which ocd things to address first???

[emma_lou]

OK so i have GAD, Postnatal depression and a pretty bad case of ocd, i take an ssri, a tetracyclic (sp) antidepressant and anti physchotics for it, so yeah it was pretty bad.  a lot of the disturbing visions i was having have faded but these are the ocd things i am struggling with, and dont know what to tackle first

1.  thought that maybe i have never loved my children and never will
2. thoughts that maybe this isnt really my life, and its someone elses
3.  thoughts that maybe my children will stop breathing if i dont check them 6 times, then blow kisses to them six times each
4.  that if i dont check my baby son frequently, (doesnt matter how many times  until it feels right), that something awful will happen to him
5.  thoughts when i am talking to a woman that i will look at her breasts and then i feel like i must be looking at her breasts and i will become a lesbian suddenly and will want to kiss her
6.  when i hear music, i suddenly become convinced i will lose control and want to dance to it, and that everyone will laugh at me
7. that if i am around knives i will 0672 or someone else without knowing
8. that when i am asleep, i might wake up and sleepwalk out of the window, or lose control and hurt someone
9. fears i will start screaming out loud when i am in a shop and then will lose control
10. obsessively worry i will faint in public then people will laugh at me


wow reading the above i am glad i start therapy soon. am so glad i wrote them all down, gonna look at them now and try and realise how silly they sound 

[ocdengineer]

Emma_Lou,

Why are you taking anti-psychotics when it sounds like you just have OCD?  These types of meds carry some pretty hefty side effects and should only be used as a last resort.  I guess I am wondering if you have considered seeing another doctor who specializes in anxiety disorders.  I think a "good" anxiety specialist would be able to clearly distinguish between psychotic behaviors and OCD which is really just an anxiety disorder...  Neurosis and Psychosis are very different!

Get a second opinion.  I am not a doctor, and I don't know your history at all, but your fears are all OCD related that you listed above.

Let me know how it works out.
OE

[emma_lou]

i take anti physchotics as i was very unwell, too many thoughts at once...... by the time the physch doc saw me i was very ill

there is no point talking to anyone else, i have been told very clearly that the mental health team cant help me, and to bascially shut up.  i have just started seeing a therapist....... so we shall see....

[Teri_C]

I also saw a psychiatrist who wanted to put me on antipsychotics.  When I talked to both my GP and my psychologist, they both told me that his recommendation was ridiculous.  My GP is very familiar with my OCD problems, and he took over my meds for me after that.  It is working out much better.
The psyc wanted me on the others because he thought my paranoia was a little psychotic.  Although it is for some people, it is actually quite "normal" (lol) for people with OCD.  Of course, I am not a doctor.  I am just a woman who has struggled with many types of therapy for my OCD.

Good luck hun.

[emma_lou]

hi again.  basically i became so ill, i had lost a stone, i hadnt been able to eat for weeks, i was having visions and losing touch with reality from time to time. no one could tell me what was wrong with me, it was very close to hospitilisation. i couldnt walk and could barely talk.  they are def not a long term thing. the doctor just  needed to wind down the horrific agitation, so that i could begin therapy, which i have recently...... i nearly attacked some people i was so scared. so yep it was a last resort, was already on a hefty dose of benzos to no affect......

[ElbyH88]

I'm sorry you have all of the above worries. I have alot of things going off in my head too, and have no idea where to start. I have to tell you I also have that worry about when I am talking to another woman, I am scared I may glance down at their chest and then they'll think I'm gay. The funny thing is I have no problem whatsoever with people being gay, my beliefs are love is love no matter how it is. But I have this worry that someone will think that of me.
I just want you to know if you need anyone to talk to, I'm here. I had a baby 8 months ago, and I'm struggling too. I think I probably did have PND or PPD i think it's reffered to if you're american, but I avoided going back to my psychiatrist because I didn't want to be told I was a bad mum :-(
So I'm here if you need to chat xxxx