Is anyone’s anxiety and OCD worse while on their period? I was doing good this week but today I called out of work and am laying in bed feeling like shit with Pure/Harm/Suicidal OCD thoughts. Not to mention body aches, headache, and nausea.
God, absolutely. Like a week before I start to feel like I am going crazy, all my problems became worst and I feel hopeless 😭I feel less alone knowing I am not the only one struggling with this hahaha
@Anonymous Yeah, it’s just awful. I start going with the constant “what ifs” and constant negative thinking loops. It’s exhausting. I’ve been off meds for so long but I’m thinking it’s time I give it another try.
@Tee10 You said this perfectly! I wish they knew more about how women's cycles affect us mental health, but there haven't been any studies done on the female body as much as there has on the male body. Maybe we could get some sort of answers and more relief 😅
@Anonymous How do you move past it?
@Iamnotmythoughts I still struggle with it. For me it helps me know that it is not going to be forever, I also take medication and I have anxiolytics for emergency or realy bad moments
Funny you post about this because I just posted the same question two days ago… girl, I feel your pain!!! I’m in day 4 of my cycle.. feeling a bit better now that I’m getting towards the end, but it was horrible a day or two before, and the first few days of. Suicidal and existential OCD, derealization, depression, catastrophizing, hyper awareness…just hell. I’m sorry you’re feeling this way. I’m so ready for it to be over.
@Tee10 Does that happen every time you get your period? Or only when you’re in a longer OCD episode?
@Iamnotmythoughts I never used to have this issue. It’s only when my OCD is bad..like during high levels of stress. I guess the hormones with my period exacerbate it even more.
Absolutely! I have PMDD and my OCD definitely worsens during it. I will say, medication has helped with both. Although the symptoms are not totally gone, they're more manageable and less intense. Using response prevention and practicing self-care also helps during that time.
@Suzeme What medication and dose are you on?
@Iamnotmythoughts I'm on Viibryd (vilazodone) 40mg. That was the medication recommended to work for me when I took a GeneSight test. It saved my life. But, a different med might work better for you. Everyone is different - that's why the GeneSight test is a good way to explore what best works for you.
@Suzeme I’ve been considering genesight testing. How long did it take for you to get results in total, and how much did it cost? Did your insurance help cover it?
@Iamnotmythoughts Another option you can look into if genesight isn’t covered, is the 23 & Me health test. It also told me what medication would likely work best for me.
@Iamnotmythoughts My insurance did not cover it. When that's the case, GeneSight charges you based on your household size & income, and never more than $300. Luckily, I paid $0 😃 I received the test within 2-3 business days. They provide you with a FexEx overnight slip. Results were back within 2-3 days. So, everything happened within 7 days. I hope this info is helpful 💖
Does anyone like get extra anxious about an intrusive thought because you think to yourself “nobody else has probably had this thought.” “I must be crazy.” Idk those thoughts always seem to make my anxiety worse. I also have a fear of losing touch of reality and believing in crazy thoughts, if that makes sense? TMI but I also notice that my OCD is worse when I’m on my period. Can anyone else relate?
Do any of y’all feel like your focus is gone because of OCD? I’m in school for law and currently working through a couple month long OCD episode after getting Covid and I find my focus is gone. Or my mind just feels so tired and forgetful. Is this common? It’s making anxious as I obviously over analyze everything I feel. And also a question for women do you find that closer to your cycle you get more anxious and triggered?
I’m under a lot of stress right now between getting sick , getting my period , moving to a new apartment , and going on vacation next week. I feel like it’s made me distant and my partner focused OCD has gotten so much worse along with ROCD and SOOCD. I feel like I’ve been so hypercritical of my boyfriend and feeling nothing towards him and that stresses me out because last week when I was clear and my OCD had calmed down I felt so lovey dovey towards him. Now I just feel like a menace so I’m wondering if this happens to anyone else?
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