Posts by wearycobra36

redharbor23 said:I’ve been asking the exact same thing—surely there’s at least one decent doctor in this entire city? 😕 🙄

Dr. Neira Puizina Ivić

If you’re looking for a solid dermatologist in Miami, I’d highly recommend Dr. Neira Puizina Ivić. She practices at the local university hospital, so as far as I know, you’ll need a referral from your primary doctor since she doesn't maintain a private practice. To actually get on her schedule, you have to play a bit of a waiting game: appointments are booked on the 20th of every month. My advice is to show up early in the morning—around 5:00 or 6:00 AM—with your referral in hand and just wait in line to secure a slot. If you miss that window, you're stuck waiting until the 20th of the following month to try again. Just a heads-up, though, she's only in the office two days a week, specifically Thursdays and Fridays.

It looks like things have been quiet on this end for quite some time. I’m actually hoping that’s for the best—that you're all feeling significantly better and simply don't find yourselves needing to vent here anymore. As for my own situation, the medication has been doing its job, and I'm finally starting to feel like myself again. While those compulsive urges haven't vanished entirely, they've certainly dialed back enough to be manageable, but the real victory is that the crushing weight of depression has finally lifted.
Sending my best to everyone out there!!

redharbor23 said:Klonopin is an anticonvulsant; frankly, I have no idea why he put you on that. Tylenol is an SSRI, typically used for OCD. My sister takes it at 100mg, but she’s bumping up to 150mg next week. She will likely eventually reach 300mg.

Have you experienced any side effects from it yet? It took my sister about a week to stabilize. She dealt with insomnia combined with extreme lethargy—basically feeling exhausted constantly but being unable to actually sleep.
After a month and a half, we are finally starting to see the effects kick in.

The symptoms I've been noticing since starting this regimen 12 days ago are mostly lethargy and a sense of depression. It sort of "drags me down" and leaves me feeling numb. Since I'm taking two medications simultaneously, I can't be entirely certain which one is responsible, but based on everything I've read, I suspect it's the Klonopin. I am eagerly awaiting the moment the Tylenol starts working and actually "lifts" me up. From what I understand, Klonopin doesn't just function as an anti-epileptic, but also acts as an anxiolytic, so it was presumably prescribed to help mitigate compulsive behaviors and relax me.

I honestly cannot express how much impatient hope I have regarding the antidepressant's effectiveness. I truly hope I won't end up among those unlucky souls for whom it proves to be ineffective... Thanks to everyone for the replies. 😍

bluejackal44 said:I tried talking to my sister about my OCD... I didn't think she’d join my mom in laughing at me this past Saturday. It started out as just casual joking. Then she turned to Mom and said I clearly need to see a psychiatrist because of how much I count things. Mom just started laughing too. I tried explaining what I'm going through and why it matters, but their laughter was louder than my voice. Eventually, I just broke down and went to my room to cry. A little later, I tried explaining it to Mom again. She told me she’s staying quiet about it because people will laugh if they find out I have a disorder. She thinks it'll get me sent to a mental asylum and claims I'm just making this all up. Am I really just imagining this? Why won't she take me seriously? I saw my psychologist again today and we talked about it more. She suggested she should speak with my parents, but they'll just end up yelling at me later because they had to go into the school to meet with a stranger who seems to know me better than they do. At least she believes me and doesn't call me crazy. I don't know how to convince Mom that I actually need a psychiatrist.

They should probably go see your psychologist; it might be better if she explains things to them, as they’re likely to take her word more seriously than yours. Just make sure to mention to her beforehand that she needs to "soften the blow" so they don't turn on you, especially since you're already feeling so anxious about it. Hopefully, a bit of parental instinct will kick in once they hear the facts. If it doesn't, it means they are still stuck in a pattern of denial, and frankly, it shouldn't be your job to convince them that you need medical help. You can simply visit your doctor, get a referral for a psychiatrist, and just go. Good luck!

Could someone who actually knows their way around pharmacology please weigh in here? It seems like everyone in this group is exclusively on Zoloft, but my psychiatrist decided to throw a two-for-one special at me by prescribing both Klonopin and Fevarin—which I assume is basically just the same thing as Zoloft. I tried questioning him about why I need both, but he’s dead set on the idea that I need the combination, which honestly doesn't sit well with me. If an antidepressant alone did the trick for wearycobra36, why can't I just stick to one? For those of you taking Zoloft, what kind of dosages are we talking about? Currently, I'm sitting at 100mg of Fevarin a day.

slyhawk12 said:This is pretty interesting to think about. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this perspective: I believe these kinds of disruptions happen when someone's ambition outpaces their actual capacity, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction, a lack of direction, or even a feeling of failure. 😁 But honestly, there's a straightforward fix for that: JUST EMBRACE YOUR ACTUAL LIMITS. Please, let me know what you all think!

There’s certainly some truth to that, at least based on what I’ve seen, though I suspect the solution isn't quite as straightforward as he makes it sound... I could probably expand on that, but I have a cake in the oven calling my name and I really ought to hurry... take care.

Olivia Rivera77 said:Hey... I'm seeing mine in a week, so I'll ask him if he knows anyone in Los Angeles and let you know... As for your experience, I can't speak for mine. My doctor has never been like that with me; sure, we have some talks where I end up a bit disappointed, but overall he's fine... plus, he's super respectful and uses formal language with me, haha.🤷🤣

Hey there!

After that latest report came out, I decided to head back in for another session, and honestly, this time was actually an improvement. He finally used "sir" or "ma'am" instead of being overly casual, and he actually seemed to focus on me for once, rather than his phone ringing incessantly every five minutes. I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised; I tend to harbor this unrealistic expectation of finding the perfect psychiatrist—some sort of flawless blend of profound wisdom, genuine warmth, deep empathy, and clinical brilliance. For now, though, I’m sticking with him. The sheer exhaustion of hunting for someone new is becoming quite taxing, both in terms of my schedule and my bank account, since you essentially have to start from square one with every new provider. Who knows? Maybe he’ll eventually prove to be exactly what I need. I would love it if you could ask your doctor who they might recommend, or perhaps get their professional take on my current guy, Zdenko Katavić. Just keep it brief when you ask Gab, though; there's no sense in wasting anyone's precious time.

Much appreciated, and all the best!😉 😍🥳

Honestly, if I sit back and really think about it... if things are more or less stable within your family—and from the way you sound, it seems they are—then I believe you should absolutely take the chance to be open with them and see how they handle it. If the reaction turns out to be a disaster, you can always retreat after a month or two with a casual, "Don't worry, I'm fine now; it was just a passing phase."

Best regards,

bluejackal44 said:The movie was a total wash for me. I’m heading to my doctor next week with a referral to see a psychiatrist. My school counselor actually suggested the same thing. Now I just have to break the news to my parents that I have OCD... that’s going to be the hard part. Do your parents actually get what this is? How did you guys bring it up to them? I need some encouragement before I talk to mine. I told my sister today—she’s the one who used to laugh the most whenever I had to repeat something four times. This time, though, I wasn't joking.

I opened up to my mom about eight years ago, and honestly, we haven't breathed a word of it since—she never brought it up again. Back then, I just told her I was seeing a psychologist, and she actually accompanied me to one of my sessions once. As time went on, the whole topic just kind of "faded away" (which, let's be honest, was probably the path of least resistance), and it stayed in the past. After that, I was doing reasonably well for five or six years—actually, much longer than that—but now I've started seeing a psychiatrist again. I didn't tell my parents, and I don't plan to; they haven't earned that level of transparency, and frankly, it’s easier to carry this weight on my own. I think we can all agree there's still a lingering stigma surrounding mental health professionals. My parents aren't quite enlightened enough on the subject, so only two people close to me know the truth.

So, I'm not entirely sure what advice to give you regarding whether to speak up or stay silent. In my experience, being open didn't necessarily help; I just ended up feeling foolish because it was clear my mother didn't truly grasp the gravity of it, so I decided to spare her from the confusion moving forward. You really have to weigh it based on your relationship with your parents. If you generally have a healthy, transparent dynamic where they support and understand you, then perhaps you should tell them. I recognize how heavy it is to carry such a burden alone, and the urge to share it with someone is completely human. If you believe they will meet you with empathy, then go ahead. Who knows, maybe it could actually be a step toward deepening your connection with them. Good luck!! 👍

Thomas Rodriguez14 said:😂

Well, I both wash AND count. 😍 Which means I have to count exactly six times—if I don't, I have to do it six more times, and then six more after that... forever. If I miss one? Total panic. I start thinking I'm gonna catch some freak disease or something. 😠

God!!

This really takes me back to how I was just a few years ago... certain aspects of my OCD have shifted and evolved over time. I used to wash my hands constantly and count everything too. Some numbers felt safe while others didn't; six happened to be one of my "safe" numbers. I also struggle with that persistent, irrational fear of getting sick. In truth, most of my compulsions are essentially attempts to "cancel out" the threat of illness or to protect things that feel deeply important to me. Nowadays, I wash my hands less often—though still significantly more than the average person—and the health anxiety has subsided slightly, but it's still heavy enough that I can't truly relax; I live in a state of constant tension.

If anyone is interested, I would love for us to talk more about the other side of OCD—the anxiety, the depression, the restlessness, the general sense of dread and tension. Personally, those mental burdens weigh on me much more heavily than the physical compulsions themselves. Then again, having lived with OCD for eighteen years, I suppose I've spent quite a bit of time researching this on Google.

Sending my best to all my fellow obsessive thinkers! 😉😍

Olivia Rivera77 said:Hey, I just remembered you have that appointment with the psychiatrist today... honestly, I'm curious to hear how it went...
I mean, only if you feel like sharing with us.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Best regards...

Hi everyone!

Here is my brief report following my first visit to the psychiatrist this past Monday. I have to admit, he didn't exactly meet my expectations, and the more I dwell on certain "moments" from our encounter, the more irritated I find myself becoming.
The first thing that rubbed me the wrong way was that he immediately began addressing me with "you" in such an informal manner without even asking permission, which I found rather unprofessional. My irritation regarding this hit me with a bit of a delay—which is quite typical of me, as I rarely know how to stand up for myself in the moment and instead tend to stew on things later—but that’s beside the point. Then, his cell phone started ringing, followed by the landline and the intercom, at which point he actually stood up to go answer them.
It also grated on me that he spent twenty minutes lecturing me on what OCD is and how the whole mechanism works, as if I were completely ignorant of the subject. I tried to indirectly signal that he could wrap up the lecture by saying, "I know, I've read quite a bit about this," but his response was simply, "Oh, you've read about it, but..."
Naturally, he wrote my prescriptions immediately. All in all, he left me with the impression of being a very cold individual.
Given that I received a recommendation calling him an "outstanding expert," and since I've only seen him once, I suppose I'll give him one more shot. That said, I would love it if someone could recommend a decent psychiatrist in Los Angeles if they happen to know of one. Otherwise, this current one is Zdenko Katavić.

Anyway, let me know what you think!! Ciao!

The session runs for about 45 minutes and goes for $83. Honestly, that’s the best deal I could track down; most places are charging closer to $100 per 45-minute slot. I’ll be able to get back to you on those other questions tomorrow or the day after, once I have a better sense of how things are shaking out.

PS: apologies for being so slow to get back to you.

I’m sorry I missed getting back to you earlier... regarding those referrals, the standard process is pretty straightforward: just head over to your primary care physician and ask them for a referral to a psychiatrist. If you decide to pull the trigger on that, though, I’d suggest doing a little homework first to see who might actually be worth your time... it’s honestly the same deal as when you're hunting for a decent dermatologist, OB-GYN, or any other specialist.

I certainly agree that there’s an underlying cause behind all of this, both for you and for the rest of us—that much is indisputable. I was reading a book recently by a psychiatrist, and they suggested that the development of a neurotic personality type (which essentially describes us, given that OCD is a form of neurosis; thank God it isn't something even more severe!) is often linked to improper parental relationships during that critical window between ages three and six. Looking back at my own life, I can see some truth in that theory, as my first clear symptoms started surfacing by the time I was ten. I actually have my very first appointment with a psychiatrist tomorrow, and I’m hoping for a productive session. I’ve decided to go to a private specialist, even though the costs are frankly astronomical; of course, you could always use your insurance to see someone at a public clinic for free, but I tried that route about seven or eight years ago and found it rather futile. You end up getting maybe one fifteen-minute slot a month, which is hardly enough time to make any headway. And while it’s true that you aren't forced to take medication if you'd prefer not to, don't be surprised if your doctor suggests it; most practitioners tend to view the most effective treatment as a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

steelfox15 said:Hey everyone!
I’ve got a question and I'm honestly not sure if this belongs in the OCD thread. My whole thing is this obsession with a spotless house—I need my tabletops perfectly aligned, rugs sitting at exact angles, and my desk is always, well... let me guess... everything is perfectly level and squared up. It’s getting to be a real struggle because I can't even look at a rug with a curled edge without having to physically get up and fix it. Or seeing a vase sitting anywhere except dead center on the table? Absolute nightmare. These little things are driving me insane; if something isn't exactly where I put it or left it, I lose my mind because it’s just not how I envisioned the space looking. The kicker is that I wasn't always like this. This obsessive need for order started maybe three years ago, or maybe a bit more. I also have this annoying habit where I walk into a room and immediately notice if anything has been moved while I was gone (and yeah, that applies to my desk at work too)—I see everything, I notice everything. Sometimes I joke that I totally picked the wrong career path and should've gone into forensics since I'm such a stickler for detail. Please, if anyone has any idea what might actually be going on, help me out. It’s becoming exhausting to live like this because instead of just relaxing when I get home, I feel like I'm constantly cleaning and resetting everything back to its "proper" place. Thanks.🙂

Well, from what you've described, it sounds like it could be a milder form of OCD. It seems to stem from that feeling that you "must" perform these actions, otherwise you'll "lose it," which is clearly causing you distress. That's essentially why they call them "compulsions"—they are these driven, repetitive behaviors that you don't necessarily want to do, yet you feel an overwhelming urge to complete them just to find relief.
As for what to do? Well, it's the same dilemma most people face. You could choose to simply live with it without seeking professional help (since, based on your description, you seem to be functioning reasonably well despite the distractions), and you'll likely ride out waves of better and worse periods... There might be times when you feel like you truly need support, but once the anxiety subsides and things stabilize, you might convince yourself everything is fine and decide there's no point in seeking help. The other option, of course, is to address it now, before the whole thing becomes completely unbearable (which could take years), in hopes of improving your overall quality of life. I say "in hopes," because even I am not entirely certain; I actually have my first appointment with a psychiatrist this coming Monday, so I'll see how that goes.
Keep us posted on how it goes. 👋

Frank Jackson5 said:I know none of these OCD struggles are easy, but honestly, sometimes I’d give anything to be in your shoes. I've been dealing with trichotillomania—a type of OCD where I pull out my eyelashes and eyebrows—for 15 years now. To be fair, things have improved a bit since I started taking antidepressants... though I should probably clarify that things are actually much better. Still, there are these sudden waves of anxiety where I start pulling again. It's hard. It isn't always that overwhelming urge you just can't fight off, but it happens.

Reading through your posts, I see so many great insights here. Really well said, ladies!

Bog Marinella, even though I struggle with OCD myself, it pained me to hear that someone is battling a manifestation like yours, so I am genuinely relieved to hear you're doing better (I caught your later posts as well). While I'm sure there are countless terrifying variations of OCD I haven't even heard of, I'm somewhat familiar with yours because it was featured in a TV series once. How did you manage living with it, considering it's visible and creates its own set of aesthetic challenges? Perhaps there is a silver lining for those facing other types of OCD that can more easily be hidden from the world, which makes me understand why you remarked that you'd "give anything" to be in our position.

Best, 🙂

Rachel Brown said:Look, I wasn't exactly itching to slog through thirty pages of reading either, but I figured I’d use this as an excuse to brag (!) about my OCD. Honestly, most of it is just trivial nonsense, but it adds up and impacts the big picture. Everything has to be in its exact, rightful place. If there are items on my desk, they have to be perfectly symmetrical. I find myself double-checking if I locked the front door over and over again, even when I know for a fact that I did. It's constant, pointless checking. And don't even get me started on those black and white tiles in the middle of downtown—I can't walk past them without making sure I step on the colors an equal number of times with both feet. Or if I accidentally touch something with one hand, I feel compelled to touch it with the other. My CDs have to be alphabetized, period. That's just what popped into my head, but if I actually sat down to list them all, there would be a million more. What am I supposed to say at the end of this? Nothing. I'm not looking for help. I don't feel like I need it. This is just who I am, and it has been since forever. This is ME. I actually love being obsessive over these little things because these quirks belong to me and nobody else. 🙂

It seems you’ve reached a point where you’re comfortable embracing your OCD, and if you feel there's no pressing need to seek professional help right now, that is perfectly valid. However, I can't help but circle back to that comment you made about how these seemingly minor compulsions end up having such a disproportionate impact on the bigger picture of your life.
I honestly think there’s a deeper truth to how OCD functions—that it’s intrinsically tied to much larger, more systemic issues within us. To my mind, those repetitive compulsions aren't the actual problem; they’re just little warning lights on a dashboard, signaling that something else under the hood is malfunctioning. In my own experience, I didn't actually decide to seek professional help because of the rituals themselves. It was the underlying weight of everything else that finally pushed me toward it—the emotional toll that was making life feel increasingly hollow. I’m talking about that pervasive sense of hopelessness, a constant feeling of worthlessness, plummeting self-esteem, and these erratic swings in mood and perspective that make everything feel unstable. It's hard to find any semblance of peace when you're constantly battling a deep-seated anxiety and a sort of heavy, paralyzing inertia. Even though my brain is perpetually running at full speed—it truly never seems to shut off—my body often feels like it's lagging behind. It takes me an eternity just to get moving, which inevitably leads to me procrastinating on responsibilities for far too long. While I generally manage to stay on top of things at work—albeit at a somewhat sluggish pace—this struggle mostly bleeds into my personal life, where the friction is most intense.
I’ve been wrestling with OCD and its various accompanying anxieties for about a decade now, always nursing this naive little hope that things would simply resolve themselves once I hit my twenties and finally attained some semblance of maturity. While there have certainly been brighter stretches, the moment life throws a bit of genuine tension my way, everything reverts to its baseline. Now that I’m approaching my late twenties, I have to admit that nothing has fundamentally shifted. Sure, I’ve grown up, I’ve devoured enough psychology books to fill a small library, and I’ve become much more self-aware—which helps me navigate the symptoms—but the core of the issue remains stubbornly intact. To be honest, I’m just exhausted by the whole ordeal. It feels as though I am perpetually under the thumb of some invisible master, someone over whom I have absolutely no leverage. That is precisely why I am seeking help. This time around, I am actually open to the idea of medication, despite my previous, rather intense opposition to it, especially after reading some of the positive accounts shared by others here.

I really hope things are going more smoothly on your end and that you aren't being plagued by those extra little "attachments" alongside the main tasks, but if they do show up, please do consider tackling them head-on right away. I certainly wouldn't recommend wasting as much time on them as I did; it’s a bit of a trap, and I'd rather you just deal with the headache immediately instead of letting it drag on.
Sending my best to everyone!🎉

Eric Jackson11 said:I wonder what would actually happen if you didn't step on those floor tiles in the center of the plaza using an equal number of feet for each color...

Yes, I’m genuinely curious about that too. What kind of "magical thinking" do you suppose drives those little rituals?

I actually found myself checking back two or three times today just to see if anyone had posted, but it’s been completely silent......
Maybe everyone miraculously "recovered" over New Year's Day, or perhaps one of those standard New Year's resolutions was to finally quit forced compulsions, and they’re actually holding steady for once.😕🙂

Regardless, I've tried that approach more times than I can count—having dealt with OCD since I was ten years old—so I know firsthand that it doesn't really work......

Anyway, I'll catch you all a little later....☕

Best to everyone