Sertraline/Zoloft for POCD

@Ermagh2024 Hi! Thank you so much for your reply. I am diagnosed with ADHD so that might have something to do with it. My psychiatrist said the dose to treat OCD with Zoloft is usually around 250-300mg but upping my dose really scares me. How long have you been on the 50mg for? X

@Justagirl Of course!! Thank you for replying also. It is so interesting to hear from people who also struggle with OCD as I don’t know that many people who do in real life. I have been on 50mg since March! TMI but I got admitted into the psych ward in early March they thought I had bipolar as well because I was manic so I was kept on the 25 mg of zoloft I was already on, given an antipsychotic and a benzo. Then I got out of the hospital and my pcp took off the antipsych and benzo and told me to go up to 50 mg on the zoloft. Now Im struggling again and they both told me to go to 100 of zoloft. My nurse practitioner says she doesn’t think it is adhd because “I did well in school”. However I know this is not the case for all people with ADHD. Do you think the 150 has helped you in anyway? How long have you been on it? How did you realize you had both OCD and ADHD? If you don’t mind answering!

@Justagirl Im sorry you are struggling too!! That is funny that we were both in a psych ward this year! That is so brave of you for getting help though because it is definitely not easy to be in there but it will be so beneficial in the long run. I learned a lot from it. I think the antipsychotic will help you!! I liked when I was on it I feel like I didn’t obsess over my thoughts as much. I can totally relate to those emotions!! That’s really hard. I have had it since I was 10 Im 24 now. I have gone through sooo many themes too! I hid it from my family and the people in my life for a long time so I wasnt medicated until like last year. I am in search of a therapist who specializes in OCD right now. I have been in therapy before but never done ERP. It was my first time in treatment earlier this year. I understand you! It is definitely really difficult, but you will figure out the combination that is going to work for you. Are you on a stimulant for your adhd? I think if I have it, I would have ADD as well because I really don’t have energy or the hyperactive part. I just really struggle with lack of motivation, procrastinating, excessive thoughts on loop/rumination but then again I don’t know if this is just OCD or depression.

@Ermagh2024 I did try a stimulant for my ADD around maybe 2 years ago but the funny thing with stimulants is that it can also make OCD worse. I’m definitely not saying that that will happen if you go on them but it is a high risk. Because of that I came off the stimulant and have chosen not to go on one since. I also hid my OCD from my family and friends for so many years. I recently told my best friend and my boyfriend about my POCD theme. It was so terrifying and took so much courage because it’s such a taboo theme that’s not talked about a lot. I was so lucky that even though they didn’t understand what I was going through they didn’t judge me and simply said that they know my morals and who I am as a person based off my actions. And they still love and support me which I know I deserve but I’m still extremely grateful for it. My boyfriend has been coming to visit me to take me out on hospital leave and bring me hampers of goodies. I’m extremely lucky. By best friend also came to visit too. I have a really difficult family life with a lot of trauma so having them in my life is such a blessing. ERP therapy is honestly so difficult but I’d definitely recommend trying it because I think it can help if you’re ready to accept being unsure about things.

@Ermagh2024 Omg alsooo you have to watch this show called ‘Pure’ I think it’s on Stan. It’s about sexual intrusive thoughts and it made me feel so much less alone. It’s based off a book and the writer also has POCD. It doesn’t necessarily refer to POCD but it does refer to sexual intrusive thoughts in general.

@Justagirl That sounds soo interesting!! I will definitely watch that because sexual intrusive thoughts have always been the most disturbing for me. Thank you for the recommendation.

@Justagirl Yes please do!! Thank you it has been nice talking to you :) we will keep in touch and I will keep you updated on my symptoms and such. Hope you have a fulfilling time in treatment and you can take away a lot from it. I also hope the combination of zoloft and the antipsychotic helps you. Im here to help in anyway too!! Just talking it out with somebody going through similar things helps so much as OCD can be a very isolating disorder.

@Ermagh2024 Hi again! Hope you’re doing well :) thought I’d give an update. I have my discharge date set for Friday so I will be leaving hospital then. I’ve noticed a bit of a reduction in my OCD symptoms from this medication now although I’m quite weary as I get nervous that the effects of the medication won’t continue. I think that’s just my anxiety though. I haven’t upped my dosage of Zoloft since, just adjusted to the current dosage. Don’t get me wrong I still feel the need to seek reassurance in my head and complete mental compulsions when It comes to my OCD, but I’m more able to not engage with them now. Even though they still make me quite nervous. I was wondering how you’re holding up, how are you doing?

@Justagirl Hi! Yay that’s so exciting glad to hear you are doing well and hope you are adjusting well to the real world! I am glad to hear the medication is helping you!! Just enjoy it in the moment and if its effects stop you can always switch to another. I haven’t upped it either but I think I really need to it’s just scary:/ yes i felt the same way on antipsychotics!! Ehh Im okay, still struggling with pocd it has been rough my compulsions are really fully mental but I do engage in a lot of checking behaviors. It is hard because mine gets mixed in with real event OCD also. I am starting therapy monday so that is good news! I really just need someone to talk to about whats happening maybe thats me seeking reassurance but I just need more support. Im also pretty sure Im going to up my dose and see how that goes. How have you been outside the hospital so far?