Anyone suffer from OCD?

Inwe86 · #1 May 13, '12, 5:37 pm

So after looking up stuff online, I honestly think I have OCD. Scrupulosity is something that has plagued me since I was about 10 (26 now). I did an online test, where the result was 12 and up indicated most likely OCD, and I scored 24

. Does anyone have any positive ways of coping with this and treating it? I really don't want to go on meds.

hihiip201 · #2 May 13, '12, 5:40 pm

had it for a long time already, got better on it's own after I was around 18-19 (had it since 12 or maybe even earlier, i forget)

at it's prime I would stop in the street and stand there to think about stupid stuff for 30 minutes before proceeding to walk again. And sometimes after I open a door, I would touch the handle again and again just to make sure I touched each side(top, bottom) of the handle by an equal amounts so I touched it again and again like a freak.

It got better for me and hasn't came back in a long time already. sometimes I actually cried because it's not that I wanted to do those things but I felt like I was being forced to.

hihiip201 · #3 May 13, '12, 5:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by hihiip201

had it for a long time already, got better on it's own after I was around 18-19 (had it since 12 or maybe even earlier, i forget)

at it's prime I would stop in the street and stand there to think about stupid stuff for 30 minutes before proceeding to walk again. And sometimes after I open a door, I would touch the handle again and again just to make sure I touched each side(top, bottom) of the handle by an equal amounts so I touched it again and again like a freak.

It got better for me and hasn't came back in a long time already. sometimes I actually cried because it's not that I wanted to do those things but I felt like I was being forced to.

it's freaky but when i say stupid stuff Im talking about : you know how you have a certain "feeling" or mental picture after you see something, doesn't have to be something particular but just the picture of the street, things around you. Well I would try to "reimagine" the picture and try to get that feeling back again for no reason. And I wouldn't let myself stop until I had it right. and then it's another feeling that you have when you try to capture that picture and you want to get that feeling(the one you get while trying to remember that feeling) again and so on so for. like a limbo. It's kinda abstract but it's just freaky and I didn't know how to stop back then.

Nimzovik · #4 May 13, '12, 6:34 pm

Very interesting. Thank you.

"........I didn't know how to stop back then. "

Hmmmmmm....... So how did you stop it?

hihiip201 · #5 May 13, '12, 6:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimzovik

Very interesting. Thank you.

"........I didn't know how to stop back then. "

Hmmmmmm....... So how did you stop it?

It fades as I got really tired of it (like, mentally exhausted). Usually it last in my head(like I'm still thinking about it as I eat, do homework and have dinner for the rest of the day and when I sleep) until I fall asleep at night. If lucky I won't remember it next morning and I can keep going until I meet another limbo. If not I will remember it and carry it for another day or two.

Also I did learn a trick eventually is to keep convincing yourself that I have "fullfilled" the requirements, it takes great power, sometimes you think your done but you really aren't,

It was a living hell. glad it's not getting to me anymore (for now).

Samuel63 · #6 May 13, '12, 7:10 pm

I recommend regular confession and weekly adoration of the blessed sacrament for at least one hour. It is the grace of God that can help and heal.

Adoration can be found by zipcode at www.masstimes.org.

Annual retreats may be available in your area. Check www.mileschristi.org.

Isabel_08 · #7 May 13, '12, 7:26 pm

I've suffered on and off with it too. I guess it sort of depends what type of obsessions/compulsions you get. In general, though, it helps to break the cycle if you resist what you have a compulsion to do, even if for a little while. For unwanted thoughts, remind yourself that it's an illusion. How would you face something that you knew was a hologram? It's difficult at first, you have to psyche yourself out, but eventually it's easier to shrug it off.

Here's a site called Scrupulous Anonymous. You should check out the Ten Commandments.
http://mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupanon.htm

And it's important to remember that God knows your heart well. Always turn it over to Him.

hihiip201 · #8 May 13, '12, 7:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isabel_08

I've suffered on and off with it too. I guess it sort of depends what type of obsessions/compulsions you get. In general, though, it helps to break the cycle if you resist what you have a compulsion to do, even if for a little while. For unwanted thoughts, remind yourself that it's an illusion. How would you face something that you knew was a hologram? It's difficult at first, you have to psyche yourself out, but eventually it's easier to shrug it off.

Here's a site called Scrupulous Anonymous. You should check out the Ten Commandments.
http://mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupanon.htm

And it's important to remember that God knows your heart well. Always turn it over to Him.

it definitely would have helped if I knew the Lord sooner.

Inwe86 · #9 May 15, '12, 6:45 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isabel_08

I've suffered on and off with it too. I guess it sort of depends what type of obsessions/compulsions you get. In general, though, it helps to break the cycle if you resist what you have a compulsion to do, even if for a little while. For unwanted thoughts, remind yourself that it's an illusion. How would you face something that you knew was a hologram? It's difficult at first, you have to psyche yourself out, but eventually it's easier to shrug it off.

Here's a site called Scrupulous Anonymous. You should check out the Ten Commandments.
http://mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupanon.htm

And it's important to remember that God knows your heart well. Always turn it over to Him.

Thank you! I remember reading the scrupulous 10 commandments before but couldn't remember where I had read them.

Inwe86 · #10 May 15, '12, 6:46 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samuel63

I recommend regular confession and weekly adoration of the blessed sacrament for at least one hour. It is the grace of God that can help and heal.

Adoration can be found by zipcode at www.masstimes.org.

Annual retreats may be available in your area. Check www.mileschristi.org.

Thank you! There's nothing quite like the healing Presence of Jesus

Inwe86 · #11 May 15, '12, 6:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by hihiip201

had it for a long time already, got better on it's own after I was around 18-19 (had it since 12 or maybe even earlier, i forget)

at it's prime I would stop in the street and stand there to think about stupid stuff for 30 minutes before proceeding to walk again. And sometimes after I open a door, I would touch the handle again and again just to make sure I touched each side(top, bottom) of the handle by an equal amounts so I touched it again and again like a freak.

It got better for me and hasn't came back in a long time already. sometimes I actually cried because it's not that I wanted to do those things but I felt like I was being forced to.

Interesting. So it just stopped for no reason at all? I wish I could just shut mine off.

ringil · #12 May 19, '12, 1:03 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inwe86

So after looking up stuff online, I honestly think I have OCD. Scrupulosity is something that has plagued me since I was about 10 (26 now). I did an online test, where the result was 12 and up indicated most likely OCD, and I scored 24

. Does anyone have any positive ways of coping with this and treating it? I really don't want to go on meds.

See a licensed therapist. They would be the best person to help you. You may have OCD but you may not. Many folks with OCD do not take medication and that would always be your choice if it were reccommended.

Talking therapy can be immensely helpful in dealing with obsessions and conpulsions.

Inwe86 · #13 May 19, '12, 11:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ringil

See a licensed therapist. They would be the best person to help you. You may have OCD but you may not. Many folks with OCD do not take medication and that would always be your choice if it were reccommended.

Talking therapy can be immensely helpful in dealing with obsessions and conpulsions.

Thank you! I've actually got the contact info for a couple of good Catholic therapists in my area, and am going to see one of them possibly next week. I'm also going to make one of my parish priests my regular confessor, since he struggled with scruples when he was younger and successfully overcame them. I feel like I'm finally getting myself on the right track!

ringil · #14 May 20, '12, 7:01 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inwe86

Thank you! I've actually got the contact info for a couple of good Catholic therapists in my area, and am going to see one of them possibly next week. I'm also going to make one of my parish priests my regular confessor, since he struggled with scruples when he was younger and successfully overcame them. I feel like I'm finally getting myself on the right track!

It sounds like you are really on top of this now. Your plan sounds great!

I think that approaching mental health issues taking care of ourselves both psychologically and spiritually, like you are doing, is an excellent way to deal with these issues.

Also keep in mind that there is NO SHAME in dealing with mental issues. Millions of Americans are in the same boat as you, including very successful and famous people throughout time. This sutff is the same as having diabetes or high blood pressure. DO we stimatize these folks- OH COURSE NOT!

donsnow · #15 May 21, '12, 5:45 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inwe86

So after looking up stuff online, I honestly think I have OCD. Scrupulosity is something that has plagued me since I was about 10 (26 now). I did an online test, where the result was 12 and up indicated most likely OCD, and I scored 24

. Does anyone have any positive ways of coping with this and treating it? I really don't want to go on meds.

Good morning, inwe06,

It took me 40 years and finally getting on the right medication to break a secret compulsive habit that when I first tried to stop in the '70's I went into convulsions. I now, thank God, for two years no longer confessing the same sin over and over (masturbation). Go get a professional opinion about that OCD online test. You may not even have OCD. Go to a professional and ask for help. If they have medication that will help you, take it.

You're 26 ... I was about that when I started fighting this. Please go for help. If there'd been help then, I wouldn't have suffered all the shame and guilt that I did for those 40 years. Don't put yourself through that. Swallow your pride.

God loves you,
Don