trying to get help

so i’ve been thinking for years that i might have ocd and i’m finally going to talk to a psychologist this month. but i have no experience with therapy at all and i’m terrible at describing how i feel in general. even when i was asked by the intake coordinator about my symptoms i had trouble articulating what i meant. it’s like as soon as someone asks me i have trouble remembering what i want to say and getting the words out. should i just make a list and read it when the time comes? i’ve also been worried because this psychologist does not specialize in ocd. she does have experience with erp and treats ocd but i’m still concerned that i won’t be understood. i’m starting to regret trying lol, can’t stop thinking about the what ifs. like what if i get misdiagnosed, or what if i’m wrong and it’s not ocd. i don’t think i would know what to do if it’s not, i’m stressed

tigechi

Date posted: 22d

For me, ocd hates novelty, regardless if it's "good" or "bad". Ocd is good at making it seem like any change is risky. But if I change nothing, then ocd gets to stay in charge. I dont want to believe ocd anymore. I'd rather build trust in the wise part of me that knows I can be happier. One step at a time. We dont have to have contingencies ready for every possible outcome. As we move forward, the next step becomes clearer. Thats my belief, anyway. 😃

intro.to

Date posted: 22d

@tigechi this makes sense, thank you

Tea and Honey

Date posted: 21d

I'm going to copy and paste something I just wrote a few seconds ago to someone on the app. I think it might help. It is VITAL to get the right kind of treatment is crucial for OCD. A lot of therapies out there don't work. I would give your therapist a 50-50 chance of being able to help you. If she truly doesn't understand, she might only be able to give you minimal good advice.

intro.to

Date posted: 21d

@Tea and Honey should i look for someone else then? i haven’t even spoken to her at all yet so i feel like i should at least try but i’m nervous…

Tea and Honey

Date posted: 21d

@intro.to It's up to you. It doesn't hurt to try. If you feel like it's not working or she doesn't understand, then don't feel bad about going somewhere else with someone who really understands OCD and ERP. There's really good treatment out there. You just have to get to the right place. but it's totally fine to try out the place where you're going and see how it works for you :):)

intro.to

Date posted: 21d

@Tea and Honey i will keep this in mind, thank you :)

Tea and Honey

Date posted: 21d

OCD is actually treatable!! It responds to therapy. But it has to be the right kind of therapy. And a lot of therapies out there do not work at all. ERP therapy is the key. It is well- researched and very effective. Sometimes it can be hard to find a therapist who does ERP in your area. So I would recommend two that I know are VERY GOOD. One is Nathan Peterson. He has an online course where you can learn ERP therapy on your own. It will take you through treatment step-by-step so you can learn to manage the OCD. Here's a link: https://www.ocd-anxiety.com/ Nathan Peterson also has a lot of helpful videos on YouTube. These go over a lot of common themes that people struggle with. The other resource I highly recommend is NOCD. I have used them twice. All their therapists are trained in ERP therapy, and they are very good. All the sessions are over zoom, and it's very easy to communicate with them through texting or email. They're very friendly and get back quickly. They take most insurance. So it was just a co-pay for me for every session . Keep me posted on your journey !!!! Sometimes it can take a while to find the right treatment. But if you do get into the right treatment, it can be very effective, and it can turn your life around. You can get to the point where you are doing all the things that you want to do in life :):)

Tea and Honey

Date posted: 21d

@Tea and Honey I think it is just fine to try out your current therapist. And don't worry about talking to them. Everything you say is confidential, and they are not allowed to share it with anyone. But if you find that the therapy is not working, I would try something else (like the ones I suggested above). If you get into a good ERP therapy, you will make improvements for sure. It will take time, and it will take a A LOT OF WORK, but you will get better and better:):):)

Tea and Honey

Date posted: 21d

@Tea and Honey FYI, if you are worried about misdiagnosis, NOCD is awesome about giving good OCD diagnoses. I think I was diagnosed within one or two sessions. So the process was very easy and clear.:)

idolent

Date posted: 22w

i think i have OCD, but my gf disagrees (rant?)

i’ve thought that i have OCD for about 2 years now, but i’ve had a lot of the symptoms for as long as i can remember (but i don’t really remember a lot of my childhood- i need to check w family to confirm). i’ve talked to my gf about it, and she thinks i just have GAD and am a hypochondriac. i definitely do have GAD, but the things i have obsessions and compulsions ab aren’t just health related (even tho a lot are), ill imagine that people are injured or dead if i don’t hear from them, i ruminate on childhood events and think about if i could have changed things, i blame myself for things that aren’t my fault, i check all of the locks in my house every night to make sure nobody can break in (even tho ik they’re locked), etc. my GAD more shows up in worrying about like worrying about an upcoming exam or about going into work, or that my friends/family/gf are/is mad at me. i know you guys can’t diagnose me, but the i can’t see a therapist on here until i am able to tell my current therapist that i need to see someone else. i just wanted to talk about it i guess, ive taken so many online quizzes and psych classes that i feel like i somewhat know what im talking about.

1231234

Date posted: 20w

Tips for someone starting out with Therapy?

I’m on track to getting my diagnosis and i’m already questioning it. Pocd feels so real, and even though i once saw someone say “it has to feel real or you wouldn’t worry” which is like god level reassurance honestly, it hurts. I can’t look at children, they deserve better. My usual attraction seems to be gone and i can not think about anything else. At the same time i don’t really feel anxiety. I’m scared i don’t feel bad enough, if i just smiled maybe i honestly wouldn’t feel bad? I don’t have many other ocd symptoms either, except for some stuff when i was a kid and like questioning everything about myself. I’m clinging to the hope that this is Pocd instead of me being a Monster and at the same time i’m so sad that i have to go trough this. I don’t like myself but i’m sorry for my younger self. I just want to be held and be told that everything will be okay but how can i know? Even then i feel like comfort of that kind only really applies to others who are struggling and aren’t horrible like me. In so many ways i sm convinced i am a monster even though it might be a bit irrational. Maybe i’m a monster after all and then i should really get away from everyone i love. They deserve better :( After a lifetime of struggles (nothing super serious) i’m just getting started with therapy and i’m so.. scared. What if it won’t help? What if it turns out i’m the bad person i fear to be. Is there any way i can prepare or some tips or literally anything else? I would appreciate any wise words

emma345

Date posted: 19w

Going to a psychiatrist. Help

17f So I don't have an official diagnosis, but I know I have it, I struggle with it since I was 4, I went through like almost every theme like contamination, symmetry, checking, existential, health anxiety, false memory, moral ocd, sexual ocds, and also a therapist told me I have it (another one said I have generalized anxiety disorder but idk like I was talking about textbook ocd to her) I don't have a therapist now therapy is not working out well for me but I was hoping to maybe get medication For me the absolute hell is POCD and real event ocd. I genuinely don't know how do I start. I also think I will replace POCD with harm ocd cause well I'm to scared to talk about POCD. But what do I even say like do I come in and talk about more obvious ocd stuff I experience and then randomly jump to POCD, seems like a crazy jump idk... Also I thought it will be in the evening and I will have time to prepare but it's in and hour and a half I'm terrified Anyone? Help? How do I start what do I say I'm so scared

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