Who has multiple diagnosis besides OCD here? And how did it affect your Therapy? I have OCD, Generalized Anxiety, and Depression. I would like to listen to how other people have dealt with their multiple diagnosis on this platform.
I’ve dealt with OCD and some childhood trauma. Working with the OCD coach has helped understand what is stemming from my OCD and what is from my childhood trauma. Differentiating emotions and thoughts has been a lot of work but you then learn how to use different tools depending on what you re experiencing. It is a gift but also a lot of work. Good luck with everything, it’s difficult to see it now but through hard work and grace you can find an improved quality of life.
I have the same three! My depression and anxiety are HEAVILY linked (once I come down from feeling really anxious I’ll almost immediately hit a depression bump) but also different intrusive thoughts trigger either depression or anxiety separately. ERP, acupuncture and meditation have helped tremendously. I’m on Zoloft but I honestly don’t see much of a benefit from prescription drugs. I highly recommend acupuncture though! I feel instant relief and it doubles as a self care activity which helps when I’m feeling down.
Cannot agree more with the acupuncture idea!! Just had my first session. On 100mg of Zoloft (going up from 50 because this week has been kicking my ass). It’s okay to need things outside of therapy to take care of yourself!
Yes I started ERP a month ago. Mental compulsions and constant rumination are my main challenges. The intrusive thoughts and compulsions take almost my entire day.
@Marco89 Have you started your actual exposures yet? You really will see a difference. Also, it sounds like a great time to pick up some new hobbies or get out more. It was hard for me at first but I forced myself to go see friends/ go to support groups and it’s made a huge difference
@KaylaStalcup It does Make a difference. I started 2 weeks ago to do exposures more seriously daily. Mine are all loop recordings. Or watching videos. What does yours look like?
I’m so nervous 😬, mine is three weeks three hours each day Monday through Friday
@Anonymous I was terrified too and didn’t want to go at all but looking back now, it was the best decision I made. It helps to remember that they’re there to support you and they probably heard it all, so they won’t judge you.
I’ve had PTSD, OCD, And depression
How about work? Do you like your jobs? Family? I find it really hard… I am Dealing with this while doing a job that I don’t find rewarding in another state far from family. But I have friends and a girlfriend here.
@Marco89 Okay so that plays a HUGE part. I recently left a job that I hated that had terrible hours and took a huge pay cut to go after a job I’m passionate about. I am so much happier because of it despite having less money. I understand that not everyone can afford to do that but in place of that I think spending more time doing hobbies that you love really helps.
@KaylaStalcup For me, having good friends that I can share my thoughts/ feelings with has also been really helpful. I mostly just see friends and my boyfriend also. My mom has been supportive but my family doesn’t fully understand what I’m going through.
I’m afraid of recovery being hard if I spend 40 hours per week doing something I find boring and doesn’t let me interact with others. I’m an extrovert and my job is being in excel all day…
@Marco89 Ah yeah, what are your hobbies? My partner is in a similar situation but it helps him to make time to exercise, go outside, take music lessons etc. and that seems to help. Have you started ERP?
I have no hobbies… I have made my job my hobby… but I’m not interested in the job anymore.
I am diagnosed with OCD and bipolar disorder. It is such a challenge because a lot of medicines to treat the OCD increases my mood swings/mania.
I have OCD, GAD, SAD, and depression. I’ve been in an outpatient program a few times and individual therapy (CBT) on and off for 3 years for GAD, SAD, and depression. Now I’m doing ERP with a specialist and group therapy for ACT. OCD is my most recent issue but it’s the most severe out of all my illnesses :’)
@blazed How was iop? I’m starting iop for ocd in two weeks
@Anonymous It was amazing! It was hard and stressful at the beginning, but eventually I grew to like it and learned a lot of skills on how to navigate through my struggles. I made a lot of progress by the end of the program and it really helped with getting my life back on track.
🥹
Hey guys! I’m new to this app and I find it really amazing we all have eachother to connect and relate with. Was anyone else misdiagnosed almost all their life?? At one point I thought my ocd was depression due to the nasty intrusive thoughts, but I never actually wanted to go through with any of the thoughts so I just felt lost and confused with what was happening. I am happy I am finally realizing what is going on, super grateful for this app and all of you!
Hey Everyone, I have been recently diagnosed with OCD within the past year. Finding this information out gave me an answer to so many years of struggle and feeling alone. I have had ups and downs and have been successful for a long time along this path of my own. Unfortunately, I experienced a massive panic attack 3 years ago that hospitalized me and has left me feeling at the 'start' again, but this time it feels worse than it ever has before. Anything that puts me potentially by myself or having to do anything by myself I cannot fathom, I can barely make it to the gas station at the corner of my house alone. I have been in therapy, went through EMDR/ACT and CBT. I was doing great for a little bit and even made one appointment about 10 minutes away from my home all alone by myself (also note I am in a new area completely that I just moved too). I was on medication at this time *lexapro 20MG*, I am no longer on it due to my bloodwork being extremely abnormal for my age. Now that I am no longer on it - I have fear creeping in that the lexapro kept me sane and that I cannot cope without it. I understand this is not the case entirely but there is something in me that believes that to be true. Long story short, I am looking for individuals who have had the same experience as me and could give me some hope into getting back to my normal routine (even knowing I have OCD now). I just want to be independent again and not burden my loved ones and learn to be okay with myself. Thanks in advance!
Hey all, I was recently diagnosed with OCD and MDD a few months ago. I’ve been experiencing symptoms for the past 11 months though. I used to be a person who would downplay depression, reasoning that if someone is depressed, they should be able to snap out of it. This year has taught me the truth behind how debilitating mental health conditions can be. My OCD has been absolutely tearing my life apart. For the past year, I’ve been coping with excessive guilt over past and recurring mistakes, my anxiety of which has recently been causing me panic attacks and throbbing headaches. I’ve also been coping with feeling unnatural sexual attractions, to those of the same sex and to children, which contradict the values I hold at heart. At one point, even simply shaking someone’s hand would cause sexual arousal, due to my hyper-vigilance surrounding physical contact. My OCD and depression nearly led me to take my life a few months ago. There are no words to describe the amount of pain I’ve had to endure. My thoughts and feelings have been absolutely tearing my life down, bit by bit. I feel like I lost who I was, and like it’s impossible for me to know who I am. This isn’t me. Over the past couple weeks, I’ve been feeling constant sexual arousal, it’s so easily triggered now. I don’t know if it’s because of the OCD, if it’s a result of the SSRI I’m on, or if it’s just a product of me being a young adult—Or maybe a combination of all of the above, but it’s debilitating. How easily I get aroused causes me so much guilt. There is a girl in my life that I love, but it doesn’t help that I get aroused around her because of the simplest of things. It’s not what I want for us. I want to be able to hone in on my self-control. I can’t help but constantly compare who I am now to who I was just over a year ago. My happiness has suffered, and my endurance is draining. I know there is a long road of insight and recovery ahead of me, this is just the beginning. If there’s anyone who can relate to me in any way, feel free to let me know. Comfort begins with feeling understood.
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond
