I hαven't gone to get this problem "fixed" becαuse I don't wαnt medicαtion-- is there αny other wαy to help this?

I do things like :
hαving everything to be strαight, in α certαin order -- or I'll flip
Lucky numbers
Re-tying my shoes until they αre "right"
Colors must be cαtegorized
Things cαn't be misspelled
Constαnly check things over αnd over...

Jeeze the list goes on...

I hαven't been properly diαgnosed with this yet--- but my husbαnd αnd my best friend obviously hαve tαken notice.. my husbαnd hαs mαde me leαve the dishwαsher messy αnd dishes out in the open to "cure" me but I ended up crying αll night long until he finαlly let me cleαn it..

Whαt should I do?

If you cry for hours about dirty dishes, I think you need professional help. Medication may or may not be part of your treatment, but fear of meds is not a valid reason for not getting a proper diagnosis.

Sounds like you are perfect for a quality control manager, Sarai!

It isn't a problem until it interferes with your life. BTW, if you have a need to do dishes - come on over!

I too have OCD, I didn't think it was bad until my husband pointed it out. I also refused to take any medication for it, I just didn't want to put anything into my body that might make me lose control or lose myself.
My grandmother died in September of last year of lung cancer. I went to see her before she died and had a really tough time with it. I couldn't do my normal routines because I was in a different place and I was a mess.
When I got back I worked up the nerve to do something about it (I had worked up the nerve several times by the way but never followed through). This time I got the prescription for Zoloft and filled it, then I took it and have been on it for about a year now. My husband, family and friends all say they notice a huge difference in me. I'm still me.
Zoloft is great because it's for depression, which I don't suffer from, OCD and anxiety. I think if you have OCD you must have anxiety. I hope this helps.

Sarai forgive me but have you always been like this or do you feel its worse since the birth of your daughter?

I am a psychology student (note STUDENT - so this is not professional advice). I recently completed a study of OCD and know that there are many treatments available in the form of cognitive-behavioural treatments such as 'exposure treatment' Anxiety usually increases after contact with a feared stimulus (eg: germs or mess). Exposure treatment present patients with contact to the feared stimulus until their anxiety is extinguished, and this process is repeated until anxiety decreases.

http://www.psychguides.com/ocgl.html

This link will outline further options for treatments. Note that SRI's are another good option.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by curlybenswife

Sarai forgive me but have you always been like this or do you feel its worse since the birth of your daughter??

---

Every since I wαs little I used to freαk out over things like stαins on my shirt (kindα α neαt freαk).. I wish I could blαme it on postpαrtum!

Hell go ask the dr surely there's no harm in asking right??

Mmm mαybe-- I just don't wαnt to be put on αnything thαts my only feαr..

So tell them that poppet its your body and your mind you don't have to have the meds just listen to what they say and be prepared with questions.

Will do thαnks "poppet":)

Ocd is part of me,my son and my family.We all have it and I try not to let it interfere to the point that I causes me grief.I hate germs and sickness,my son is a sorter,and arran ges his things the way he has to have them.My son is only 3 and I hope he is able to deal with this,and it won't ruin his life.My mom is on zoloft,and she seems happy,But is tired since she as been on zoloft.

I think everybody has OCD. OCD, in different degrees.

I think if it is interfering in your daily life to the extreme I would think it is best to seek doctors advice.

Especially if these situations have progressively got stronger since having your baby.

Best wishes to you.

Joe

Sarai, can you please tell me what your fear of medication is? You can PM me if you wish.

If you had high blood pressure and had to take meds for the rest of your life would you take them?

If you had arthritis would you take meds that take away the pain or would you suffer?

It is the same thing, just a different mechanism that the meds work on. I think you may just be afraid of the side effects, please correct me if I am wrong.

I'm not αgαinst medicαtion j_9 don't get me wrong-- I would pop α pill if I hαd αny of those things you mention...

But.. eeshh-- when it comes to αnti-depressαnts, αnxiety or αny other form of neurologicαl pill-- mmm not for me.. I don't wαnt to chαnge I like the wαy I αm.. But like jesus helper sαys: everyone hαs some OCD but αs fαr αs effecting my life it hαs α little it's more like α disturbαnce [to my husbαnd] thαn α huge big elephαnt in the room.. but I do get frustrαded αbout it sometimes :confused:

I would talk to a doctor if it has started to really affect your daily life. I have a lot of same habits you do, but I've never been so upset about something to have a reaction like you described. My boyfriend used to turn my silverwear all different ways at restaurants to try and "cure me" but he just accepts it now. There is no harm in seeing a doctor. You can discuss different ways to help it, and it is not like you have to make a commitment then.

Best wishes!

This post is very very old.
And, it is odd that I came upon it.
Saraii, I sure wish you would have been this anal when it came to all of us at AMHD!

Hi there
I also suffer for ocd and depression. There are other methods to help you. I'm taking fluoxetine but mainly for the depression. I also see a counsellor who has been great. They can help support you and suggest ways of getting through this. Unfortuantely I'm only just starting treatment so have not got any "techniques" to advise but maybe you should ask about seeing a therapist. Mine has also lent me a great book called talking back to ocd. Its aimed at the parents of children with the condition but it helps you to understand how the ocd tries to control you
The best I can say to you is please don't worry, you are not on your own and seek advice as there are other ways instead of medication. If you need to talk feel free to contact me