Can severe chronic ocd atrophy the brain?

Can it? I've had it for 5 years, not just in the background, fully severe and acutely crippling. I can hardly go through life, my memory and cognition are very poor, I struggle with comprehension and have difficulty thinking clearly or having conversations to people about everyday things. Like I can only narrate my ocd thoughts in my head, regular thoughts take too much brain power to think about. I have very high anxiety and depressive feelings also. I'm just worried my brain is structurally changed from this ongoing traumatic experiencs and when I'm in my late 30s or 40s it's going to evolve into neurodegenerative diseases. I want to get a brain scan done and see if everything is alright. What kind of doctor or tests would show me that?

OCDWarr1or

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 16w

My first question would be whether this thought is obsessive in nature? I completely understand your concern, but make sure it's not an obsession before you engage in it. Also, let's say you did find out there were brain changes, what would that do for you? Would you take treatment more seriously? Would you just worry more? I've had severe OCD for 20 years. It's been a hard 20 years. I just recently found proper treatment, so I'm headed in the right direction finally. However, my point in saying this, is that I've had some of the symptoms you have had (difficulty thinking, comprehension issues, memory issues, etc). I think it's getting better again honestly. Now when I hit a bad spell again, it goes out the door. But I wouldn't be surprised if as you get better with treatment, these other things do to. Also, how if your sleep? Sleep will throw all of those things right out the window.

Imaan7

Date posted: 16w

I don't think it's an obsession, I just worry about it time to time and it terrifies me.

uncertain_Aly

Date posted: 16w

I’m 25 and like in the same boat + 4 weeks of psych-education and therapy here on the NOCD app. I think if you scanned our brains things would be different, but regardless of the outcome THE THING THAT HELPS OCD THE MOST IS ERP. It is a THOUGHT disorder and you need to expose yourself to the scariest obsessions without compulsory actions in response for it to get any better

Hopeful58

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 16w

Are you in therapy with NOCD? I highly recommend it!!💝 You are not alone! There is HOPE.

Imaan7

Date posted: 15w

Nocd doesn't help with other issues, and I believe they only do erp modality. While I might need something like icbt

learningtore...

Date posted: 24w

OCD Medical Question?

(TW- Please don’t read if you have ocd relating to one off/random medical events) ^ ^ ^ ^ okay so this is something I’ve been confused about for YEARS and completely sped up my ocd symptoms, I had a one off seizure a few years ago, it wasn’t a major one but enough to have family take me to the hospital afterwards, I don’t remember anything whilst it was happening and I was unwell at the time too. I did all the tests and nothing came back, even tested for epilepsy but I don’t have that. No one has been able to give me a reason and that set off my ocd since mine is mostly based around things I cant see hurting me or others (contamination ocd) or me making the wrong decision (rOCD, real event etc etc) (no clue I had ocd at this point though, only got diagnosed last year) I know they can be stressed induced too but I remember not feeling that stressed that night and not much was going on… Is there anyone that’s experienced the same thing?? Could it be OCD related at all?

anonymous2580

Date posted: 22w

Does it really get better?

I’ve been dealing with ocd my whole life, and just got diagnosed about a year ago. I feel my days becoming occupied with thoughts, urges, fears and worry that completely debilitate me. It’s getting to the point where i feel like it’s taking over my life. I don’t see this getting any better, even with the therapy and medication I’m on. I’m scared my life will be like this forever, I’m tired. My brain is tired of ruminating every second of every day from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. I’m not sure how much longer I can go on like this.

Dude01

Date posted: 12w

OCD brain damage?

I feel like OCD has destroyed my brain relative to where I was before it. Headaches, worse memory, brain fog, mental fatigue, etc. How scary is that. Then I think "oh it's just 'cause you're worrying about that and it's temporary" Thing is, what happens when the temporary becomes the new normal? I hate this sh**

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Can severe chronic ocd atrophy the brain?

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