I’ve been diagnosed with OCD (strongest HOCD) and have worked on it with a therapist for the past 5 years. It got better, while not completely going away. But now that I have a boyfriend and the stakes seem to be much higher in my mind, my HOCD and ROCD have big time flared up. I went to a psychiatrist to consider options of medication to someone who said he treats OCD. HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT HOCD OR ROCD OR ANYTHING WAS and told me that I may be bi-sexual etc. etc. etc. My therapist told me that this happens so often due to lack of understanding. Has anyone had a similar experience with someone misdiagnosing you and saying your intrusive thoughts might actually be true?

This app makes me cry happy tears sometimes too (sorry for randomness)

People who are not specialists in OCD are obviously unlikely to understand the different patterns and themes - in the same way that I wouldn't be able to identify a brain tumour because I'm not a neurologist, not everyone can identify OCD because they're not OCD specialists! I read a book called 'Pure', written by someone who was told she could be gay when she should have been diagnosed with OCD. Luckily for her, she did eventually get diagnosed. But when that one person misunderstood, it really ruined her mental state even further for quite a while. The lack of awareness of OCD is quite shocking

I mean because what I say is always understood by at least one person

Agreed! It’s my first day on it but so glad I’m here.

My first psychologist told me I was depressed when if fact I have self-harm OCD. Worst thing is she fed my OCD and I was constantly anxious. Then I changed psychologist and I am so much happier. I’m getting better too.

Sending hugs and my best wishes your way! I hope you get a better therapist too

Thank you so much! I guess the point of therapy/psychiatrists is to make you feel better not worse right? And if it makes you feel worse something is wrong.

Exactly. I wish I’d realised that sooner instead of wasting two-four months and money on someone that didn’t understand me

Yes, that’s Rose Bretacher, there’s a TV show now about it! I now have been twice misdiagnosed! My therapist said it’s the highest form of exposure she wouldn’t ever make me do!

Mm! I’ve wanted to watch that! And omg twice?! And I like your therapist.

Yeah I had to avoid the TV show because my counsellor told me it had a lot of sexual scenes (it's essentially Rose's intrusive thoughts, acted out - really clever!). Considering I have similar intrusive thoughts to Rose & the character on the show, it would have been pretty intense for me at the time ?

But it's an amazing book and the show is meant to be extremely well done

Was the book a bit better? Maybe I should read it.

Ah right... is the book better to read? Cause I have sexual intrusives and issues like that

Yep, the book is much easier. There aren't pictures or anything so it can't get stuck as images in your head! It does describe her intrusive thoughts, but it's about how she lives with it and how she learned to recover. It's definitely worth reading if you can get it, it was really encouraging for me to read about someone struggling in the same way as I do. It made me cry when I read it, I'd never felt so understood ?

@Dolphinkick, yep me too haha. I even cried when I first read an article about intrusive thoughts, it's just so nice to not feel alone. I guess that's why it's nice to read books about it too