mdocd
- Date posted
- 2y
Declan Declan
- Date posted
- 2y
I don't know of any vitamins- besides making sure you're overall healthy and taking any medication you need to be taking. But- I would encourage you to keep doing peaceful, definitely not silly routines like getting lots of sleep and reading. If you have any activities you like to do that are relaxing or rejuvenating- like exercise, art, gardening, etc., I would encourage you to continue doing those. Try and stay off of the news/social media as much as you can to reduce situational/social anxiety, but obviously don't isolate yourself. Besides that, yoga/journaling has been really good for me, especially when my thoughts are spiraling. Hope this helps. :)
ScooterinoScooterino
- Date posted
- 2y
For OCD, try N-AC (N-Acytle Cysteine) it helps with OCD symptoms but can give weird or vivid dreams. For good sleep, Melatonin gummies. For stress or depression, St. John's Wart (don't take if you already take an antidepressant) and Vitamin C For OCD spirals, I like to have a list of ten or fifteen things I like to do that distract me. Like, take a hot bath, read a book, do some sewing, or play a game. When OCD is bad, I pick from the list at random rather than having to compulsively do one thing.
Dos@2022Dos@2022
- Date posted
- 2y
GABA during the day, GABA, melatonin and magnesium at night to sleep better have been life changing for me.
Amber RAmber R
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
Hi mdocd, I’ve definitely been in this position before, looking for and trying vitamins that could help reduce my anxiety. Please do talk to your doctor about medications if you’re interested. Anti-depressants have helped me manage my anxiety/depression levels, but there is no vitamin or pill that will magically make your anxiety disappear. When I started therapy for my OCD, I realized that fighting or trying to suppress my anxiety only made it more powerful. Much to my displeasure, I had to learn to sit with my anxiety and sometimes even summon it with ERP. Anxiety is just an emotion; it could mean something is wrong, it could mean nothing at all. Accepting anxiety, learning to co-exist with it, and continuing doing what I was doing was life-changing for me. With the help of a NOCD therapist and ERP therapy, I am no longer controlled by my anxiety; I let it come and go as it pleases.
ScooterinoScooterino
- Date posted
- 2y
I actually had the opposite experience! My OCD medications did nothing but made me more anxious. The minute I started taking herbal supplements, it improved. You are absolutely right- there is no magic pill to make OCD go away forever, but there are a lot of valid options for improving your condition without medication.
Amber RAmber R
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
@Scooterino I’m definitely not saying you have to take anti-depressants, just saying that’s the route I took and it worked for me. And if herbal supplements help you, that’s awesome! But I wanted to discourage the OP from expecting an herbal supplement/anti-depressant to magically fix the anxiety + make their OCD disappear. The only way to really work through your OCD and it’s accompanying anxiety is by accepting uncertainty and practicing ERP.
ScooterinoScooterino
- Date posted
- 2y
@Amber R For sure! And I know medications work for a vast majority of folks- I am very glad they worked for you. I think we agree that there is no magic answer, either. But I think any way possible to reduce symptoms so you can focus long enough to do the ERP successfully is a huge win! :) Medications, Herbal Supplements, Meditation, Good Sleep, even other types of Therapy... It all helps get you where you need to go.
Amber RAmber R
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
@Scooterino 100% agree!
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- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 21w
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- Date posted
- 20w
Medication for OCD?
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bubbsle
- Date posted
- 14w
Tips for Anxiety
Hey guys! My boyfriend has said recently that he doesn't know if he's strong enough to continue with our relationship because of my OCD. He wants to see me overcome my symptoms and learn to live a healthy life with OCD, but my anxieties and obsessions are starting to really affect his life. I understand his reasoning, it's hard to see someone you care about struggle with OCD, especially when it starts to affect you too. I'm asking for tips to deal with my compulsions in the relationship. I HAVE to know the answer to things and sometimes that leads into arguments because even with apologies and discussions I can't let things go, even if they genuinely don't matter or are miniscule issues we have. It's a healthy relationship otherwise but I feel horrible because it's impacting him so negatively, that's the absolute last thing I want to happen. I care for him deeply and he cares for me too, so I don't want my OCD to be a reason we break up but I fear it's headed in that direction. I'm starting therapy soon, but until then what are some things I can do to stop my ROCD from impacting him? I know sitting in the guilt and anxiety of not completing my obsessions will help, but I'm wondering if there are other things I can do to maybe remedy some of the damage already done.
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