OCD: General Discussion Thread

Exactly. Hard to see how it could hurt... (though, what exactly is Lecithin?)

brightsailor9 said:Yeah, I’m avoiding the public healthcare system... I have zero desire to be just another number in their files. Then again, I can't afford to keep paying out of pocket for private clinics indefinitely, which is the real catch..(2x a week at $67 + 4 weeks a month =$533) for a single month—fine, but who knows how long this could drag on..
I was wondering, has anyone here experimented with Omega-3? I've read it's proven to help with depression and other health benefits... I've been taking it for a while now at the recommended dose, and my memory has sharpened, I feel better, more stable, etc. To be honest, I wasn't even clinically depressed before, just constantly feeling "down" and anxious. I also cut back on red meat by maybe 90%—we all know how much that stuff messes with your body and, consequently, your spirit. Switched to whole foods instead.. who knows, maybe it helps someone else..🙂

Why on earth would you need to go that often? You could easily dial it back. Honestly, twice a month is plenty, as long as you actually get the ball rolling. It’s all about making steady, incremental progress rather than rushing into nothing. 🙂

brightsailor9 said:Exactly. Hard to see how it could hurt... (though, what exactly is Lecithin?)

Quoting Twinlab:

Lecithin is basically a complex mix made up of various phospholipids. Almost 100% of those phospholipids consist of phosphatidylcholine and inositol—which are basically similar to B-complex vitamins acting as cofactors. Basically, lecithin (aka choline and inositol) helps build out your nerves, boosts how your nervous system functions, and helps replenish phosphorus levels, which is a key energy and structural component for the body. Lecithin is great for your mood and has a relaxing effect on the nervous system; it helps with memory and focus, speeds up recovery, and is especially helpful when you're dealing with stress. Life Time Lecithin packs 1200 mg of soy lecithin into a single capsule. It’s recommended to take one capsule daily with a meal.

I went through several different phases where my OCD symptoms were pretty much running the show—things like having to tap certain objects a specific number of times or feeling forced to repeat certain actions exactly three times and stuff like that...
Honestly, looking back, I think it mostly comes down to self-control, which is something a lot of you have pointed out here. In my opinion, spending money on a psychiatrist or a psychologist for that kind of thing is just throwing cash down the drain; if you don't learn how to master that willpower and control yourself, they aren't really going to fix it for you.
Luckily, I don't deal with those issues anymore!

Thanks, I'll start on the Lecithin tomorrow..

My car...🙄

I’ll lock it up. Then I'll pace around it. Then I'll try the door handle just to be sure. Then I'll walk around it again, peering closely to see if everything is actually locked. Then I'll head over to my apartment building entrance, only to turn right back around and walk back to the car. I'll test the door one more time, then take another lap around the vehicle...🙄

Or it’s like this... I’ll lock my apartment door, tuck my keys safely into my bag, and take a single step before having to double-check if they're actually still in there or if they somehow slipped out unnoticed (since I might not even hear them hit the floor). After a few more steps, I'll check the bag again. Once I finally make it out of the building, I'll find myself wondering if they managed to fall out during the walk...🙄

And that's pretty much the gist of it.🙂 What would you say is the diagnosis here?🙂

He, he, he, he... fine, whatever, let's just leave it at that for now. But seriously, are you dealing with those freaking intrusive black thoughts too?

Look, I'll be honest with you... sometimes there are these quiet voices, flashes of imagery about me hurting my pet, accompanied by this deafening noise inside my head that just keeps getting louder and louder. But, in principle, I feel like I'm on top of the world.😉

I mean, look, as long as those dark thoughts and constant worrying don't spiral into full-blown depression, you're fine.

Nicholas Collins5 said:Look, I'll be honest with you... sometimes there are these quiet voices, flashes of imagery about me hurting my pet, accompanied by this deafening noise inside my head that just keeps getting louder and louder. But, in principle, I feel like I'm on top of the world.😉

Are you being serious right now, or just messing with me?🙄🤷

Amanda Walker said:I mean, look, as long as those dark thoughts and constant worrying don't spiral into full-blown depression, you're fine.

I have to agree with that point😉.

Patrick Thomas29 said:Are you being serious right now, or just messing with me?🙄🤷

Well, I suppose... it seems pretty obvious, doesn't it?🙂
I am being perfectly serious.😂

Nicholas Collins5 said:Well, I suppose... it seems pretty obvious, doesn't it?🙂
I am being perfectly serious.😂

👍😂😉

Nicholas Collins5 said:Look, I'll be honest with you... sometimes there are these quiet voices, flashes of imagery about me hurting my pet, accompanied by this deafening noise inside my head that just keeps getting louder and louder. But, in principle, I feel like I'm on top of the world.😉

A textbook example of an SOP. 😁

As long as you realize those "voices"—which are really just intrusive thoughts—are coming from inside your own head rather than an outside source, there’s no reason to be afraid. That’s actually the fundamental distinction: someone struggling with schizophrenia believes the voices are external, whereas someone with OCD knows exactly where they're coming from.

Rebecca Roberts2 said:A textbook example of an SOP. 😁

As long as you realize those "voices"—which are really just intrusive thoughts—are coming from inside your own head rather than an outside source, there’s no reason to be afraid. That’s actually the fundamental distinction: someone struggling with schizophrenia believes the voices are external, whereas someone with OCD knows exactly where they're coming from.

I can finally sleep easy tonight...😁 Basically, that old saying proved to be true—understanding the problem is halfway to solving it. Honestly, I don't see the harm in having a little internal monologue or hearing different perspectives swirling around in your mind. Some people talk out loud, and honestly, what's the big deal?😉 The most important thing is that we all support one another and stay united. (Besides, even in the best families, siblings have their little disagreements now and then, right?)

Best wishes to everyone,😁

David Nelson74 said:There’s a million other things I can’t seem to shake, and it’s honestly exhausting... it’s been going on for years now. Some people tell me it’ll eventually taper off, but man, it feels like it’s just getting worse.

heh, and who’s actually going to help me?
medication and a psychiatrist are completely out of the question...

Then go screw yourself. Seriously, keep counting everything until you finally lose your mind.
I’m kidding. I deal with OCD too—well, I used to. I was exactly like you, counting everything in multiples of five.
Finally "met" another human being who counts everything up to five.
What’s weighing on you so heavily that you won't even try a couple of Prozacs a day? If you stick with it for a few months, the symptoms will almost certainly dial back. For what it's worth, I was crushing three Prozacs a day for a year, but it was worth it; I don't feel the need to count everything anymore, and I don't have this obsession with everything being perfectly symmetrical.
Besides, the side effects from the meds aren't even that bad.

Then go screw yourself. Seriously, keep counting everything until you finally lose your mind.
I’m kidding. I deal with OCD too—well, I used to. I was exactly like you, counting everything in multiples of five.
Finally "met" another human being who counts everything up to five.
What’s weighing on you so heavily that you won't even try a couple of Prozacs a day? If you stick with it for a few months, the symptoms will almost certainly dial back. For what it's worth, I was crushing three Prozacs a day for a year, but it was worth it; I don't feel the need to count everything anymore, and I don't have this obsession with everything being perfectly symmetrical.
Besides, the side effects from the meds aren't even that bad.

Then go screw yourself. Seriously, keep counting everything until you finally lose your mind.
I’m kidding. I deal with OCD too—well, I used to. I was exactly like you, counting everything in multiples of five.
Finally "met" another human being who counts everything up to five.
What’s weighing on you so heavily that you won't even try a couple of Prozacs a day? If you stick with it for a few months, the symptoms will almost certainly dial back. For what it's worth, I was crushing three Prozacs a day for a year, but it was worth it; I don't feel the need to count everything anymore, and I don't have this obsession with everything being perfectly symmetrical.
Besides, the side effects from the meds aren't even that bad.
Personally, I count everything up to three. 🙄 I’ve been dealing with OCD symptoms since I was about 14—so eight years now—and honestly, I'm just exhausted by it. I just wanted to put that out there, maybe get a little weight off my chest... 😢

I’m seriously counting my way up to 4! 🙂

Amanda Walker said:I’m seriously counting my way up to 4! 🙂

You're the only one obsessed with even numbers 🙂

David Nelson74 said:Why on earth would you need to go that often? You could easily dial it back. Honestly, twice a month is plenty, as long as you actually get the ball rolling. It’s all about making steady, incremental progress rather than rushing into nothing. 🙂

But tell me... how do you deal with the reality of seeing a therapist? That’s what really gets to me. It might sound trivial to some, but for people like me—anxious, insecure—a past filled with social blunders makes everything harder. Sometimes it feels like I'm "forbidden" from being myself because I'll just spiral into a depression if you catch my drift... and now I just have one more thing to hide from everyone. That’s the real barrier to therapy for me. You can't say certain things in public because not everyone has good intentions. In my case, I feel like I'd be branded as unstable or unreliable before I knew it... as if that isn't already the status quo. I know I probably sound foolish, but I genuinely want to hear about your experiences. Do you talk about seeing a therapist? To what extent? And how did people react... please... (and I doubt I'm the only one feeling this way 🙂 ..)

brightsailor9 said:But tell me... how do you deal with the reality of seeing a therapist? That’s what really gets to me. It might sound trivial to some, but for people like me—anxious, insecure—a past filled with social blunders makes everything harder. Sometimes it feels like I'm "forbidden" from being myself because I'll just spiral into a depression if you catch my drift... and now I just have one more thing to hide from everyone. That’s the real barrier to therapy for me. You can't say certain things in public because not everyone has good intentions. In my case, I feel like I'd be branded as unstable or unreliable before I knew it... as if that isn't already the status quo. I know I probably sound foolish, but I genuinely want to hear about your experiences. Do you talk about seeing a therapist? To what extent? And how did people react... please... (and I doubt I'm the only one feeling this way 🙂 ..)

It feels like I'm reading my own biography 😢
The hardest part is getting home and having my mind replay every single moment where I felt I "embarrassed" myself during the day. 🙈