Please pick a psychologist who specializes in ocd

Hi! I’m trying to say this story as short as possible. I started realizing I was having an ocd flare up a long time ago and I chose private psychotherapy because I thought it would be better. I had a bunch of other issues and I wanted one quick (I had tried 2 before) and when I met someone that I felt was kind of okay I trusted them with my ocd. The thing was that she was NOT specialized in ocd, in fact, looking back I realize that she barely knew how to handle it at all. I had a really good one when I was younger and I was not having symptoms when I quit years ago, so it surprised me a LOT that all I had learned got unlearned because I trusted a bad psychologist. I have currently Rocd and a bit of compulsive staring as well, plus tricomania. I really really want to warn you, DON’T LET A NON OCD SPECIALIST GIVE YOU ADVICE OR ERP!!!!! It has taken me a while to realize all the damage she did. But I was so desperate for a solution at the time that I ignored the signs. She had no idea what she was doing and she actually asked me what we should do! She also made my staring worse, because she told me to try to not look (which is actually wrong), she also asked me if I was really in love with my partner, EVEN THOUGH I HAD NO DOUBTS AT THE TIME!!! She thought that I actually wanted sex with someone else and was like yeah it’s normal some people do that, instead of understanding my feelings and that I actually didn’t want to, but it was an intrusive thought. (It was very different from the classic: you know what maybe maybe not erp thing) She misunderstood everything and I now have to rewire my brain.

AnAnxiousPerson

Date posted: 16d

OMG YES! Talking to a therapist that doesn't know anything about OCD can honestly be so traumatic! Esepcially if they take your thoughts seriously and as fact like you do! I went through so many psychiatrists before I found a good one because none of them knew what OCD was (which is concerning!)

Sofia_123456789

Date posted: 15d

@AnAnxiousPerson Fr

AnAnxiousPerson

Date posted: 15d

@Sofia_123456789 - YES! Out of everyone, they should absolutely know what it is! Plus, they didn't give me papers or a criteria. One literally asked me, "Do you turn on lights on and off?" and I was so takenaback, I just said, "N-No?" And he said "You don't have OCD." I felt SO crazy! I was like, in my head, "I know I didn't go to medical school, but he's definitely wrong." And I had to go through 4 psychaitrists for like 2 years until I FINALLY found a good therapist who helped! LIterally, the second we took the forms (professional ones), I was instantly diagnosed with dibilitating OCD. OCD needs more representation, esepcially mental compulsions or ones that feel more taboo to talk about. I really hope you find a good psych<3

Anonymous

Date posted: 16d

Hey, I totally get where you’re coming from. I was in the same boat. I went to a pricey psychologist before and asked if I had OCD. After just a couple of sessions, she said she was 90% sure I did... but then didn’t do anything about it. She told me to rely on loved ones for reassurance and said that doing a compulsion once was just a quirky personality trait, which is totally wrong and the opposite of what you need to hear. She kept pushing meditation and “keeping busy” to distract myself, but that didn’t help with the OCD at all. Honestly, I think professionals like that should be upfront about their limits and encourage you to find someone specialized rather than leaving you stuck or making things worse. I finally found an excellent OCD specialized therapist, and I’m already on my third ERP session and doing great! You deserve support that truly understands OCD and helps you work through it. Sending you so much strength! 💪❤️

Sofia_123456789

Date posted: 15d

@Anonymous Omg I’m so sorry that psychologist sounds terrible! Good that you have a good therapist now! Thank you, it’s really tough.

Lena1998

Date posted: 22w

Harm OCD made worse by psychiatrist visit

I went to talk to a psychiatrist based off my Nocd therapists recommendation. I had a very hard week beforehand where I had anxiety so bad I couldn't leave my bed. It seems like once I get my period my anxiety and everything dissipated some so I talked to the psychiatrist. Anyways, I was immediately put off by her because she told me she didn't have any information on me included in the referral for one reason or another. So I had to basically "fill her in" on my life story. I have anxiety disorder, panic disorder, OCD and PTSD. I told her these things and how hard the last week had been. She started asking questions like I had bipolar disorder, which I don't have. She then wanted me to take buspar and Zoloft TOGETHER daily. I know for a fact you never start two medications daily at once. You don't know which one is causing symptoms if you do. So I immediately didn't like that. I asked her about Zoloft specifically daily because it is an SSRI what I should do if it gave me thoughts of harm for myself. She told me "just go to the hospital".... Now, I don't wanna say that was the worst possible thing she could have said to me, but it was. Because now my OCD is spiraling that just my general harm OCD thoughts are enough to mean I need to go to the hospital. It had been 2 days and I cannot stop obsessing that maybe I'm depressed or suicidal because of this. I know I don't want anything to happen to me. I love my family and my friends. I am scared of death. But the thought is sticky and it's been so, so frustrating. My anxiety has been so frustrating. I feel so lost and like nothing I'm trying to fix my issues is working very well. NOCD therapy has been one of the only things to help in the long term, but I still get terrified of certain obsessions like suicide. I don't really know what to do, if anyone has any advice or any personal experience that may help, anything would be nice right now. I've felt so lost trying to figure it all out.

Huskydog

Date posted: 21w

I have a question.

I had my second session with a therapist and they told me they don’t think I have OCD. They think that I have just intrusive thoughts. They also said they don’t do diagnosis. I also noticed they did not ask me questions about my different themes.This has made me so confused. Even though I had a terrible fear that a therapist will tell that I don’t have it, (which is the main reason why I had not gone to one) I did suspect I had it because I identify with many of the symptoms. On the website it says that they treat it but I don’t think they are like a specialist. On the first session they described OCD mainly as needing to have things symmetrical and fear of contamination. I have a feeling that they don’t know much about it. I also didn’t mentioned all the themes I think I have because I’m scared to be misunderstood. I am not sure what to do. I can’t afford seeing an OCD therapist at NOCD. Can anyone give an insight, has something similar happened to you? Thank you!

RachelBet

Date posted: 20w

OCD therapist versus not?

Hello! What a journey this ocd thing is! After 17 years with one therapist, I knew I was no longer making progress, so I changed to a new therapist. After just 6 months with her, she suggested I might have ocd and to look into getting diagnosed. She was right and I was diagnosed with ocd last summer. Meds are making a big difference but I still have lots of unlearning and re-learning to do. I’ve been struggling with whether or not to switch to a therapist who specializes in ocd. I have no issues with my current therapist, but she doesn’t specialize in ocd and I sometimes think I need someone who does specialize in it. But of course, I have Pure O, so I can think myself in circles til the cows come home. Can anyone share experience about switching to a therapist who specializes in ocd?

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond

Please pick a psychologist who specializes in ocd

Related posts

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Be a part of the largest OCD Community