OCD: General Discussion Thread

bluejackal44 said:Yeah... I hate having to study. I end up repeating every single sentence four times just to make it stick, and it exhausts me so much that I eventually just slam the book shut... Or when I'm writing notes, I'll find myself bolding certain letters or words four times in a row. I actually start laughing at myself because of it. It’s honestly getting ridiculous.

Just search "OCD" on YouTube—Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, if you need the full term🤣. ... If you actually want to get past this, go see your primary care doctor to get a referral for a psychiatrist. Just be honest about how your mind works and these compulsions you're dealing with, then follow whatever treatment plan they lay out for you.

I’ve noticed things get way worse when I'm physically exhausted, not just mentally. I tried going to therapy, but honestly, I'm getting nothing out of it. It feels pointless. Like, what am I even supposed to say? I tell him my problems and he just repeats them back to me. Then he tells me to just stick with the antidepressants, so I basically gave up on sessions that last maybe ten minutes anyway—not because I wanted to, but because of him. Usually, it's just him typing away on some ancient typewriter while I talk.

Frank Jackson5 said:I’ve noticed things get way worse when I'm physically exhausted, not just mentally. I tried going to therapy, but honestly, I'm getting nothing out of it. It feels pointless. Like, what am I even supposed to say? I tell him my problems and he just repeats them back to me. Then he tells me to just stick with the antidepressants, so I basically gave up on sessions that last maybe ten minutes anyway—not because I wanted to, but because of him. Usually, it's just him typing away on some ancient typewriter while I talk.

Ten minutes? That's a marathon🤣 without any jokes...... there just isn't enough "manpower" out there. There are maybe 400 or 500 psych professionals in the whole country, yet depression and anxiety disorders affect about 10 percent of the population. Honestly, I once went to see a psychiatrist, this woman who was a total 😁 brainiac, mid-30s and already a PhD. She probably has the credentials to work at the most prestigious hospitals in the world... but she simply doesn't have the time because the patient load is insane. It's like asking the best mechanic in town to fix 100 cars in a single workday😂. I actually saw on her paperwork that I was roughly the 1,700th patient of the year..🤣 so I decided to cut ties and stick strictly to private practice from then on. 🤣 Better to save both my time and hers and just give my five minutes to that massive queue of 1,700 people instead of 😂 letting him take his full ten minutes. 🤣

Go private. If you think it's too expensive, it's NOT. Just stop buying designer clothes, eat beans and cheap bread🤣 Your health is the only thing that matters🙂

Frank Jackson5 said:I’ve noticed things get way worse when I'm physically exhausted, not just mentally. I tried going to therapy, but honestly, I'm getting nothing out of it. It feels pointless. Like, what am I even supposed to say? I tell him my problems and he just repeats them back to me. Then he tells me to just stick with the antidepressants, so I basically gave up on sessions that last maybe ten minutes anyway—not because I wanted to, but because of him. Usually, it's just him typing away on some ancient typewriter while I talk.

Not every psychiatrist or psychologist is actually a psychotherapist. That’s why seeing them isn't always the same thing as undergoing therapy. If you aren't there on a specific referral for "psychotherapy," you aren't really doing therapy at all; you're just getting a status check, some brief advice, or a prescription from a psychiatrist.

Gary James88 said:Not every psychiatrist or psychologist is actually a psychotherapist. That’s why seeing them isn't always the same thing as undergoing therapy. If you aren't there on a specific referral for "psychotherapy," you aren't really doing therapy at all; you're just getting a status check, some brief advice, or a prescription from a psychiatrist.

I saw a psychotherapist once, and after about ten sessions, she basically told me I didn't need to come back anymore!! 😲 👎
I was seeing this specialist privately, then asked if I could switch to his clinic where he works. He said okay, but honestly, it felt just as low-quality either way.

So, I’ve developed this bizarre little habit that I honestly haven't heard anyone else mention before. Most people tend to obsess over numbers, but I’m more like a sponge for names—specifically, I soak up the names of people who passed away under circumstances that trigger my deepest phobias. It’s like these names just get stuck on a loop in my head, spinning endlessly. To cope, I’ve started swapping them out; I change the names in my mind because I have this irrational, nagging fear that if I actually think of their real names, the same tragedy might strike me or someone I love. It works the same way with certain diseases or specific locations, too. This has been going on for about three years now, and when you factor in the panic attacks I've been battling for eight years, it’s a lot to carry. The worst part? That death toll just keeps climbing, yet I can't seem to shake the old names either. It's reached a point where there's always someone hovering in the back of my mind, and I find myself constantly muttering these altered names under my breath. It all traces back to a massive germaphobia regarding mold; I used to scrub my hands with scalding hot water so relentlessly that I eventually ended up with raw, wounded skin.

Hannah Roberts said:So, I’ve developed this bizarre little habit that I honestly haven't heard anyone else mention before. Most people tend to obsess over numbers, but I’m more like a sponge for names—specifically, I soak up the names of people who passed away under circumstances that trigger my deepest phobias. It’s like these names just get stuck on a loop in my head, spinning endlessly. To cope, I’ve started swapping them out; I change the names in my mind because I have this irrational, nagging fear that if I actually think of their real names, the same tragedy might strike me or someone I love. It works the same way with certain diseases or specific locations, too. This has been going on for about three years now, and when you factor in the panic attacks I've been battling for eight years, it’s a lot to carry. The worst part? That death toll just keeps climbing, yet I can't seem to shake the old names either. It's reached a point where there's always someone hovering in the back of my mind, and I find myself constantly muttering these altered names under my breath. It all traces back to a massive germaphobia regarding mold; I used to scrub my hands with scalding hot water so relentlessly that I eventually ended up with raw, wounded skin.

cool😎

Hannah Roberts said:So, I’ve developed this bizarre little habit that I honestly haven't heard anyone else mention before. Most people tend to obsess over numbers, but I’m more like a sponge for names—specifically, I soak up the names of people who passed away under circumstances that trigger my deepest phobias. It’s like these names just get stuck on a loop in my head, spinning endlessly. To cope, I’ve started swapping them out; I change the names in my mind because I have this irrational, nagging fear that if I actually think of their real names, the same tragedy might strike me or someone I love. It works the same way with certain diseases or specific locations, too. This has been going on for about three years now, and when you factor in the panic attacks I've been battling for eight years, it’s a lot to carry. The worst part? That death toll just keeps climbing, yet I can't seem to shake the old names either. It's reached a point where there's always someone hovering in the back of my mind, and I find myself constantly muttering these altered names under my breath. It all traces back to a massive germaphobia regarding mold; I used to scrub my hands with scalding hot water so relentlessly that I eventually ended up with raw, wounded skin.

You gave me a bit of a laugh, though I realize how incredibly heavy this is. Carrying all of that by yourself sounds exhausting, truly. Have you had a chance to talk to a psychiatrist or perhaps tried any medication to help manage it?

I don’t think I have full-blown OCD, but sometimes I just can't focus on anything if my books or magazines aren't lined up perfectly by size. If they're messy, I have to drop everything and fix it. It's like, I'm obsessed with germs and cleaning—me and my disinfectant wipes are basically inseparable at this point. Plus, there's the constant checking of door locks, the stove, the lights... you name it. I constantly terrorize my family with all this tidying and scrubbing. I just can't help myself.
I wasn't always like this, though. This whole thing has really ramped up over the last few years. Now I'm starting to worry it's just going to get worse, and honestly, I feel like I'll never be able to shake these cleaning obsessions.
Am I just on the edge of having OCD, or am I already there?

Richard Palmer2 said:I don’t think I have full-blown OCD, but sometimes I just can't focus on anything if my books or magazines aren't lined up perfectly by size. If they're messy, I have to drop everything and fix it. It's like, I'm obsessed with germs and cleaning—me and my disinfectant wipes are basically inseparable at this point. Plus, there's the constant checking of door locks, the stove, the lights... you name it. I constantly terrorize my family with all this tidying and scrubbing. I just can't help myself.
I wasn't always like this, though. This whole thing has really ramped up over the last few years. Now I'm starting to worry it's just going to get worse, and honestly, I feel like I'll never be able to shake these cleaning obsessions.
Am I just on the edge of having OCD, or am I already there?

There isn't really a set rule for that. In my view, you don't have OCD until it starts causing genuine, disruptive problems in your life. You might be surprised by how many people share similar habits without ever having heard of OCD, so they don't let it weigh on them. Don't stress too much about whether things will worsen.

Roger Morgan4 said:There isn't really a set rule for that. In my view, you don't have OCD until it starts causing genuine, disruptive problems in your life. You might be surprised by how many people share similar habits without ever having heard of OCD, so they don't let it weigh on them. Don't stress too much about whether things will worsen.

Thanks for the reply.

How do you even talk to someone who clearly has OCD and show them that what they're doing isn't exactly "normal"? I mean, this person is incredibly stubborn, and lately, they’ve become totally obsessed with every possible illness—it’s basically turning into full-blown hypochondria. It feels like everything hurts all the time, and then they just spiral into the darkest thoughts imaginable. The worst part is that they constantly drag everyone around them through it, especially the people closest to them. Any time you try to suggest that their questions or behaviors aren't really "normal," they just flip it on you and claim that *you're* the one who's crazy and perfectly fine. Obviously, they need professional help, but they won't even listen to the suggestion. On top of all the constant worrying, there's just this whole list of useless things they do that don't make any sense.

Are you actually trying to PROVE to them that things aren't normal—or are you just trying to prove they're sick?

Nicole Castillo452 said:How do you even talk to someone who clearly has OCD and show them that what they're doing isn't exactly "normal"? I mean, this person is incredibly stubborn, and lately, they’ve become totally obsessed with every possible illness—it’s basically turning into full-blown hypochondria. It feels like everything hurts all the time, and then they just spiral into the darkest thoughts imaginable. The worst part is that they constantly drag everyone around them through it, especially the people closest to them. Any time you try to suggest that their questions or behaviors aren't really "normal," they just flip it on you and claim that *you're* the one who's crazy and perfectly fine. Obviously, they need professional help, but they won't even listen to the suggestion. On top of all the constant worrying, there's just this whole list of useless things they do that don't make any sense.

Well, if the person performing these actions isn't bothered by them, you can't really force them into therapy. At this stage, the friction seems to be mostly with those around them. I imagine your relationship with them is under quite a bit of strain, which certainly isn't easy to navigate. My suggestion would be to focus more on dialogue rather than confrontation; try to listen more than you criticize. Often, simply being a sounding board helps. If you can build up that sense of trust over time, they might eventually be open to your suggestion of seeing a specialist. Just avoid pushing too hard, as that usually triggers a defensive reaction and achieves the exact opposite of what you intend.

I deal with stuff like this too... if I'm talking to anyone, and they say a single sentence, I have to replay it internally just to dissect it... or when I'm walking home, I feel like I have to step on every single floor tile exactly three times 🤷

I wouldn't dream of treating that myself... ever.
😂

Honestly, I have to laugh at myself sometimes...
I think I’d actually die of pure boredom if I weren't constantly doing something while I walk, whether it's staying active or just wandering around aimlessly.

copperraven8 said:I wouldn't dream of treating that myself... ever.
😂

Honestly, I have to laugh at myself sometimes...
I think I’d actually die of pure boredom if I weren't constantly doing something while I walk, whether it's staying active or just wandering around aimlessly.

Maybe you should try reading something instead, like that book about the guy who has to count every single telephone pole while riding the subway? It's actually quite entertaining... 🙄

UPS? Look, every single disease is awkward and heavy in its own damn way. It’s always the biggest burden for the person actually living through it...

hollowtinker18 said:UPS? Look, every single disease is awkward and heavy in its own damn way. It’s always the biggest burden for the person actually living through it...

I suppose you have a point there, but personally, I’d much rather deal with my current situation than struggle with schizophrenia, PTSD, or depression (even if that last one is technically in my diagnosis—though I don't quite accept it myself). When I look back at the hospital stays and those screams echoing through the halls at night, the restraints... I'm actually relieved I don't have to endure that anymore. Still, what you said holds true; it’s an immense burden, even if we aren't talking about those extreme, traumatic scenarios.

Roger Morgan4 said:I suppose you have a point there, but personally, I’d much rather deal with my current situation than struggle with schizophrenia, PTSD, or depression (even if that last one is technically in my diagnosis—though I don't quite accept it myself). When I look back at the hospital stays and those screams echoing through the halls at night, the restraints... I'm actually relieved I don't have to endure that anymore. Still, what you said holds true; it’s an immense burden, even if we aren't talking about those extreme, traumatic scenarios.

Maybe you’ve just watched a few too many horror movies lately, haha!🙂