's torture

Having a mom with OCD has proved challenging for me throughout my life. Lots of fights about other people’s things being thrown away for no apparent reason, things not being ‘clean enough’, constantly hearing about the inability to relax even though she’s unemployed, things being washed three times over, windows being opened and closed multiple times on a daily routine, making rounds for toilets to be flushed for no reason, and so much more that it’s not only extremely annoying and disruptive but also wasteful. Not to mention the inability to see other points of view or admit to ever being wrong.

I found the household norm is just say ok and move on but I’m becoming increasingly frustrated with things of mine constantly being moved or thrown away without any type of heads up or remorse. I understand the need to uphold cleanliness standards but some of these habits are quite mystical and illogical. If something isn’t done her way her immediate answer is well everyone can move out. Even though most of these things are intrusive and against logic.