I understand that everyone is different but lately I have been debating on medication just because of past experiences but does anyone have any good experiences with medication that has helped them with their OCD as well as therapy or treatment? As of now I’m dealing with it by myself but it feels like it may be getting worse
Hey there, it may be worth a try. Medication especially in combination with therapy is the most effective. I've found that medication (for me) has made the OCD thoughts "slide away" a little easier, so they're not so "sticky," so to speak. I'd also recommend talking with your doctor/psychiatrist about having a Genesight done. It's a genetic test that looks at what medications are most likely a good fit (green = minimal side effects and will be more likely to yield positive results, yellow = side effects may be worse/medication may not work as well, and red = do not take, side effects outweigh benefits), so that way you aren't a guinea pig and having to trial a bazillion medications. You may still have to trial some, though. Medication doesn't take away the problem, but it does make it easier to use your skills/techniques.
It's understandable to feel conflicted about medication, especially with past experiences in mind, and it's tough when you feel like OCD is getting worse while managing it on your own. Many individuals find that a combination of therapy, like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and medication can be very effective for OCD. Exploring these options with a specialist could provide a clearer path forward. If you’d like additional support, feel free to book a free call with our NOCD team. We’d be happy to share more information and explore ways to help. No one has to live in fear of their own thoughts. Also here are some helpful resources: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/do-i-have-to-take-medication-to-get-treatment-for-ocd/ https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/can-therapy-cure-my-ocd/
hi! i’m medicated, and while meds don’t fix it, it makes it much easier to use the strategies my therapist has given me
I haven’t been particularly helped by meds but I know that many people have! I think it’s worth a shot when you’re also doing ERP
yes i just started medication and its been helping alot. i also do therapy. i
I used medicine along with ERP and it helped me. It didn't take the thoughts or anxiety away but it would make it more manageable.
Often times with a lot of folks (myself included) the medicine doesn’t work without the therapy and vice versa. There is no shame in taking meds to help manage your OCD symptoms. Our brain needs some extra help sometimes too :-)
I was very hesitant and anxious about trying medication and literally avoided it for years. But eventually I decided to give sertraline a try. I started off on 50mg which didn't help. After about a month, they increased me to 100mg which did help, but not enough. Again, after a month or two, they increased me to 150mg which is what I've been on for over a year. The 150mg sertraline dose has been extremely helpful for me and has made a huge difference. I really wish I had pushed past the anxiety and tried it earlier.
I have a question My OCD has felt almost invisible the past few weeks and now that is starting to stress me out a lot. Right now I am at a point in my treatement where I was asked if I would like to take medication. I told my therapist this week that I would like to try the medication based on how miserable I feel in during OCD flare ups. But now my brain always tells me that I only go throught this treatement etc. to seek attention and that I am just dramatic and should be ashamed of myself for wanting to take this medication. So now I am doubting if I should take the medication or not. Any advice?
Hey friends, I hope you all are well. I just wanted to check in and ask people's experiences about being on medication. I have had OCD pretty much my whole life, just got recently diagnosed 4 months ago and my therapist recommended that I get on meds for it so I have a psychiatrist appointment set up. I'm a little apprehensive about getting on them, but I've realized that I do have some sort of chemical imbalance in my brain that plays a part in my OCD and anxiety. I would love to hear anyones experiences or words of encouragement. Thank you, I hope you all are well.
Medication for OCD? Hello all, 19 male here, this seems like a cool community that isn’t nearly as triggering as reddit. I have pretty severe bouts of existential thinking or fear of going crazy ( psychosis ) after some pretty heavy mushroom trips a few years ago, I know logically I should be fine but I do know what it’s like to lose it and it’s scary. Currently I deal with relationship focused OCD, it’s all day from before I even open my eyes. I want things to work out with my girlfriend badly. Also I can come close to a panic attack sometimes which perpetuates everything. Anyway, I mention the fear of going crazy because the way my anxiety/derealization makes me feel is that I’m not mentally stable cause I feel out of it or unreal. I saw that a lot of anxiety and depression medication can cause psychosis and I feel like I could use some help in getting ahead of my OCD because the compulsions are had not to give into when I’m in such distress/not knowing. Plus overall I just feel like I have no idea how I feel about close to anything. Anyone relate about that ?
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond
