I just joined this site today. I am a senior citizen on medicare with OCD and never knew what it was until the last 5 years. I suffered greatly. The therapists that I have seen were not OCD therapist so their treatment was trying show how incorrect my thoughts were and think of a positive thoughts to replace the irrational OCD thoughts. Even though I got diagnosed,I didnt have money to pursue treatment. OCD therapists seem to charge cost prohibitive prices unless you are rich. Currently, I found an OCD therapist, but it only lasted a few sessions due to money. I took benzodiazepines for my OCD because doctors thought it was just anxiety when I told them I couldnt sleep and that was the wrong drug to take. I am having to come off of this drug because I became horribly dependent on it. It has been hard and it is still an ongoing process. My OCD is of the garden variety. It is constantly morphing to many many themes. The main themes it settles on are sexual, harm, magical thinking, contamination, counting, perfectionism and hyperawareness of body. Currently it is about sleeping. I have thoughts such as, am I sleeping, will I be able to sleep, if I dont sleep, will I die, and any variations about sleep. This has caused me to be extremely sleep deprived and a continued reliance on benzodiazepines which frankly makes OCD worse and does not make me sleep. I am working to get off but it has been difficult. I have a doctor who gives me the drugs, but she doesnt understand OCD, and she is stymied when I cant get off of them in a timely manner or stay on a regular dosage. I told her when the OCD flares, you would do anything to stop it. I am glad to be here to get help for my chronic disease that is getting worse because I had it for over 50 years and and not getting treatment for it. I am now currently trying to do something to help myself get out of this OCD rabbit hole. Appreciate comments from the OCD community.

Ginger77

Date posted: 5y

welcome

? ilshid

Date posted: 5y

I think it helps to read the posts here and see if the way you think is similar. Usually, you realize how absurd it is to think a certain way when others describe it but you don't realize it when you do it. It feels too real then. But when that it doesn't make any sense and you try to help others, you're also helping yourself

Mike1234

Date posted: 5y

I had sleep apnea and ocd for over 20 years. You can get caught up in an endless loop when sleep deprived which makes the ocd worse. Are you practicing good sleep hygiene? 1. Bedtime is around the same time daily. 2. Cool dark room no alarm clock lights or tv in bedroom. 3. Can you take any meds in the morning so they don’t interfere with sleep patterns? 4. No eating, television or electronics 1 hour before bedtime. No exercise before bedtime. No caffeine. 5. Are you drinking plenty of water and getting as much good nutrition and exercise as you possibly can? I use 10mg Natrol gummy Melatonin from Walmart an hour before bedtime. It helps me to fall asleep better. Remember quality of sleep is as important as the duration.

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