Idk what am I going to do ify therapist tells me it's not OCD or if she doesn't recognize Pure O (as it's rarely talked about in Ukraine) bc I don't have that much money. Idk how I'm going to continue living

Yeah...

I actually have struggled with Pure OCD, it's not my main subtype but I do still struggle with it today

@Albert de Blois How do you deal? Do you take meds or therapy?

I have ROCD and it lead to me feeling bad in general, loss of my personality, bc I am so consumed by thoughts. Did you have some problems during diagnosis or have been misdiagnosed? I live in a country where Pure O isn't talked about much

@Kls2121 Well it was definitely a struggle, my grades in school fell and still are pretty bad since I go to a college preparatory school. I distracted my mind with sports and working out and my family was supportive so I started therapy but it was not ERP. That therapist did not really help me with OCD mostly just anxiety so then I started seeing my therapist Nikki, who I tell all my struggles too. Although it may be expensive to do therapy, a NOCD treatment can last anywhere from 1 month to longer. I suggest getting a therapist you can do 1 hour sessions with for a month and try taking medication with it. That's what I did, the main thing is to challenge yourself and really make yourself feel uncomfortable with the exposures, that's the only way you'll feel better. Keep consistent with doing the exposure practices you talk about with your therapist and do them everyday as much as you can. But yeah it was hard, my OCD ate at me really bad as I suffered from Religious, Relationship, Pure, Symmetry, etc. All those OCD subtypes but my therapist worked with me and I did what she recommended. I suggest you do the same!

@Albert de Blois I just need to know is it OCD or not bc from there I can get a prescription for some SRRI's at least

@Albert de Blois It's good your guys have NOCD available I really think it's a great service

@Daria Alexandrovna Yes I had multiple problems, my first therapist only treated me for anxiety and that's what everyone thought I had. CBT therapy didn't really do much for me but when I started ERP my therapist and I worked on each subtype and making exposure practices for each one. With my ROCD, my mind constantly seeks reassurance so sometimes I'll say the name of my family members and tell myself it's okay. For example "James it's okay if I don't check the door". That's the mental compulsion I do almost subconsciously so a good ERP for that would be to try and sit with the uncomfortable feeling of not saying my families name and that everything is okay.

@Daria Alexandrovna If you have compulsions and some sort of obsession it is definitely OCD!

@Albert de Blois I do a lot of rumination, it's constant, I can wake up with a thought and ruminate all day long. But I don't always find relief from ruminating. It's like a battle 'I felt good in this moment!' and I feel calmer, but then my mind goes 'But what about that moment? What if you...?' and makes every good thought feel like a lie. It's changing really rapidly and there are new and new what ifs. Does it sound like OCD?

@Albert de Blois What medication did they prescribe you? Therapy is just so expensive. Im the same way though, keeping yourself busy helps me alot. I just have kids so sometimes my anxiety just gets to bad where I'm not being my best as a mom. I do want to say congrats though to you. Thats amazing! College snd everything while struggling. I love hearing success stories.

@Daria Alexandrovna Yup that sounds like Pure OCD, that happens to me too. Like for instance, I can think today it'll be a great day and it feels like a lie because it's something good. But if I think something like I will get in a car crash, it feels like it will really happen. Same with the what ifs that happens to me too all the time and it always changes. Definitely OCD get a therapist on NOCD and do online sessions that's what I recommend!

@Kls2121 I'm taking Zoloft right now, that's usually the first thing a pyschaitrist will prescribe. Zoloft is not the only medication though each one is definitely different. Therapy is definitely expensive but like I said try doing a month of it with an hour sessions twice a week and really commit to doing the ERP and it will definitely be helpful.

@Albert de Blois NOCD isn't available in Ukraine

@Albert de Blois One month of doing it won't be too expensive. Also use the resource on iocdf.org

@Daria Alexandrovna Look for alternatives, I'm sure there is some!

@Albert de Blois Yep I'm not going to give up

@Albert de Blois Thank you

@Daria Alexandrovna Of course, if you need some more help let me know I'll do my best!

@Daria Alexandrovna To me that sounds like ocd. I haven't been diagnosed ut from ive researched and heard from others yes it is. I ruminate all day as well or at least most of the day. I have days where I'm not as bad but then it will come back and go full force.

@Albert de Blois I have a little guestion: did you tell your therapist straight away what you think you might have OCD or did you just told him about your complaints?

@Kls2121 Thank you

@Daria Alexandrovna Well you usually do a first session where you talk about what goes through your mind and they'll help you from there, you can mention you think it's OCD but I would tell them everything.

@Albert de Blois I cannot afford to visit a therapist regularly I just have enough to make a diagnosis...

@Daria Alexandrovna Then do a diagnosis for medication and then go to iocdf.org and use their resources to try and do ERP on your own!

@Albert de Blois That would be exactly what I want to do!! I just don't know what will I do if doctor tells me he doesn't think it's OCD bc mine is Pure O... I guess I will still ask for antidepressants as for depression which developed along with my OCD

@Albert de Blois That's a really good plan. Thank you.

@Daria Alexandrovna Of course!