Has anyone dealt with depression and OCD at the same time? Did it take getting the depression better before the OCD got better?

Well, having OCD makes me depressed! They both kind of feed into each other, but my therapist and I tackle both - wherever is most urgent that week. But working on the OCD helps get me out of the dumps a bit, and then when I’m out of the dumps I can work on my OCD more...

Don’t worry Lily! We are here to help!!

I would love to know the same thing! d a i s y

Yes I have. I might be getting this wrong, but I think anxiety is caused by too little seratonin AND dopamine, whereas depression is a lack of seratonin alone. So you’d probably have to get the seratonin first

@P I think we think similarly. I have seen a few of your posts on here and you say the same thing I think of lol. Absolutely I have dealt with both. Like P said, OCD causes some of my depression. So I think I would have to get rid of my OCD first before I could get rid of my depression.

@pineapple: cool :) I’m glad we can relate!

I ask because I’m doing a outpatient program and they’ve decided for me to move from the anxiety group to the depression because I’m not able to do my CBT type work. Really sucks, I’m thinking my meds need a boost.

Hey Ramblin Guy, that probably makes sense. Maybe because the depression is more urgent that needs to be tackled first. Give the new group a try and see what happens and talk to your shrink about the meds. Sometimes just a small change is all that’s needed for a jolt to your system and your mood.

I went from being on max dose of Prozac to only half of Luvox so I have a sneaky suspicion that hasn’t helped the situation. Tis the life of mental illness.

I have had nothing but bad experiences on anti-depressants. I read somewhere that 50% of people don’t respond to them. So it’s probably not you ?

Btw - I am taking meds but not typical SSRIs - I’m on namenda, which works on glutamate receptors. Ask your shrink about it, it’s been a complete game-changer for me and started working within a week...

I had a good experience with Zoloft for about 9 years and then tried Prozac which wasn’t bad for 3. Made the switch to Luvox for intrusive thoughts, probably should of stayed with Prozac.

Why did you switch if it was working?

At the time, it didn’t feel like it was working (major breakdown with my OCD Pure O), so we tried Luvox for the OCD and things were getting better. Think it’s time to kick it up a dosage after the Pdoc and I meet.

I’ve always felt like the anxiety has turned into depression. The meds definitely help with the anxiety and depression, but I don’t feel like they do much for the intrusive thoughts: I still get them and they still are distressing. Some days are great and other days I feel like the thoughts are so loud.

My OCD made me depressed and panicked.

I might have, though ocd has always been stronger. Do you see therapy for ocd?

Yeah I’d definitely have a chat with the shrink about the meds. With my meds I thought after a while they weren’t working very well but it was more like I was just getting used to the effects. Also, being on meds and not doing exposures means I am entrenching my brain in ocd behaviors and not really reaping the benefits the meds have been giving me to do the exposures, if that makes any sense....

P do you see therapy for ocd?

@Lily are you doing a compulsion by asking me that?

Yes I’m sorry ?

Thank you @P you are very kind

Keep trying Lily! You can do it!

Back to the meds: I’ve been on namenda for about 4 months. It works on glutamate receptors. It’s been life changing for me.

Oh shit I said that already! Ha!