Question:
I am / have / suffer from OCD. I think. I'm really looking for practical advice regarding this (medication that is).
Basically it applies to schoolwork for the most part, and it ocasionally happens other times but mostly at school. Essentially I will have to check, recheck, and continually check stuff over, and over, and over. Like numbers in math...sometimes I'll look back and forth like 10 times from calculator to paper repeating the number to myself in my head and making sure I have it written down right.
Like, yeah, I know that checking your answer once is fine but I find myself physically incapable of moving on to a new problem until I've checked over my work / numbers a million times.
Now see, the thing is I'm getting really good grades...like better than I ever have before. But on the other hand, I'm stressed out all the time, I've gotten sick like every two or three weeks for the past few months and it is just annoying at times.
It's not the type of thing that therapy could solve I'm sure, so I was just wondering for those of you who got medication or know about it...would I get the reverse of the effect and start neglecting being careful on schoolwork and such? I'd rather be a little annoyed with this than get bad grades.
Anyone?
Answer:
To the best of my knowledge there is no medication for OCD.
Your best bet would be to visit your doctor and have him check you and advice you.
Answer:
I'm not a huge MTV fan. But there's a show MTV runs called True Life. One episode aired a group of OCD kids, who seeked therapy to help get rid of there OCD. It was the the extreme part where they spent several hours a day just on there "Rituals". Now you're obviously not to this extreme, but by going to therapy, two out of the three people were healed from there OCD. The third, choose not to go through therapy out of sheer embarassement (I didn't understand that since he decieded to go on MTV with it, but that's besides the point.)
So, all in all what I"m saying is, I agree with JC. Go and talk to your doctor. See what he can do for you.
Praying.
Answer:
People with severe forms of OCD sometimes have excellent results with SSRI's, but behavior therapy is always the best place to start. You may have to start with your medical doctor, but see if you can get a referral to a behavioral therapist. Obviously, if you can avoid medication that is ideal.
Answer:
Is this self-diagnosed? Or have you consulted a doctor?
Answer:
I wish I could remember the name of the guy I saw on 60 Minutes I don't know how many years ago, who had a technique that involved reasoning things out in a particulare way, and he helped a lot of people without using medication. I'm going to be out there Googling around for it the next few days, and I know he wrote a book. It was a very good method.
It does sound like you could use a talk with a therapist, though. It might not be as bad as you think and may involve an anxiety disorder. There are medications that can help OCD, though, I'm pretty sure. I don't think you'd want to take anything unless you were really sure about your options and researched whatever med was recommended, of course.
I'm going to look around for that guy and his book. That might be of help, and as I say, it involved no medication and was pretty simple and effective. In the meantime, do some praying about it.
Answer:
Wow, that went quicker than I thought:
Originally Posted by amazon.com In Brain Lock, Jeffrey M. Schwartz presents a simple four-step method for overcoming OCD that is so effective, it's now used in academic treatment centers throughout the world. Proven by brain-imaging tests to actually alter the brain's chemistry, this method doesn't rely on psychopharmaceuticals. Instead, patients use cognitive self-therapy and behavior modification to develop new patterns of response to their obsessions. In essence, they use the mind to fix the brain. Using the real-life stories of actual patients, Brain Lock explains this revolutionary method and provides readers with the inspiration and tools to free themselves from their psychic prisons and regain control of their lives.
Brainlock by Jeffrey Schwartz
Answer:
Mltmom is right- see a behavior therapist. Though meds may provide some results, they also have some undesirable side effects. Behavioral therapy is VERY effective with ocd, and it sounds like yours is mild anyway. I expect that behavior modification would give you the results you want, and it's fairly inexpensive because it's short term therapy and insurance is good about covering it. You probably wouldn't have to go over 4-8 weeks.