- Username
- Sulli66
- Date posted
- 2y ago
Hello and thank you for your support! I am 30 years old and maybe had Ocd since childhood. Recently I got married and gave birth to my son so Ocd really increased and hit me in many ways. Except from having Ocd thoughts about my role as a mother, I have horrible Rocd thoughts that my husband might betray me, leave me even if he loves and supports me in all the ways. I really don't know how to handle it anymore... there are days that feel like I am going crazy. I can't enjoy my life and my baby. I feel so horrible and guilty for living like that. In addition I don't want to take medication right now for personal reasons. Is there any advice you could give me? Thank you again for your time
I'm sorry you are struggling so much. Are you in treatment? If not, I suggest finding a counselor who understands OCD and specializes in ERP. It has been lifechanging. I started having symptoms of OCD at age 8. I had no idea that's what I was dealing with until last summer. I was diagnosed last August at age 45. I have completed treatment and am now in recovery.
It’s very hard I know,ERP seems to be the way to go,was no such treatment years ago unfortunately, I was always very I’ll after the kids were born, I started to really recover after being proscribed Prozac in the early 90s, I also joined a group called ‘grow’for support,I’ve been really quite well up until 3 years ago, I had almost forgotten what it’s like, I think the menopause and dealing with covid together brought it back with a bang,there is no ERP therapy I can access ,I’ve tried to do it myself but I don’t understand how to tbh,I’d love to do it properly and learn how to help myself recover again🙏
Nice to hear from someone else in my age group. I often wondered if I was in the minority here. I’m 58 mother of two grown up sons.
Nice to meet you!
@Sulli66 You too!
I'm 62. So I feel.ur pain. Are you on meds? I think I need them.
Yes am on meds for years,was Prozac 20ml a day before I had this episode ,worked great until 3 years ago 🙄
Sulli I agree about menopause. I got suddenly much much worse overnight after a nightmare. I’ve since started hrt which has helped but certainly not cured. Are you in the UK. I am and there doesn’t seem to be any emphasis on ERP here, o had CBT but didn’t find it very helpful really.
Hi Angel 20 I’m in Ireland,cbt didn’t help me much either,wish there was more help like erp or a group we cud go to,oh I know what you mean about menopause,it’s definitely connected to hormones,I was on hrt as well for a while but had to come off it in order to take my meds,great to chat with someone who understands !
Thank you ❤️
I’ve never been on meds. Sometimes wonder if they may help.
They really helped me,but well done for managing without them as well,that’s not easy
I'm 45
Hi there
Same Sulli, to chat to someone my age group and who understands is priceless. How does ocd mainly affect you? For me it centres around my wonderful husband, I guess a type of ROCD.
I had the same obsession for years all around my looks and confidence (or lack of) but it’s changed now as I moved house recently after 30 years and now it’s all about if I made a mistake in moving 🙄,god help you as well with that rocd , I used to have it as well years ago, I notice if you can increase your self esteem and confidence the symptoms will ease,sending you virtual hugs 🤗🤗,as you said priceless to have someone in the same boat💕
Thank you Sulli. Hugs to you too x
Anybody have nice recovery stories? Personally I don’t believe the whole “OCD is something you manage, not cure” thing as I think it’s just the medicinal companies looking to have you popping pills your entire life. Anyways, I KNOW that recovery is possible, and I know that it’s very inspiring and motivating to hear from people that has been in OCD hell that got out on the other side. So please, if you have any stories, share! I can give you a little story; my mom got herself some bad Harm OCD when she got her first child, my big sister, and intense amounts of anxiety from the OCD and agoraphobia too. In the last 20 years, she’s had two panic attacks. She’s over it! She’s out and about and haven’t known intrusive thoughts for ages
Just wanted to let you guys know . I hop in from time to time to read and check in and wanted to let you guys know that I’ve dealt with a lot of the things mentioned here if not all . I am not a trained therapist. I’m just telling my own testimony in hopes to help others. 1. It’s not the thoughts that are the problem …. It’s the relationship we have with the thoughts. The more we realize that OCD thoughts have absolutely no meaning , the quicker you can move forward. The anxiety will lessen once your relationship changes and you’ll be able to overcome. 2. There’s not a different regime for each subtype . ERP is the best approach ..Don’t run from these thoughts …. Sit with them And retrain your brain to learn that they don’t mean a thing. If you’re having SOCD about a particular friend , have the courage to go out and hang with them. It’s tough but the more you expose yourself to the environment that you’re afraid of …. The more your brain realizes that these fears are irrational. If you’re having self harm OCD . Expose yourself to the things that you fear … At the root of OCD is fear and doubt….. it’s not the subtype itself …. Approach them all in the same manner. OCD hit me like a ton of bricks 4 years ago …..I struggled tremendously about 2 years before knowing how to handle it or even what it was. I lost my Job due to OCD and almost admitted myself in a hospital several times because I thought I was going crazy. It was almost two years of debilitating anxiety until I learned what I was dealing with was OCD. A few subtypes to name : health anxiety, sexual orientation ocd, self harm ocd, sleep anxiety , fear of being a pedophile. It’s like once I got over one ….the next would come until I realized they were all coming from the same thing ….that’s when my life started to change Fast forward, with the help of God, I learned to retrain my brain and not to worry about intrusive thoughts when they come in from time to time. actually learned to take them as the joke they are . The more I exposed myself … the more I trusted myself . Nobody else can reassure you … better yet you don’t need reassurance because it’s actually what keeps you in the cycle. Just Trust God Now I’m a Middle school teacher , in graduate school working towards my degree in counseling with a bright future ahead. I say this to say that, if I can do it , you can do it too …. I’m no different from any of you … I didn’t have a therapist at the time so take advantage if you do. Don’t view OCD as bad ….. it’s apart of you that you will learn to manage. I don’t regret OCD cause it has made me a less fearful person …. I’ve fixed fear and doubt that rooted from my childhood through the struggles of OCD . So it was a blessing in disguise. This is a temporary phase for all of you , trust me . And I know how hard it is to believe that when you’re in the middle of it . But remember. Once your relationship with the thoughts changes that’s when you Free yourself Love all 🙏🏾
Hello everyone - for the first time in a long time, I decided to reopen this app. I remember this time last year I was desperately scrolling through the comments section, hoping to find a positive story. I had a debilitating breakdown last year that left me unable to work, leaving London and living with mum. Everything that made perfect sense to me suddenly stopped making sense, including my loving relationship with my boyfriend. I spent weeks having panic attacks, and then months in a deep depression until finally, I started to experience happiness again. It terrified me that my brain could work like that, but it did and I’m slowly beginning to accept this fact. Now, a year on and after ERP therapy, I can safely say that I’m in a much better place. In fact, my boyfriend and I are just fine and now living together happily. The whole experience has made me realise just how much he means to me. No feeling is final. OCD can make you think that your life is over, that you’ll always feel a certain way and that you’ll never get better - but you can. There’ll be good days and bad days, but you’ll find peace again. Dx
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