OCD: General Discussion Thread

We all have our little daily rituals.
It only crosses the line into obsession when it starts sabotaging your ability to actually function in society. If you’re constantly late for work—to the point where you're eventually getting fired—simply because you can’t physically walk out your front door without circling back to check the stove, the lights, or the thermostat, then yeah, you’re heading toward a clinical diagnosis.
Personally, I just had the stove issue. Back when I was using that old, temperamental range in my kitchen (the one with the broken indicator light), I couldn't trust my own eyes at all. I actually had to physically touch the dial with my hand just to be certain it was turned to zero. Of course, after doing that, I'd end up leaving the apartment. ;-)

I don't quite grasp what's considered "abnormal" here. What would actually be abnormal is walking out the door under the assumption that everything is fine just because you're a decent person and expect Providence to look out for you...
If you know a device is unreliable, you have to verify it; that's just common sense, like dealing with a faulty indicator light. Occasionally, when I'm in a rush, I lose track of what I've already checked and might double-check something once, but I'm certainly not the type to turn around and drive back home several times to inspect things.
Some people are simply aware that they are scatterbrained, so they make a "conscious" effort to focus on the essentials, but that isn't the same thing as having Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
What truly tests my patience to the absolute limit is dealing with someone who is blatantly irresponsible—someone who engages in foolish little experiments just out of pure boredom and lacks any sense of reality. That’s the kind of person who leaves a lit candle on a bookshelf, sitting a mere two inches away from a stack of old, dusty hardcovers...

I just want to send some support to everyone out there fighting through any kind of disorder.
I also want to offer some hope. There are incredible therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists out there who truly help, so please don't give up.
Back when I was struggling, I found myself washing my hands constantly. But you can't make progress if you're just hyper-focused on the symptoms themselves. The real answer lies somewhere else entirely; it’s not about forcing yourself to stop washing your hands. If you just try to white-knuckle it, a different symptom or some other "shameful" habit will just pop up to take its place. You have to dig deep, face those heavy, painful emotions, and let them out. It's strange how once you do that, you suddenly realize you aren't washing your hands anymore. The symptoms just fade away without you even noticing. One day, you'll just realize you ate an apple without washing it ten times first.🙂

http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/ocd.htm

The protocol I suggest to my clients works along those lines. Specifically:

Cut out all caffeinated beverages. If someone is a heavy coffee or tea consumer, they might want to taper off slowly to dodge those nasty withdrawal headaches.
If your cholesterol levels are under 170, try to bump them up. Anything lower than 170, and the body basically lacks the tools to repair myelin.
Make sure you're hitting the daily minimum for Vitamin B complex.
One tablespoon of flaxseed oil every day—those fatty acids are vital for nourishing nerve sheathing.
Take 8-10 Spirulina capsules daily.
Try a nervine compound like Re-X. You can find Re-X here:
(A nervine is just an herbal blend meant to soothe the nerves—for this specific goal, it really ought to include Valerie. You'll often see skullcap, hops, or passionflower in there too. Just Valerie on its own isn't enough. Note: The Oriental herb mix STRC can be used if the person is having visual or auditory hallucinations.) Start with the recommended dosage for a week, then slowly bump it up by one pill every few days until you reach a point where you're dreaming consistently. Stick to that amount. Once the dreaming becomes a steady thing, dial it back by one pill a day until you hit a baseline. If the dreams stop, go back up until they return.
You’ll likely see results about 2 to 3 months after the consistent dreaming kicks in. Most people find themselves symptom-free by the 9-month mark. After another three months of that, you can probably phase out the supplements and herbs.

If you're dealing with this, hang in there. You aren't crazy or losing your mind. I guess it's more that your body is simply short on the nutrients it needs to recover. There's plenty of reason to be hopeful.

graniteraven92, please let me know if you're still following this thread.
Best regards,

Back to the same old arguments...
You don't need a psychiatrist (who mostly just hands out pills) or a psychologist (who lacks the training to actually fix things).
To solve the issue, you need a psychotherapist. If they’re actually good, they’ll dig into the root cause and address it directly to resolve the problem itself.
Medication might dull the symptoms, but it won't touch the source.

Alex Rogers96 said:It’s the same old song and dance.
You don't even need a psychiatrist (who mostly just stuffs you full of pills anyway) or a psychologist (who often lacks the specific training required to actually fix things).
If you actually want to solve the issue, you need a psychotherapist. They are the only ones—provided they are actually competent—who dig deep enough to find the root cause and address that, rather than just masking the surface issues.
Pills might dull the symptoms, sure, but they aren't going to fix why the problem exists in the first place.

A psychiatrist is really just a general term for a specialist dealing with the psyche, much like how an orthopedist or a gastroenterologist works.
And a psychologist can certainly function as a psychotherapist once they complete the necessary advanced training.
Besides, sometimes a person suffering from this needs anxiolytics just to get through the day; otherwise, they aren't even capable of sitting down with a psychotherapist. That compulsive element exists specifically to prevent them from focusing on the actual issue.

Anthony Harris14 said:A psychiatrist is just a general term for a specialist dealing with the psyche, much like how you'd distinguish an orthopedist from a gastroenterologist.
A psychologist might practice psychotherapy once they complete specific training.
Sometimes, someone struggling with this needs anxiolytics just to reach a state where working with a psychotherapist is even possible—the compulsive component exists specifically to prevent them from focusing on anything else.

How many psychiatrists actually have training in psychotherapy and TRULY utilize it? It's much easier to just write a prescription.
I agree that medication is sometimes necessary to stabilize a client enough to make progress. But that should only be the starting point... in this country, too often, that's where the treatment ends.

Alex Rogers96 said:How many psychiatrists actually have training in psychotherapy and ACTUALLY use it? It’s much easier just to write a prescription.
I will concede that there are times when prescribing medication is necessary—simply to stabilize a client enough so that actual therapeutic work can even begin. But that should be the starting line, not the finish line. Unfortunately, in this country, too often, it's where the process ends.

The reality is that through social services or Medicaid, there isn't enough funding to ensure every patient gets the quality psychotherapy they deserve. Most people are essentially left to rely on their own "resources."

graniteraven92 said:I can hide it from most people—except, obviously, the ones I live with or see every single day. But even they don't get it. I constantly hear these incredibly infuriating comments, like "you're just imagining things" or "just try not to do it."
And my social life? A total wreck. For instance—friends invite me on a ski trip to Colorado, and even though I'd love to go, I can't. I'm terrified I'll be stopped from doing my stupid rituals, or that I'll spend the whole damn time obsessing over them. That's my first thought—so I'd rather stay home than go somewhere where people might realize how "crazy" I am.
I'm burning so much energy trying to mask this disorder, and it’s wearing me down more every day.
As for relationships? No way. Not a chance. I mean... I could manage it before, and I did have a girlfriend once, but now that things have gotten worse, it's totally unrealistic to expect anyone to deal with me like this. That’s probably what hurts the most. I feel like an invalid, except I'm the only one who knows it. I have to keep it hidden from everyone else.
Maybe I just haven't found the right psychiatrist, but honestly, I'm starting to doubt one even exists. The whole reason I made this post was to find even a tiny shred of hope.
Thanks.

Look, I know it feels heavy, but it really isn't.
We all have flaws that are basically illnesses in their own right.
Some people lie, some are selfish, some are... yeah, the list goes on.😉
Every flaw or illness—call it whatever you want—shows up way harder when a person is unhappy or lacking love.
Being in love doesn't necessarily mean being in a relationship, or even having perfect connections with everyone around you.
The easiest way to find it is simply by thinking about someone (anyone) you love deeply. When you send love out, you automatically receive it, and suddenly every little problem seems irrelevant—which it actually is.

What's bothering you isn't even a mental illness; it's a spiritual void caused by a lack of love.
Besides, every kind of ailment—physical, mental, or soulful—stems from that exact same deficit (a lack of trust in God), occurring when our spirit isn't fully immersed in love.

I hope that makes sense.

Just relax and accept what you're going through. Strengthen yourself with other qualities—especially knowledge. Knowledge is a massive, accessible power that leads us toward a justified kind of optimism.

And remember, the impression you leave matters. If you remain bright and kind despite the struggle, people won't even notice it. And that's the main thing, isn't it?

🙂 👋

nimblecobra79 said:Look, I know this feels like a total nightmare, but honestly? It’s really not.
We all carry these little flaws—and hey, let’s be real, some of them are actually just different types of illnesses.
Some people are compulsive liars, some are just selfish, some are... yeah, the list goes on forever.😉
Every single flaw—or sickness, if you want to call it that—really just flares up when someone is unhappy or feeling unloved.
And being "in love" doesn't have to mean you're in a relationship, or even that you have these deep, intense connections with everyone around you.
The easiest way to get there is just to focus on how much you love someone (anyone, really). When you send that love out into the world, it flows right back to you automatically, and suddenly all those nagging problems feel totally insignificant—which, let's face it, they actually are.

What’s eating at you isn't even a mental illness—it’s more like a spiritual ache caused by a lack of love.
At the end of the day, every kind of ailment—whether physical, mental, or soulful, whatever label we decide to slap on it—stems from that same void, that lack of love (or trust in God), occurring when our spirit isn't fully aligned with love.

Hope that makes sense.

Just relax, embrace what's bothering you, and balance it out with other strengths—specifically knowledge. Knowledge is this massive, accessible superpower that pulls us toward a kind of well-earned optimism.

Also, think about the vibe you're putting out there. If you stay bright and kind despite whatever you're going through, people won't even notice the struggle. And that’s the most important part, right?

🙂 👋

Thanks for the advice, nimblecobra79.
Yeah, the absolute worst thing is getting stuck in a loop where you're constantly hyper-focused on one specific problem, just spinning your wheels on it. Someone pretty sharp once told me the best way to handle it is to just laugh at the whole situation—kind of like
that vibe in As Good as It Gets with Jack Nicholson.
It all boils down to this: learning how to accept (and maybe even embrace) your own crisis...
it’s definitely not easy...
And as for the bit about love? I don't have anything to add—I'm 100% with you on that.
Thanks

👋

graniteraven92 said:It all boils down to this: learning to accept (and even love) your own cross to bear...

Not quite. You don't have to carry that cross. But first, you need to learn how to actually accept yourself. That's much harder than just carrying a burden you're already used to. Learn how to let go instead...

Alex Rogers96 said:I wouldn't say that. You don't actually have to carry a cross. But look, you've gotta start by learning how to truly accept who you are—and honestly, that’s way harder than just lugging around your burdens, because you've already mastered the art of suffering. You've been carrying that weight forever. You need to learn how to let it go instead.

Look, I get it—learning self-acceptance is non-negotiable, no doubt about it. But this whole idea of "dropping your cross"... I'm not really following you there. It doesn't quite click for me.😕

graniteraven92 said:but how to actually let go of my burden... I don't quite get it...😕

Most people just cling to their "burden." They embrace those negative emotions because it's a hollow payoff. Realizing that this weight is just an unnecessary load is where the solution starts. Don't just stoically accept it... drop it.

Alex Rogers96 said:Most people just end up embracing their own "cross to bear." They basically get hooked on the negative vibes it gives them—it becomes their little emotional payoff. But honestly? Realizing that this "cross" is actually just a heavy weight you're lugging around is the first step to fixing things. You shouldn't just accept it and stoically trudge along; you should be looking for ways to drop it entirely.

Well, that’s exactly why I started this whole thread in the first place—to see if there was any actual advice out there on how to shake this burden off for good. But since everything feels pretty much unsolvable so far, maybe I should just find a way to make life a little less miserable while carrying it. That's where this whole "accepting the struggle" idea comes from...

graniteraven92 said:That’s exactly why I started this thread... looking for advice on whether it's even possible to drop this weight I'm carrying. Since nothing seems to be working so far, maybe I just need a way to manage it. That’s where this "accepting the crisis" idea comes from...

Psychotherapy is your best bet for that. A solid therapist gets to the root of the issue and helps you pull it out...

Alex Rogers96 said:Most people just cling to their "cross to bear." They actually wallow in the negative emotions it provides, but even that is just a payoff. Realizing that this "cross" is nothing more than a burden is the first step toward fixing the problem. You shouldn't just accept it and stoically carry it around; you should cast it aside.

When I talk about "accepting the cross," I don't mean accepting everything happening around and inside you as an inevitability you just have to live with. I mean accepting, loving yourself and your life enough to finally view them through a positive lens.

In this context, the cross isn't some obsessive-compulsive behavior that you’re supposed to just embrace and coexist with! Of course, the goal should always be to reject it and heal.

It is a disorder, sure, but it doesn't exist in a vacuum. It's the fallout from deeper psychological traumas that a person either can't, won't, or doesn't know how to face.

When someone starts psychotherapy, simply confronting the actual problems they need to deal with in their lives is so agonizingly painful that most people lack the strength to stick with it. So, what do they do? They pivot to easier, less painful methods.

But that pain we have to push through—that is the very cross we shouldn't be afraid to accept.

Have I already said this? This whole disorder, just like every other mass hysteria out there, is nothing more than pure laziness.🙂

Walter Myers4 said:I can't remember if I already mentioned that this disorder, much like any other mass hysteria, is mostly driven by a complete lack of backbone.🙂

Sure thing, honey, because you're clearly the smartest person on this entire forum right now.👋

graniteraven92 said:Thanks for the advice, nimblecobra79.
Yeah, the absolute worst part is being stuck in this loop—just constantly fixated on one problem and nothing else. Someone actually pretty smart told me the best way through it is to just laugh at the whole mess, kind of like
that guy in As Good as It Gets played by Jack Nicholson.
It all comes down to that: learning to accept (and even embrace) your own crisis..
Not exactly easy, though..
And that bit about love? I've got nothing to add—I'm 100% with you there.
Thanks

👋

Whatever.😉
But yeah—once you actually own the problem, it loses its grip on you.

I've definitely been there.. when things were hitting the fan, I’d pray to Jesus—not just some vague thought, but really focusing on Him being right there in front of me. Honestly... it brought such a sense of joy and pure bliss that I found myself thanking God for the struggle itself. It reminded me what actually matters in life, and that love is genuinely GOOD and totally within reach.

Regarding my previous thread about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder—hardly anyone actually chimed in with their own struggles. What’s even more frustrating? Not one single person went into detail about their treatment or shared what actually worked—info that could genuinely help someone else out there.
In short, OCD is an anxiety disorder that shows up through things like compulsive counting, excessive hand washing, and so on. You know deep down it's completely irrational, yet you just can't stop yourself—it's exhausting. Anyone who has dealt with this knows exactly what I'm talking about. So, I am asking—please—if you have managed to overcome this or even just dial it back, speak up. Tell us how you did it. Was it through working with a psychiatrist? A sudden personal realization? Therapy? Anything helps.

thanks everyone