Hard day and using avoidance. I struggle with harm OCD and feel like I go backwards when I avoid situations as I have today.

I appreciate your feedback too. It is so good to connect with others who understand. Thank you for letting me know about Luvox.

I resonate with your struggle...it is so painful to fear the ones we love. Some days I feel there is more progress though at times...today being one of them, it can feel near impossible. Thanks for sharing. How long have you been in therapy and Luvox?

Thank you ?

Thanks for your response. I know it can be so exhausting. I fear harming people close to and that I care deeply about. Mostly afraid of knives and sharp objects. I am currently seeing a CBT therapist and going through exposure therapy and just starting imaginal exposure which I find really difficult.

I just want to say that I also struggle with harm OCD. I fear that I will hurt those I love the most - my two kids. I started CBT therapy and also taking Luvox. I am very slowly feeling better but not as quickly as I would like.

Stevie if it helps Luvox hasn't had any side effects. I highly recommend it and think you really should give it a shot.

Stevie...I was in therapy for several years for PTSD resulting from trauma in childhood. It did help but still struggled for years with intrusive thoughts. I started therapy in December with a CBT therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders/OCD.

Good to know tbh about no side effects. Thanks again.

You got this, the fact youre aware that you are avoiding is a good sign that youre on the right path. Try your best not to avoid and just push through the distressing thoughts. Good luck ❤

Hi Gemini. Struggled today as well. Didn't avoid but not avoiding was exhausting. Can I ask what type of harm ocd you have? How do you usually cope. I'm a month into this...

Gemini I have a fear of choking my wife or co-workers after a dream about it in early January. I was doing so well and basically relapsed this week. I see my therapist next week.

I want to add I have faith in resilience and believe it is possible to recover regardless of the tough days. How are you coping?

Good to hear you are seeing your therapist next week. Dreams that contain the fears must be so incredibly difficult. So good to hear you were doing well so knowing it is possible to move through the tough times.

Gemini I've been trying to accept they are just thoughts. I am also on Luvox for the OCD. I have some positive mantras in my cubicle at work to repeat when I'm struggling. I tell myself just because I think it doesn't mean I'll act on it.

So true...they are just thoughts. I have not heard about Luvox...does this medication make a big difference for you? That is a great idea about the mantras.

It really seemed to make a big difference. My therapist agreed.

Thanks for all the feedback. So glad I'm not alone.

I do find the thoughts challenging to accept when I engage in them and become increasingly anxious. I am working on accepting and allowing them and focus on what I was doing before they show up.

Take good care

Stevie I went 40mg-50mg-80mg-100mg. Started feeling the effects within a month or so.

tbh I was prescribed low dose of 25 and I cut that in half because I also have a fear of taking meds. It took me two months to get the prescription filled. Been taking for about 1 month now. I need to increase I know but struggling hard with that too

Stevie are you also doing imaginal exposure therapy?

Yes, so very hard. Of course, I have never hurt anyone, so the thoughts are completely irrational. Unfortunately, I can’t make them stop. I have all different kinds of fears about how they get hurt .. for example that I will black out / lose my mind and hurt them with knives or that I may hurt them while driving because I might pass out while driving. I started CBT therapy a few months ago but my therapist recently fell ill and so now I am searching for another therapist. Started taking Luvox about a month ago.

No, have not tried imaginable therapy My therapist was going to start exposure therapy before she fell ill and is now on leave of absence so I haven’t seen a therapist in a couple months

*imaginal

thank you tbh I want to increase dose because I know I need to. My therapist assured me it was a safe med and one of the best for OCD I’m glad you are seeing results

Can I ask how long you have been taking Luvox? Did you try any other meds prior to Luvox?

I so understand....although my main trigger is knives, I turn so many things into threatening objects where I am the one doing the harm. I have never hurt anyone either though the anxiety centres around the what if’s. It is so hard to live with harm OCD especially being a parent. I am sorry you are without a therapist right now...I hope you find one soon. Are there qualified ones in your area? I know the thoughts are not facts and not who we are. That is why they are so distressing. That is what keeps me going on the tough days.

tbh...can you tell me how Luvox has made a difference for you? I think I may explore it more.

Stevie and Gemini, I've been on it since 1/4/19. Until my flare up this week it has just turned off those obsessive thoughts. I don't know what it was but I was triggered this week and for the past two days I've been struggling. It has been coming and going.

gemini I know exactly what you mean what if THIS time I actually do hurt them. It’s a debilitating fear. I have another therapist I was referred to by my prior therapist but of course it takes some time to get in. Wait is about a month Are you in therapy now? I see you are interested in Luvox. I am currently taking a low dose and it has helped me some. Luvox is supposed to be a really good med for OCD and has been around for many years

tbh were you more stressed than normal before this flare up? I find my OCD thoughts are worse when I am under more stress

Thx tbh..do you notice any side effects? Sounds effective...I hope it helps you soon again...

Stevie... it is so debilitating and exhausting... though I know it is possible to recover too...I don’t always see progress though have faith ?

I will ask my therapist next week about Luvox. Thanks tbh and Stevie for letting me know about it.

No side effects except a littke drowzyness (take it at night).

You’re welcome!